Red Mosquito

tree_ wrote: Tue June 16, 2026 2:30 pm so wait, if you're a cynic you won't like this movie? in what way specifically? seems like Argo has the ability to suspend his disbelief for a good film; if the movie convincingly plays by the rules of the universe it's created, ya know, if it's done well.

Think of the positive, uplifting message of any Spielberg movie. He's a kind person. I'm not!

yeah but he's made movies you like, right? and you've seen "kind" movies you've liked before, right?

Yes and yes

so then your dislike of the movie is about the failure of writing and execution, not the themes or subject matter?

Haven’t seen it but giving it a B+

Really wanted to like this but the first 2/3rds dragged for me. Last third of the movie felt like where the story really should’ve been, but ended too soon.

I feel conflicted because in real life I believe in the message of empathy being the greatest strength a human can have.

Also, I have been absolutely haunted by cardinals ever since I went for a winter walk at a nature preserve and a male and female pair of cardinals landed on me expecting food and I had none for them; they proceeded to yell at me through the rest of my walk. Am I an experiencer?

Mecca wrote: Tue June 16, 2026 7:07 pm I feel conflicted because in real life I believe in the message of empathy being the greatest strength a human can have.

The challenge for the viewer is that this entire aspect of the movie is delivered in concise, soapboxy platitudes via Colman Domingo monologues that don't connect intuitively to the rest of the plot. So one must accept that the heavy surveillance apparatus deployed by the mastermind of the long-term alien coverup somehow missed that one of their org's key personnel had been for years nurturing, amongst multiple colleagues, a worldview that was in direct conflict with their mandate, which could theoretically make sense, but is never explained, so it feels wonky as hell.

I don't think this is enough to dislike a movie that is otherwise excellent, but it's a notable plot hole.

Polarizing movie

I think Colin Firth’s wife dying was the catalyst for that oversight. He tells him that he no longer trusted people anymore and kept everyone on a need to know basis. It’s analogous to how they operated on the idea that people couldn’t handle the actual truth of extra terrestrial life and kept it as need to know information

Think I’ll wait to see this one at home. The trailers haven’t grabbed me enough to go to the theater.

Ello Sailor wrote: Sun June 14, 2026 12:48 am Trag is gonna break the forum again.

Fuckin' told you guys.

BurtReynolds wrote: Wed June 17, 2026 12:13 am Polarizing movie

I heard it's this century's Beastmaster.

I might watch it tomorrow, but I haven't seen Backrooms yet.

BurtReynolds wrote: Wed June 17, 2026 4:24 am I might watch it tomorrow, but I haven't seen Backrooms yet.

Go to Bedrooms

Mecca wrote: Wed June 17, 2026 12:14 am I think Colin Firth’s wife dying was the catalyst for that oversight. He tells him that he no longer trusted people anymore and kept everyone on a need to know basis. It’s analogous to how they operated on the idea that people couldn’t handle the actual truth of extra terrestrial life and kept it as need to know information

Probably why Domingo was able to get such a commanding lead on buying the requisite supplies to rebuild the childhood home of Emily Blunt. Supply chain shortages be damned!

Despite the river of tears from Emily Blunt's character, the only one in the movie that moved me was the anchor lady at the end.

And wtf was that Polar Express level CGI whenever they put an animal on screen?

Blunt should be nominated, she was excellent.

I'm not sure mess is the right word - but tonally all over the place, contrivances galore, less than half-baked themes shoe-horned in, cheesy at times. And i'm usually okay with Spielberg cheese.

Say more about the "less than half-baked themes shoehorned in" critique
I think the thematic core of the movie is very clear, in fact it feels to me built from the inside out around it

Jorge wrote: Sat June 27, 2026 10:53 pm Say more about the "less than half-baked themes shoehorned in" critique
I think the thematic core of the movie is very clear, in fact it feels to me built from the inside out around it

The faith/religious part. Maybe not a theme but parallels with a possible WWIII, that was brought up 3 times very quickly. I don't think the overall core was unclear, so that's why I said shoe-horned.

It kinda feels like a book adapted for a screenplay that took shortcuts with elements that were better fleshed out in the book.