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A stark raving mad story about survival, hurt, revenge and self-destruction
This film reminds me of "Cloud Atlas" and "The Host" (dir. Bong Joon Ho). I.e.: it can be as Deep as the viewer wants, or as Shallow. The director does not hold viewers' hand throughout but sprinkles in hints and "easter eggs" and let's US decide what to take from each character, from each scene and from the whole shebang.
It is a wildly insane and wheezing-laughter inducing fun ride (if you are open to the possibilities and the absurd). For sure the plot-armour is armouring here and CGI looks like CGI, but I like to think that it's all on purpose.
Immediately after the screening, I wished for a sequel but the more I live with the film, more I realise: I don't care either way. I am just happy the film exists and that I got to watch this b@tshit crazy amusement ride on the big screen. I know it's not listed as a comedy, but it definitely is one. Don't get me wrong, it has horror and thriller elements and it is a genre defying picture, but it IS most definitely, from start to finish, an SK comedy.
It might suffer from lack of character-arcs but, damn, it is a "monster flic" and in this it delivers heaps. It has a definitive One main character - the cowardly lousy cop, who is gifted (because of his fear) lucky plot armour. Everyone else there is the supporting cast. The cop as it turns out does possess dignity and grows to have courage (mostly in the events, when he realises he's not there to fight alone).
By the middle and definitely the end of the film I was rooting the same amount for the humans as for the aliens, I hated and loved them both equally, because for me it was a story about survival, hurt, revenge, and self destruction. Both sides suffered dearly and nearing the end, humans (some more than others) looked alien, while aliens seemed to have more humanity (then expected at the beginning).
I cannot say whether it is a good film, whether it is an homage to the genres the film encompases, or whether it is a parody of said genres. I can, however, say - the film has soul, it was made with care of what is human, of what is inhuman, it was made with magnificent visuals; superb lighting; characters you can't stop hating and caring for at the same time. For me it will be worth a second watch.
It is a wildly insane and wheezing-laughter inducing fun ride (if you are open to the possibilities and the absurd). For sure the plot-armour is armouring here and CGI looks like CGI, but I like to think that it's all on purpose.
Immediately after the screening, I wished for a sequel but the more I live with the film, more I realise: I don't care either way. I am just happy the film exists and that I got to watch this b@tshit crazy amusement ride on the big screen. I know it's not listed as a comedy, but it definitely is one. Don't get me wrong, it has horror and thriller elements and it is a genre defying picture, but it IS most definitely, from start to finish, an SK comedy.
It might suffer from lack of character-arcs but, damn, it is a "monster flic" and in this it delivers heaps. It has a definitive One main character - the cowardly lousy cop, who is gifted (because of his fear) lucky plot armour. Everyone else there is the supporting cast. The cop as it turns out does possess dignity and grows to have courage (mostly in the events, when he realises he's not there to fight alone).
By the middle and definitely the end of the film I was rooting the same amount for the humans as for the aliens, I hated and loved them both equally, because for me it was a story about survival, hurt, revenge, and self destruction. Both sides suffered dearly and nearing the end, humans (some more than others) looked alien, while aliens seemed to have more humanity (then expected at the beginning).
I cannot say whether it is a good film, whether it is an homage to the genres the film encompases, or whether it is a parody of said genres. I can, however, say - the film has soul, it was made with care of what is human, of what is inhuman, it was made with magnificent visuals; superb lighting; characters you can't stop hating and caring for at the same time. For me it will be worth a second watch.
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