Not for stereotypical American audience
...it wasn't flawless, not at all, but when you read these complaints, it's really something. One guy even wanted more "punch lines". For god's sake, go watch some Marvel/DC annual *beep* or whatever.
shareI'm not American and I still think the film was mediocre at best. It was a simple chase movie with a predictable and vague ending. I think after about 10minutes everybody was well aware that this was going to have a Contact(1997) like ending. And it did. Chasing...chasing...chasing...some unexplained dialogue in between...chasing...chasing...vague alien encounter...THE END.
I don't really see a point to this film. It wasn't clever or particularly well made (though decent). If it wasn't for the great actors this could've just as easily been a TV production.
Wow. I so totally disagree. I adored this film and thought the filmmaking and storytelling was exceptional. To dismiss it as just a chase film is kinda offensive. Yeah, it involved a family trying to outrace the govt and the cult, but it was so much more than that in that it involved people devoted to their little boy and committed to protecting him. I thought the dialogue said just enough--reminded me of the sparseness of Mamet's dialogue--the visual, the action completes the meaning.
I wonder if this film simply appeals more to women than to men? Perhaps men wanted an action movie. I recall a lot of "guys" were dismissive of the film Knowing because they didn't like the extraterrestrials. They want Star Wars.
I did not want an action film. But what's the point of an adventure/mystery film with such a predictable outcome?
There is way better Sci-Fi out there dealing with actual philosophical questions or futuristic possibilities and there are way better films to explore family relations and the ties between a parent and a child (for example "The Road" if you want action, "About A Boy" if you want comedy or "Scent of a woman" if you want drama).
I think this film was failing at both fronts. Not colossally, sure, it was still decent but I wouldn't rate this higher than 6 (So slighty above average AT BEST).
You gave "Batman vs. Superman" an 8 and this a 6? No wonder you're a Hitchens fan (i.e. living in opposite land).
"This year I'm voting Republican. The Democrats left a bad taste in my mouth."
-Monica Lewinsky
he's actually being generous. considering what was tried to be achieved and what was actually delivered, the gap is much higher between both films.nevertheless 8 for bvs is a bit too generous.
shareI have no problem whatsoever admitting that I'm a sucker for everything Batman related but and in this case this was more of a balancing vote. BvS surely isn't an 8 but with the second Thor movie having an imdb rating of 7.1 (seriously what the actual *beep* and BvS at 6.9 I just had to go a bit higher than the movie actually deserved.
I don't get the whole Marvel can't do anything wrong and BvS is the worst movie ever attitude.
I gave UC BvS a 10/10. MS got an 8/10.
shareYou gave "Batman vs. Superman" an 8 and this a 6? No wonder you're a Hitchens fan (i.e. living in opposite land).
GOT 'ENG!!!
Spotlight Academy Award® Winner for Best Picture of 2015 share
As a woman who just viewed this film, I have to agree with the OP, there just wasn't enough meat to this movie. The ending was predictable and there didn't seem to be any relevant point, lesson, or feeling, and I usually become pretty emotionally invested in films like this (and I tend to get fairly emotionally invested in movies like this). I don't expect every movie I watch to have a point or a lesson, but those are generally action or sci-fi with amazing graphics and a script that requires you to suspend belief regarding how it measures up to reality. Overall though, I did enjoy it, but it's definitely not a 10.
As an American, I prefer foreign movies in general, the actors/actresses are much more relatable (usually because they almost always look like regular people that represent the general population, they don't look over the top and glamorous in every scene) and the stories the movies tell seem more true to life. Of course that's not the case with every foreign movie though and occasionally Hollywood churns some of those types out there too.
Sums up my feelings perfectly^^
shareI agree with your assessment of the actors in foreign films. The same goes for television. Being accustomed to American tv shows that are almost entirely populated by models, I was surprised when I began watching British tv shows and found them to be inhabited by much more real-looking people.
shareYou're trying to come off as a holier-than-thou cinephile, but you just sound like a smug jerk. And a hypocrite. "Guys" dismissed Knowing because they wanted Star Wars? Some shallow logic you got there, pal.
share[deleted]
Yeah, no need to be condescending. I disliked this film for very many reasons, but none of them were "not enough action." The plot and dialogue were sparse and didn't hold your hand, which I admire. But I think there is a line between not holding the audiences hand and just being SO vague to the point of absurdity. I needed some character development, some emotion, some through line. The plot, of people protecting boy with vague powers of eye beams and comforting visions and earthquakes and telekenesis who belongs in a different world, just didnt do much for me. The pacing was plodding and aimless. And looking back on the film, I can't think of any scenes which I found particularly creative or moving - no performance, piece of dialogue, or scene that left much of an impression on me.
I am thrilled that you and others love the film, but no need to discredit everyone who disliked it and assume lack of intelligence. I am perfectly capable of enjoying films without machine guns and explosions, and simply did not enjoy this movie.
My feelings about this film exactly.
Spotlight Academy Award® Winner for Best Picture of 2015
[deleted]
As an American man I would like to tell you that not all Americans or men or American men want "Star Wars" or chases and and fights (although "Midnight Special" offered plenty of those). I like thoughtful movies and romantic movies, and haven't seen any "Star Wars" since 1980. "Midnight Special" was an interesting film that I enjoyed very much.
shareExactly. Too predictable. Done million times in Sci-Fi. And done a million times better.
share(To Hitchslapped)
Oh man, I remember paying to see Contact when it came out in theatres. What a horrible mistake!! It was already terrible that I paid to see that crap but to make things even worse, I dragged a poor friend along with me! :(