Film Thread

[Adamski]

There is no difference, you win lads. Get it on the CV.

[summsuccess]

dat backtracking.

Now seriously can someone tell me how to get an actual torrent. Im not meant to use the exe ones.

[randomlegend]

On the subject of frailty, weakness, and decrepitude I think we can all defer to RL.

"Ask the expert" as Hammer would say.

[Dark Soldier]

What did you enjoy about it specifically?

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I felt her 'cracking' the language was a little preposterous, just all of a sudden 'Oh, I know what you're saying now'. Perhaps it came from the physical contact with Abbot but that wasn't entirely explained so it felt like a bit of a reach to move the plot on.

Also, I'm fairly sure that following the explosion 'Abbot' actually referenced 'Costello' when talking about his injury. How would he know what he had been named when they couldn't communicate with each other? Seemed a bit bizarre but a relatively minor point.

With regards to the future plot twist, again that just felt a bit ropey, it's the main point of the film fair enough but just didn't do it for me.

In terms of character development, maybe I'm being a bit harsh as the plot twist may have been the reason why it felt like they were keeping parts of Adams character back. Again, it felt like a bit of a reach for her to all of a sudden fall in love with Renner but perhaps I'm not picking up on some nuances there in regard to visions she had seen and how that may affect her.

It's a shame as I do really enjoy these films on the whole, but with this and Interstellar I haven't been able to enjoy them as much as I want to.

You've missed a fair chunk of the film's subtleties:

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The entire basis of the plot and film is their perception of time. Abbott and Costello see time differently. They knew the bomb was there. They knew she'd fall for Renner. They knew what would happen. They knew an event they couldn't stop was going to end them so they came to Earth to pass on the universal language so as it can continue to exist, giving the humans plenty of time to get a grasp of it before said event happens. They retreated their ship after the explosion as a show, they were never going to leave, just waiting for Amy Adams to approach as they knew she would.

Of course Abbott and Costello communicate, hence "Abbott is in death process", Costello doesn't see him as dead as he's seeing him in the past, present and future all at once, so he's in the process of dying. To say he has died indicates time is linear, which it is not in the context of the film. Its mentioned that the aliens aren't communicating but that's within time and tech as we know it. They can communicate to future and past selves.

Why do you think the ship left no footprint on arrival? They see time and all its branches and scope and as such can just plant themselves anywhere they desire. They also know everything the humans are saying, its not about us making a breakthrough, its about them making it with us.

The film is purposefully shown from a human angle for two reasons: We can relate, and so as to make the actual plot subtle and something to discover.

Read the short story its based on, too.

[Dark Soldier]

Also note:

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As she slowly understands aspects of the universal language, so her visions become more frequent and stronger. The learning of the language hinges on here getting it bit by bit, then the visions help lead to the breakthrough

.

[Adamski]

You've missed a fair chunk of the film's subtleties:

Toggle Spoiler

The entire basis of the plot and film is their perception of time. Abbott and Costello see time differently. They knew the bomb was there. They knew she'd fall for Renner. They knew what would happen. They knew an event they couldn't stop was going to end them so they came to Earth to pass on the universal language so as it can continue to exist, giving the humans plenty of time to get a grasp of it before said event happens. They retreated their ship after the explosion as a show, they were never going to leave, just waiting for Amy Adams to approach as they knew she would.

Of course Abbott and Costello communicate, hence "Abbott is in death process", Costello doesn't see him as dead as he's seeing him in the past, present and future all at once, so he's in the process of dying. To say he has died indicates time is linear, which it is not in the context of the film. Its mentioned that the aliens aren't communicating but that's within time and tech as we know it. They can communicate to future and past selves.

Why do you think the ship left no footprint on arrival? They see time and all its branches and scope and as such can just plant themselves anywhere they desire. They also know everything the humans are saying, its not about us making a breakthrough, its about them making it with us.

The film is purposefully shown from a human angle for two reasons: We can relate, and so as to make the actual plot subtle and something to discover.

Read the short story its based on, too.

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Did you get all that from the watch of film? You watch a lot more than me so you probably did.

There's things in your reply that seem entirely plausible but I don't remember them being explained - or even hinted at - so if it's just to be left up to the viewer to come to that conclusion on their own then fair enough but it perhaps needs to be a bit more obvious or in depth to allow the casual viewer to get there.

The breakthrough just felt a bit rushed. She had to crack it desperately then all of a sudden it happened.

I'll give the short story a bash, it may be one of those films you need to rewatch once you know the twist to really appreciate it.

[SvN]

Yeah, let's make films shitter so the spastics can join in. Good call.

[Dark Soldier]

I've watched it twice, so it helped. Seeing it second time round confirmed a lot of what I thought might've been answers when watching it first time.

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Yeah, its a film trusting the intelligence of the viewer, which is rare in modern times. Its one of the reasons I love it, not due to lol snobbery but the fact it gives you the bare bones and lets you fill in the blanks, its a similar concept I love in gaming, show don't tell. Haneke and a lot of Euro auteurs do this very well.

With regards to the breakthrough being rushed, I understand the complaints there, but I think its due to being a film. Studios will have a say in runtime etc, so rather than giving it half an hour where she slowly comes to complete terms with it, they just chucked a vision in and ta da. But knowing that Abbott and Costello knows she will learn it, I can let it go a bit.

Tbh I found the short story a bit dull as it is massively reliant on the science of the whole thing but it gives a couple of answers.

[summsuccess]

Ive figured out the torrent downloader so Im going to go watch it. Wheres the short story Dark Soldier?

I found the film on something called yify-torrent?

[Dark Soldier]

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang. Its a solid book, some very good science-based short fiction in there.

[Magic]

Lol @ John messing with his alias.

[Pleb]

dat backtracking.

Now seriously can someone tell me how to get an actual torrent. Im not meant to use the exe ones.

I hear Google is a good site for finding torrents.

[summsuccess]

Its not Pleb. Im supposed to download .torrent ones but its all .exe or warez places.

Ive got somewhere now though, i was just clicking the wrong thing.

http://mstorrents.com/download/arrival_torrent
Thats the one I was getting exe files with but the film should be bigger so i didnt open it.

[Adamski]

I've watched it twice, so it helped. Seeing it second time round confirmed a lot of what I thought might've been answers when watching it first time.

Toggle Spoiler

Yeah, its a film trusting the intelligence of the viewer, which is rare in modern times. Its one of the reasons I love it, not due to lol snobbery but the fact it gives you the bare bones and lets you fill in the blanks, its a similar concept I love in gaming, show don't tell. Haneke and a lot of Euro auteurs do this very well.

With regards to the breakthrough being rushed, I understand the complaints there, but I think its due to being a film. Studios will have a say in runtime etc, so rather than giving it half an hour where she slowly comes to complete terms with it, they just chucked a vision in and ta da. But knowing that Abbott and Costello knows she will learn it, I can let it go a bit.

Tbh I found the short story a bit dull as it is massively reliant on the science of the whole thing but it gives a couple of answers.

That's a fair assessment, makes a bit more sense now all in.

[Magic]

That's a fair assessment, makes a bit more sense now all in.

Translation: DS donned me and I was talking shit.

[summsuccess]

He dons everyone. He is the real don of the place. Not Pleb. Not Taz.

DS. Same now as it was back then. Only difference is hes liked these days.

[Adamski]

Translation: DS donned me and I was talking shit.

Not really as he agreed on some of my points. Get back to putting porridge in your dinner you absolute monster.

[Lewis]

Alien: Covenant is good, but, as with the last one, it could have done with another twenty minutes filling some things in. Without them most of it seems like an unnecessarily violent filler until the sequel[s].

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You could also see the ending coming a mile off.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Thought it was good but preferred Prometheus, daft scientists and all, especially the feel Prometheus had. I was more interested in the back story than something too directly familiar with an Alien film to be honest. Going the route of another Alien film makes things feel like a bit of a re-hash.

It's worth watching for Fassbender regardless.

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Didn't think the ending was really trying to hide itself from the audience the moment it cut away from Walter and David fighting

[Dark Soldier]

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hype.

[Dark Soldier]

Hounds of Love

Australia does it again. Bleak portrayal of a girl kidnapped and held by an insane couple. Think Snowtown, Wolf Creek and multiple others. Bleak, but a fantastic film within the genre.

[Henry]

Seen Alien: Covenant. Good but not great. The xenomorph was the least good thing about it. Fassbender's character is terrific.

Alien: Covenant is good, but, as with the last one, it could have done with another twenty minutes filling some things in. Without them most of it seems like an unnecessarily violent filler until the sequel[s].

What do you think needed filling in? I thought it explained itself fairly well, even though it left a lot (not all) of the questions left over from Prometheus unanswered.

[Lewis]

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I think mainly we could have done with knowing exactly (or even just more of) what David learned - about the Engineers, and also himself - on the ship. As it is he genocided an alien race because he didn't like Peter Weyland, and because he's just a bit of a cunt. Particularly so given that the implication that David created the xenomorph is at odds with what was seen in Prometheus, and the first film. Unless David is the 'Space Jockey', but then that would be a bit lame.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

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The Prologue trailer does hint at getting more from that.

This from Ridley Scott is somewhat disappointing too-

https://youtu.be/Qo30bZc10D0?t=182

I like to think someone of his calibre would have a story he wants to tell and stick with it, not change the film based on some fucking fanbois on social media moaning about the lack of aliens.

[Henry]

Yeah, fair point Lewis.

Although Prometheus was written by Lindlehof or whatever the fuck he's called. He clearly doesn't think through anything he writes, so there's all sorts of stuff in that that won't ever be reconciled with the rest of the series.

I remember thinking that was great when it came out. And it kind of isn't really.

[phonics]

I was on the Prometheus is wank train extremely early

[Ian]

Saw Covenant today and enjoyed it. I didn't hate Prometheus despite it's many flaws but this is way better.

Not perfect. It shares flaws with Prometheus and has some classic horror-film-idiocy in there but I enjoyed it very much.

Saw it on a Cineworld "superscreen"... not sure what I'm supposed to have gained by doing so.

[Pleb]

Is it worth watching the first four Alien films first before I go balls deep in Covenant?

[Henry]

Is it worth watching the first four Alien films first before I go balls deep in Covenant?

Yes, and that's the case even if you're not going to watch Covenant.

[Ian]

Definitely watch Alien and Aliens. I'd say Alien 3 as well, but there's no consensus on that front.

They're not required viewing to know what's going on. They're just films you've missed out on, Plob.

Prometheus would be more relevant but if you can't be arsed a read of the synopsis would probably do.

Definitely watch Alien and Aliens though.

[Dark Soldier]

Logan

Its not bad for comic book silliness. The whole claims of OMG so dark are a bit lol, there's some gore in it, that's it. Solid Last of Us story let down by the daftness and trite plot points.

[Henry]

So, a major plot hole.

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Since David was lying about the ship having crashed, why do the Covenant crew find it having crashed?

[Lewis]

Alien 3 is alright as a standalone film, but I would only bother with the first two as far as the canon goes. I don't know if he has ever said so outright, but Ridley Scott has hinted enough times that he wished he had had it stopped after the second one.

[Lewis]

So, a major plot hole.

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Since David was lying about the ship having crashed, why do the Covenant crew find it having crashed?

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I took it that he just ditched it, presumably after their bigger ship that he was docking with fell out of the sky once they all died.

[John]

They should have stopped after the first one.

[Henry]

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I took it that he just ditched it, presumably after their bigger ship that he was docking with fell out of the sky once they all died.

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Marooning himself doesn't sound like a sensible thing to do.

See also the lack of biohazard procedures and checking of who's who.

[Lewis]

I should have spoilered that. Edit it in please.

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I suppose you could say he figured humanity would come nearby eventually (not like he dies or anything), giving him a better chance of doing whatever he decided to do beyond killing the Engineers (this sort of thing could have been explored more) in a secure environment for him. If he came back to Earth they would have just de-briefed and melted him.

[Dark Soldier]

Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau

Account of the making of Richard Stanley's Dr. Moreau adaption. Some wonderful stories of a batshit production, and as with most tales about him, Val Kilmer comes across as an absolute bell, with Brando not far behind.

Tickled

New Zealand journalist stumbles across clips of a mysterious tickling competition online, and looks into it. Holy shit the whole thing is insane. Do not read anything else about it, its a fantastic documentary and a highly odd and interesting story. Recommended.

And one I watched a while back but realised I never mentioned it:

Alleluia

Fabrice Du Welz's (Calvaire) latest. Loosely based on real life duo The Lonely Hearts Killers, its a descent into obsession, tortured love and horror. Not as odd/fucked up as Calvaire but it has some strong scenes, some stunning cinematography in places, and a powerful performance from*Lola Dueñas. Not for everyone, but any fan of horror/serial killer cinema, go for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've heard that a lot about Tickled, I really need to watch it.

I'm still reeling over the insanity that was Finder's Keepers though.

[Dark Soldier]

I'm looking forward to that one, got it on the backlist, which is about 30 titles deep right now.

[Foe]

Watched an old film called Quiz Show today which was great. Ralph Fiennes has done some really good stuff. Unfortunately, he'll probably be known as Voldemort for the rest of his days.

[Dark Soldier]

Even better when you know its a true story, Foe.

[Mellberg]

Ralph Fiennes known only as Voldermort? He was picking off prisoners of war from his balcony about 20 years before Harry Potter.

[Dark Soldier]

Trainspotting 2

Good fun, a solid carry on of the original despite it being bit too heavy on the nod's to the first.

[Baz]

Trainspotting 2

Good fun, a solid carry on of the original despite it being bit too heavy on the nod's to the first.

Didn't know it was out. Cheers.

[Foe]

The Insider was also great. Quite enjoying this foray into old award nominated films. Didn't even realise these films existed and they're great.

[Yevrah]

I've seen some films over the weekend.

The Accountant - It has actors in I like, so I ultimately went with it, but as I was watching it it quickly became apparent that it was yet another film with an appalling narrative. Honestly, I've had enough now. How hard is it to write a good script for a two hour movie and/or film and edit it coherently? While this was the latest (and possibly worst example), it was just ridiculous. Nothing hung together well, scenes just found themselves on screen in no particular order and there's a whole third part of the film that would have been served as well had it been bolted on to any other movie for all the relevance it had.

Star Wars - Rogue Squadron - I was bored. Once the absolutely fantastic characters from the original trilogy have gone there's absolutely nothing to sustain this franchise for as long as it has been. The Empire being up to no good is dull, new characters have all been dull (although Forest Whitaker looking as ludicrous as he did raised a smile) and both this and the last one are the same as what we had 40 years ago just in a different skin.

[Cheddar]

I'm drying to see Alien Covenent but my girlfriend won't go and non of my mates are keen. I might have to wait till there's a good copy to stream, I don't think I can bring myself to go the pictures alone.

[John Arne]

Is Alien Covenant the sequel to Prometheus? I'm not an Alien nut....