Red Mosquito

theplatypus wrote:Nobody had a problem with the ridiculous

Spoiler: show

OHHH CHRISTIAN BALE HAD AN IDENTICAL TWIN ALL ALONG contrivance?

Nope.

Not even a little bit. It's kinda... ya know... the whole point. It isn't any more contrived than any other plot point in that movie.

The Prestige is like a purist's science fiction short story: it keeps the characters and setting as close to "reality" as it can do while achieving its ends, it narrows the focus of its primary sci-fi adjustor rather than making broad changes, it uses said adjustor primarily to draw out or illustrate a point about a character-driven flaw or experience, and it plays a mild con game where the world you're watching is revealed to be a lot less "normal" than you first assume it to be.

Science fiction so often takes a backdrop to science fantasy these days, or tries to compete with it by being as fantastical as it can get away with being, that I really liked having the very rare experience of seeing it play out on screen with such focused intentions. I also didn't really expect it to be that kind of movie, so it was a novel and engaging surprise.

McParadigm wrote:The Prestige is like a purist's science fiction short story: it keeps the characters and setting as close to "reality" as it can do while achieving its ends, it narrows the focus of its primary sci-fi adjustor rather than making broad changes, it uses said adjustor primarily to draw out or illustrate a point about a character-driven flaw or experience, and it plays a mild con game where the world you're watching is revealed to be a lot less "normal" than you first assume it to be.

Science fiction so often takes a backdrop to science fantasy these days, or tries to compete with it by being as fantastical as it can get away with being, that I really liked having the very rare experience of seeing it play out on screen with such focused intentions. I also didn't really expect it to be that kind of movie, so it was a novel and engaging surprise.

are you a notary? i need something notarized

Alex wrote:

McParadigm wrote:The Prestige is like a purist's science fiction short story: it keeps the characters and setting as close to "reality" as it can do while achieving its ends, it narrows the focus of its primary sci-fi adjustor rather than making broad changes, it uses said adjustor primarily to draw out or illustrate a point about a character-driven flaw or experience, and it plays a mild con game where the world you're watching is revealed to be a lot less "normal" than you first assume it to be.

Science fiction so often takes a backdrop to science fantasy these days, or tries to compete with it by being as fantastical as it can get away with being, that I really liked having the very rare experience of seeing it play out on screen with such focused intentions. I also didn't really expect it to be that kind of movie, so it was a novel and engaging surprise.

are you a notary? i need something notarized

I am that I am. Say this to the notary public: I Am has sent me to you.

McParadigm wrote:The Prestige is like a purist's science fiction short story: it keeps the characters and setting as close to "reality" as it can do while achieving its ends, it narrows the focus of its primary sci-fi adjustor rather than making broad changes, it uses said adjustor primarily to draw out or illustrate a point about a character-driven flaw or experience, and it plays a mild con game where the world you're watching is revealed to be a lot less "normal" than you first assume it to be.

Science fiction so often takes a backdrop to science fantasy these days, or tries to compete with it by being as fantastical as it can get away with being, that I really liked having the very rare experience of seeing it play out on screen with such focused intentions. I also didn't really expect it to be that kind of movie, so it was a novel and engaging surprise.

This is one of the best posts on RM in a long time.

broken iris wrote:

McParadigm wrote:The Prestige is like a purist's science fiction short story: it keeps the characters and setting as close to "reality" as it can do while achieving its ends, it narrows the focus of its primary sci-fi adjustor rather than making broad changes, it uses said adjustor primarily to draw out or illustrate a point about a character-driven flaw or experience, and it plays a mild con game where the world you're watching is revealed to be a lot less "normal" than you first assume it to be.

Science fiction so often takes a backdrop to science fantasy these days, or tries to compete with it by being as fantastical as it can get away with being, that I really liked having the very rare experience of seeing it play out on screen with such focused intentions. I also didn't really expect it to be that kind of movie, so it was a novel and engaging surprise.

This is one of the best posts on RM in a long time.

Aw huh

theplatypus wrote:Nobody had a problem with the ridiculous

Spoiler: show

OHHH CHRISTIAN BALE HAD AN IDENTICAL TWIN ALL ALONG contrivance?

yeah, pretty fuckin' campy, like I hated it when it happened
but then, like I think mcparadigm is trying to say, maybe it almost makes sense in the context of movie, even if it isn't very satisfying.

nah wrote:i think win win and free ride are dev movies

I remember enjoying win win when I watched it, and I like the colours on the poster for free ride, but have no idea why you are telling me this, or if I should actually watch free ride which has gotten panned by reviewers.

There was not a single film from the oscar/ holiday season with a wide release that was actually exceptional, but maybe that is always the case.

Name three exceptional films.

durdencommatyler wrote:Name three exceptional films.

Now the question is how do i make this list without incriminating myself.

Dev wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:Name three exceptional films.

Now the question is how do i make this list without incriminating myself.

The Fly
3 Women
Buffalo 66

I dunno those were just 3 that came to mind first

durdencommatyler wrote:

theplatypus wrote:Nobody had a problem with the ridiculous

Spoiler: show

OHHH CHRISTIAN BALE HAD AN IDENTICAL TWIN ALL ALONG contrivance?

Nope.

Not even a little bit. It's kinda... ya know... the whole point. It isn't any more contrived than any other plot point in that movie.

I liked the movie quite a bit, but I felt robbed by that ending. It came out of nowhere and was accompanied by an incredibly weak Bond villain plan layout, a stylish deus ex machina. That's the book's fault more than it is the movie's, but it seriously hindered an otherwise enjoyable film for me.

theplatypus wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

theplatypus wrote:Nobody had a problem with the ridiculous

Spoiler: show

OHHH CHRISTIAN BALE HAD AN IDENTICAL TWIN ALL ALONG contrivance?

Nope.

Not even a little bit. It's kinda... ya know... the whole point. It isn't any more contrived than any other plot point in that movie.

I liked the movie quite a bit, but I felt robbed by that ending. It came out of nowhere and was accompanied by an incredibly weak Bond villain plan layout, a stylish deus ex machina. That's the book's fault more than it is the movie's, but it seriously hindered an otherwise enjoyable film for me.

I can see what you're saying. But I thought it worked. Also, I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere. The clues are there throughout. But, yeah, the Bod villain-esque exposition was probably the weakest part of the whole film. Still, a minor complaint.

any movie that relies on a twin or a clone as the final reveal should probably be considered retarded by default

Except, maybe, a film about sleight of hand and a narcissist driven by obsession and rivalry. Then twins and clones can become quite poignant. Maybe.

Dev wrote:

Dev wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:Name three exceptional films.

Now the question is how do i make this list without incriminating myself.

The Fly
3 Women
Buffalo 66

I dunno those were just 3 that came to mind first

I've only seen The Fly.

durdencommatyler wrote:Also, I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere. The clues are there throughout.

Spoiler: show

And I got those clues-- the whole "you don't mean it today" thing with the wife, and the Silent Bob manager, things like that-- but I was seriously expecting them to lead to something less corny than "identical twin". I was primed for a crazy mindfuck but instead I was just deflated by the reveal.

durdencommatyler wrote:

Dev wrote:

Dev wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:Name three exceptional films.

Now the question is how do i make this list without incriminating myself.

The Fly
3 Women
Buffalo 66

I dunno those were just 3 that came to mind first

I've only seen The Fly.

and do you agree, it's badass in a way that dallas buyers club, nebraska and american hustle can't even touch?

theplatypus wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:Also, I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere. The clues are there throughout.

Spoiler: show

And I got those clues-- the whole "you don't mean it today" thing with the wife, and the Silent Bob manager, things like that-- but I was seriously expecting them to lead to something less corny than "identical twin". I was primed for a crazy mindfuck but instead I was just deflated by the reveal.

Spoiler: show

Sure. I guess for me it was kind of the point. The idea that Jackman would go to such extremes, to literally kill himself over and over again, only to find out that the answer was so, so simple, was sort of heartbreaking. I think that was part of the point the film was trying to make. Every time someone explains a magic trick to me in real life, I feel the same way. The answer is always so simple that I feel like a fool. This was that to the complete extreme, I thought.