Ableton Forum

timothyallan wrote:we combine our powers, voltron style!

Well this movie sucked so bad in comparison to the praise heaped on it that I'll take the challenge.

beats me wrote:

Machinesworking wrote: Of course you could concentrate on the plot holes, like the fact that these aliens come down, and the whole world acts like they're a pest rather than the scientific find of the century, but why do that?

Because then you'd see the movie for the POS movie that it is. I'm truly astonished by the amount of praise this movie is getting on here.

I'd feel more moved by a 3 hour movie by Oliver Stone that finally answers the question Who Let The Dogs Out?

You didn't actually go see a movie with CGI, guns and space aliens in it produced by the guy who directed Bad Taste to be 'moved' did you??
It lived up to the hype IMOl, I'll remember it ten years from now, it's not as good as Robocop or Alien, and definitely no Blade Runner, but it was fun, and had a tiny little point that wasn't even really that annoying. On that line, name a science fiction movie that's come out in the last five years that was better??

Machinesworking wrote:...On that line, name a science fiction movie that's come out in the last five years that was better??

I liked District 9, but thought Moon was better.

8O wrote:

Machinesworking wrote:...On that line, name a science fiction movie that's come out in the last five years that was better??

I liked District 9, but thought Moon was better.

Yeah, Moon looks really good, I kind of wish the freaking movie trailer hadn't given so much away though. Almost felt like I watched the whole movie.

Machinesworking wrote:

8O wrote:

Machinesworking wrote:...On that line, name a science fiction movie that's come out in the last five years that was better??

I liked District 9, but thought Moon was better.

Yeah, Moon looks really good, I kind of wish the freaking movie trailer hadn't given so much away though. Almost felt like I watched the whole movie.

Ah, now there's the thing, that reveal you see in the trailer is not the main part of the movie really, it's essential to the movie's ideas, of course, but it's about a whole lot more than that... which is why I really liked it. From the few reviews I read after watching the film, many of those that didn't like it (or imo, didn't get it), thought that that basic premise revealed in the trailer was all Moon was about.

On a similar note, I thought the District 9 trailer/teaser operated in a similar way - they already show you the aliens, the ship, but then the film explores lots of other stuff and the alien+ship thing is just taken for granted from the start.

Machinesworking wrote: Of course you could concentrate on the plot holes, like the fact that these aliens come down, and the whole world acts like they're a pest rather than the scientific find of the century, but why do that?

I disagree, I thought the movie was really smart because of this. Novelty is fleeting, I was interested in how it explored the institutional reaction and subsequent co-option of the aliens. Remember what would have happened to E.T. if he hadn’t been whisked away by his compatriots. Dissection and cover-up!

I had more issues with the plot holes with the missing command module - would the gov't forces REALLY have overlooked it for that long? And with the personalization of the Prawn dad/son relationship - it struck me as too conventionally human when it was clear the species had a more "insectlike" social structure. But hey, it IS just a movie

Machinesworking wrote:

beats me wrote:

Machinesworking wrote: Of course you could concentrate on the plot holes, like the fact that these aliens come down, and the whole world acts like they're a pest rather than the scientific find of the century, but why do that?

Because then you'd see the movie for the POS movie that it is. I'm truly astonished by the amount of praise this movie is getting on here.

I'd feel more moved by a 3 hour movie by Oliver Stone that finally answers the question Who Let The Dogs Out?

You didn't actually go see a movie with CGI, guns and space aliens in it produced by the guy who directed Bad Taste to be 'moved' did you??
It lived up to the hype IMOl, I'll remember it ten years from now, it's not as good as Robocop or Alien, and definitely no Blade Runner, but it was fun, and had a tiny little point that wasn't even really that annoying. On that line, name a science fiction movie that's come out in the last five years that was better??

No I did not go to see an Alien movie to be moved, but that's exactly what everybody is praising it for with comparisons to the plight of Africa and the human conditions AND if you were just to focus on that aspect, that is where it fails on anything more than a half ass attempt to make you give a shit about anybody or anything in the movie. If you are just into the sci-fi side of it then they failed by distracting and prolonging their attempt at making you connect with the characters. fail/fail.

And I don't buy this "it's what they don't show/tell" bullshit. What they don't show is because they are shit lazy story tellers, not some profound subliminal meaning crap.

When this comes out on DVD I plan on posting the full list of fails and planet sized plot holes.

SPOILER ALERT! Don't read if you haven't seen the movie!

beats me wrote: No I did not go to see an Alien movie to be moved, but that's exactly what everybody is praising it for with comparisons to the plight of Africa and the human conditions AND if you were just to focus on that aspect, that is where it fails on anything more than a half ass attempt to make you give a shit about anybody or anything in the movie.

Why would you focus on that? it's a comic book IMO. A pretty good one, but not a classic novel. I thought the main alien was likable enough, and I though it was kind of cool that not all the aliens were necessarily likable.

If you are just into the sci-fi side of it then they failed by distracting and prolonging their attempt at making you connect with the characters. fail/fail.

Honestly if you connected with the human in the movie, you would be a POS IMO. The main character is not likable, that's a plus IMO, I get tired of sc fi movies not at all about humans with too much emphasis on the humans. Making you identify with the humans, to get you to be sympathetic with the aliens. I also liked that they didn't try to pull your heartstrings too much with humanizing the alien, just the typical alien is more rational and thoughtful than the main human character in the movie bit. Though the feeling isn't there that the alien really has any sympathy for the human, which is understandable.

And I don't buy this "it's what they don't show/tell" bullshit. What they don't show is because they are shit lazy story tellers, not some profound subliminal meaning crap.

You lost me here, I don't see anything deep about the plot: aliens land, are generally weaker than mankind, mankind treats them like shit. End of story.

When this comes out on DVD I plan on posting the full list of fails and planet sized plot holes.

??? Do you want your money back? are you going to picket showings??

Machinesworking wrote:SPOILER ALERT! Don't read if you haven't seen the movie!

beats me wrote: No I did not go to see an Alien movie to be moved, but that's exactly what everybody is praising it for with comparisons to the plight of Africa and the human conditions AND if you were just to focus on that aspect, that is where it fails on anything more than a half ass attempt to make you give a shit about anybody or anything in the movie.

Why would you focus on that? it's a comic book IMO. A pretty good one, but not a classic novel. I thought the main alien was likable enough, and I though it was kind of cool that not all the aliens were necessarily likable.

If you are just into the sci-fi side of it then they failed by distracting and prolonging their attempt at making you connect with the characters. fail/fail.

Honestly if you connected with the human in the movie, you would be a POS IMO. The main character is not likable, that's a plus IMO, I get tired of sc fi movies not at all about humans with too much emphasis on the humans. Making you identify with the humans, to get you to be sympathetic with the aliens. I also liked that they didn't try to pull your heartstrings too much with humanizing the alien, just the typical alien is more rational and thoughtful than the main human character in the movie bit. Though the feeling isn't there that the alien really has any sympathy for the human, which is understandable.

And I don't buy this "it's what they don't show/tell" bullshit. What they don't show is because they are shit lazy story tellers, not some profound subliminal meaning crap.

You lost me here, I don't see anything deep about the plot: aliens land, are generally weaker than mankind, mankind treats them like shit. End of story.

When this comes out on DVD I plan on posting the full list of fails and planet sized plot holes.

??? Do you want your money back? are you going to picket showings??

For me they tried to cram too many things and concepts into a short period of time and for the concept to be pulled off well they should have done the exact same story but over a fleshed out trilogy.

Do I think it was the worst movie ever made? No. Do I think it's the epic commentary on human nature that some people are claiming? Not even close, but it's obvious that is what they were aiming for.

So to an extent I'm annoyed they took an interesting concept and half assed it and some people are giving them brilliant points for half assing the effort.

sometimes I need to watch a movie twice before making a full put my foot down decision about it

SPOILER ALERT! Don't read if you haven't seen the movie!

beats me wrote: For me they tried to cram too many things and concepts into a short period of time and for the concept to be pulled off well they should have done the exact same story but over a fleshed out trilogy.

Do I think it was the worst movie ever made? No. Do I think it's the epic commentary on human nature that some people are claiming? Not even close, but it's obvious that is what they were aiming for.

So to an extent I'm annoyed they took an interesting concept and half assed it and some people are giving them brilliant points for half assing the effort.

I agree with that, but I knew it was going to be like a comic book from what I read about it before hand. Also, realize they set it up for a sequel, and honestly a good bubble gum sci fi trilogy with a mediocre plot line can be fun. Blasphemy I know but that's what Star Wars was to me.
Also, again, I really liked that the main human character was a douche bag. Great turn of events there, and no, I never gave a shit what happened to him, which was part of the fun of it. It had a nice EC comic (Tales From the Crypt), justice is served feel to the ending with the douche now a full on alien.
The main scene that really I thought was done well was the egg colony where they started flame throwing them, great lack of compassion there, and if you care about the main character after that, then.......

SPOILERS!!

beats me wrote:

Machinesworking wrote: Of course you could concentrate on the plot holes, like the fact that these aliens come down, and the whole world acts like they're a pest rather than the scientific find of the century, but why do that?

Because then you'd see the movie for the POS movie that it is. I'm truly astonished by the amount of praise this movie is getting on here.

I'd feel more moved by a 3 hour movie by Oliver Stone that finally answers the question Who Let The Dogs Out?

this coming from the guy that thinks The Hangover is a good movie? do you just not generally like sci-fi? different people, different taste, but this was not a bad movie. holy shit, given the transformers thread and the other retarded movies people talk about on here, this is the best movie thread on the forum in a long time.

just saw it, I really dug it. not so much I'm going to pay to see it again and again, but very good movie.

biggest plot hole for me was why couldn't they refine the magic goo on the ship?

I could see a sequel where they reveal that the aliens are actually humans that were infected with 'the goo' and turned into slaves by another alien species. Christopher alien said he knew how to change 'Dickus' (lol at sparky for that one) back, so there must be some history of human/alien transformation there.

there are lots of movies where a bad person gains empathy for the people he oppresses after being amongst them. Schinder's List, Enemy Mine, Alien 4, Alien Nation, there are more, can't name them now.

dunno if the father son thing was too forced. Christopher was one smart mofo, sort of in the spirit of 'Life Is Beautiful' a father and son eeking out a normal loving life amongst a society where their peers lose their shit.

I thought it had good pace and I love it when movies use all unknown actors, it really helps with the suspension of disbelief to get to know the characters.

the government not finding the ship is a good point, but it's a colony of MILLIONS of aliens, shit, we can't find Bin Laden.

ethios4 wrote:It was interesting watching this after seeing Watchmen....deeply flawed protagonists.

good point. maybe it's because we're in dark times with the recession and coming off 8 years of Bush. Dark Knight and Watchmen are two other dark movies. No Country For Old Men, Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood, Coraline, Inglorious Basterds, 9, all dark movies for dark times.

ethios4 wrote:And the exploding bodies.....man I just can't get enough of exploding bodies!

sweet. I thought the weapons were very Half Life inspired, surely the videogame is being made.

I really enjoyed that movie, good year for film so far. it's rare to find a new idea in sci-fi. aliens are here, guess what? they're useless and unimpressive!!

knotkranky wrote:Ok, I was disappointed. Too many story elements, too convoluted, moved too fast, too jerky (don't sit close) too cliché in spots, no elements of terror because of the fast pace and the sequel set-up was somewhat weightless.

a 6

it is a bit too jerky. dunno about 'no elements of terror' my wife watched most of it through her fingers. she doesn't like sci-fi but liked this one.

Starship Troopers - I need time with that movie, it's great because it's campy but more time has to pass for me to see the style as campy. Android Bishop - crazy take on how the aliens were in the right in that movie, I'll need to think about that.

Independence Day? District 9 blows Independence Day away. ID was a Will Smith character vehicle. like it wasn't obvious the drunken pilot wasn't going to save the day? ID is a solid easy to watch movie but they didn't have the edge D9 has, they couldn't risk it with a Will Smith 4th of July weekend release (he did that like 5 years in a row, Men In Black, ID and a few others.)

great movie!

Tone Deft wrote:SPOILERS!!

One of my favourite things was at the end when Christopher is piloting the ship, he's doing it with such speed and facility - THEY WEREN'T JUST DUMB AFTER ALL... Dunno why, that moment got me emotionally.

Pitch Black wrote:

Tone Deft wrote:SPOILERS!!

One of my favourite things was at the end when Christopher is piloting the ship, he's doing it with such speed and facility - THEY WEREN'T JUST DUMB AFTER ALL... Dunno why, that moment got me emotionally.

What I'm wondering was Christopher, his son and his mate, some sort of different class of alien. Even the son could repair complex technology while the other million and a half prawns were slapping the ground with sticks and chewing rubber tires. Tone's idea that all the Aliens were humans infected by the fluid was mentioned to me the other day actually by a trekkie mate. Apparantly theres a trek episode where people get infected by a virus that turns them into another species (and gives them an unstoppable urge to travel to a specific planet but that not so relevant). I hate to knitpick but anyone like to hazard an explaination to how the aliens got their weapons out of the mothership? (apparantly the weapon designs were left over from an aborted Halo movie Blomkamp had on the go)