One of the best sci-fi movies ever
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DukeTogo1300 — 16 years ago(August 20, 2009 07:24 PM)
It is quite possible to like both. I do, and you should too. Everyone should like the
exact
same list of movies.My favorites:
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur7568922/lists -
gavbrown01 — 15 years ago(July 11, 2010 08:06 AM)
I am bad! I posted this a year and a half ago and never came back to participate in any follow-up conversation which I obviously could have had. I'm going to spend more time on imdb following up with my posts. Thanks for the nice comments. I'll add two things to the conversation: I read Stanislaw Lem's Solaris and have seen both the Soviet-era (70s) movie version of it and the Clooney version - neither came close to the power of the book, I thought, which in my estimation was a rumination on the nature of intelligence (was the planet intelligent or some kind of natural phenomenon? or perhaps, something more deep). 2) I just posted on the discussion board for the movie Hackers, another of my favs.
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rgcustomer — 14 years ago(August 07, 2011 05:49 PM)
I also enjoyed what they did with some of the shots. For example, early on when Newton is looking out over a city, we tilt up and look at the Orion constellation, which then starts falling and transforming into fireworks. It's a beautiful picture.
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nephihaha — 14 years ago(August 14, 2011 02:12 PM)
It's about corruption Newton is more or less a fallen angel, who is destroyed by humanity, rather than a fallen angel setting out to destroy humanity, like Satan.
It's also a brutal satire on big business, and hypocrisy of capitalism.
It's not "sci-fi", it's SF! -
WarpedRecord — 14 years ago(September 03, 2011 09:41 PM)
Beautifully put, Gavbrown01! This would certainly be in my Top Five for sci-fi, and possibly even be No. 1. Honestly, I'm not even sure this is really sci-fi because it's more a meditation on loneliness. Regardless, it's beautifully filmed and skillfully acted.
Unfortunately, this film came out at the end of a era for the genre, when cerebral films like this would be replaced by space epics, and characters and story would surrender to special effects. I'm glad it's at least getting a 35-year rerelease. I'd love to see this on the big screen again. -
rolotomasi_70-398-336619 — 13 years ago(June 24, 2012 02:09 AM)
Fantastic!
The innocence, and imagination
The corruption. the sacrifice..
the new mexican backdrops
In some ways TMWFTE does share similarities with Tarkovsky's 'Solaris', but, stylistically, it is a world apart
Roeg's film seems altogether more human, more loving Nevertheless, they both share a similar theme, that is, to stir the mind and to move the soul -
ewaf58 — 12 years ago(January 26, 2014 04:55 AM)
Good review - I've put some postings on this thread trying to defend it. It almost seems like some 'critics' on here were disappointed because an alien spaceship didn't appear at the climax - rescue David - collect water and zap all the bad guys.
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WarpedRecord — 12 years ago(January 26, 2014 10:11 AM)
Thanks very much. It seems the definition of science fiction has become quite limited in the post-"Star Wars" era. This film is not easily classifiable, but I think science fiction would be an essential part of the description. Frankly, spaceships and light sabers bore me, and I love that Nicolas Roeg takes a more nuanced approach here, showing the alien that may exist in all of us.
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ewaf58 — 12 years ago(January 26, 2014 12:39 PM)
Yes it can't be specifically defined because it is so rich in just about everything and I agree with Roeg's nuanced approach.
A reviewer from 'Time Out' has suggested that it should no longer be seen as a cult classic - rather a classic.
If we are ever visited I doubt it will be by beings in huge spaceships blowing up everything in sight - but possibly a scout ship looking for resources although unless there is cheap and practical way of traveling light years I think it's highly unlikely any aliens will ever be coming our way.
So as we may have to make do exchanging holiday snaps let's hope they do their best to look presentable.
By the way the 1987 TV film was just terrible.