Will The Children of Men break the sci-fi curse?
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Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm
Posts: 8767
Location: Great Living Standards
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Oh, so now you start to come on board. It took the ramblings of a "qualified" critic to get you behind it, eh?
Mark my words, I'll remember you bastards come February next year.
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| Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:26 am |
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Alex Y.
Top Poster
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:47 pm
Posts: 5812
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Having seen the film, I think Cuaron will make it into BD, even if it misses out on most of the precursors like City of God or Black Hawk Down.
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| Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:47 pm |
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dar
Indiana Jones IV
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 9:01 pm
Posts: 1702
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 Snrub wrote: dar wrote: Snrub, you are the best poster ever. Truly. Awwww!! You too! dar wrote: Although I also think you are wrong. WRONG I TELL YOU!!! Screw you, dar!!! dar wrote: Although you are right about something: It´s useless for any of us to try to change our perception of a film. That said, It´s my turn now...  ... go on... dar wrote: The whole "screaming my evil plan" thing was clumsy to no end, and wouldn´t be out of place in a Spy Kids bad sequel. It´s lazy screenwriting, nothing else. And so It is the exposition in the first twenty minutes of the film, in which the story never advances in any significant way. No, exposition was cheap, and although all the things you talk about were probably mentioned, they were never shown in a credible way. Take Clive Owen´s character, for example: Who was he? What was his journey during the movie? Surely, lots of things happened to him, but the guy remained uninteresting and devoid of personality throughout (And I think he is a great actor, so the fault must lay somewhere else) The "screaming my evil plan" thing you mention never happened. As I said, it was a combination of events that led to Theo hearing FISH's "evil" plan. Ones which the film had telegraphed in advance, which helped suspend disbelief - for me, at least. As for the things I mentioned never being shown in a credible way... I think you should watch the film again and pay more attention (which is possibly the most insulting thing anyone can say in an argument like this). As to Clive's character's journey... Theo's (Clive Owen) character was a guy who'd given up. He'd lost his child to a plague, and it hit him hard. As a result he'd spend the last 20 years doing bugger all bar drink and live... The re-introduction of Julian (Julianne Moore) to his life sparked old memories. He thought he had a chance at rekindling past romance. Her death struck him hard. Upon discovering Kee was pregnant, he took it upon himself to finish Julian's final wish. Along the way he grows, sacrifices and becomes more active than he has since his child was killed (the best signifier of his growth as a character is the point that he uses his stash of Scotch to clean his hands before birthing the child). dar wrote: The whole missile scene was ridiculous to no end, IMO. We are talking about the biggest thing to happen to humanity in 20 years, and not one of the soldiers, not a single one, cares about it for some time - enough for our guys to run away, of course. That is lazy screenwriting. Again. There are more examples of that... Of course the movie is directed brilliantly and some scenes are fantastic from an action point of view, but the script is full of holes, impausibilities and yeah, hamfisted exposition. Okay... Now, I'm not saying a rocket launcher being fired mere metres away would be a deterrent from looking at the first baby in 20 years... but still, try to imagine exactly what it would take to take your attention away from a rocket being fired in your direction. Whatever impact the baby had (which was huge), the instinct to survive is still greater. I personally would've found it more unbelievable if a rocket had exploded nearby and everyone had continued to stare at the baby. dar wrote: But I shouldn´t try to convince you, really, and in fact It´s great that you enjoyed the damn film so much. I wish I had, I wanted to. I truly believe it's one of the greatest films I've ever seen. And it genuinely makes me sad that someone else doesn't feel the same way. dar wrote: Here in Spain It got lukewarm to good reviews, box office has been just so-so. I dont know if It´s going to be a box office hit in the US (Doubt, It wasn´t even in UK) but Variety panned it, and I agreed with that review quite a bit. I severely doubt it'll be a huge hit in the US. The date is all wrong, and the theme isn't the sort to bring in the masses. But part of me still hopes it catches on. Nevertheless... I truly believe that years from now it'll be remembered as the best film of 2006 (nay, the decade). And that's enough for me. Snrub, your passion for it is great.
But, as we knew when we started arguing, the whole thing is pointless. I know that everything you mention is there, but for me is poorly done (from a screenwriting point of view, I mean). I know what Clive Owen´s journey was supposed to be, but for me, It didn´t work. At all. And that´s cause the screenplay - or its translation to the screen was, IMO, very lacking. I wish somebody would have cared for the story as much as they cared for the set pieces which were, I agree, amazing.
That said, this might get a BD nomination... might. But the release date and not so hot box office - unless It´s a surprise hit - make it really difficult. But no way in hell this gets a BP nomination, or anything other than a techie or two. We´ll see come february, all right!!! 
But hey, in the end, you win. You enjoyed the film so much, I wish I had. Maybe I´ll watch it again at a Snrub-organized convention in 20 years and see the light, finally. But somehow I doubt it. _________________You Are a Strawberry Daiquiri
What Mixed Drink Are You?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatmixeddrinkareyouquiz/
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| Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:33 am |
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Jonathan
Begging Naked
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:07 pm
Posts: 14737
Location: The Present (Duh)
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Whoops-i-doodles.
Last edited by Jonathan on Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:15 pm |
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Jonathan
Begging Naked
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:07 pm
Posts: 14737
Location: The Present (Duh)
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:15 pm |
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Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm
Posts: 8767
Location: Great Living Standards
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Awesome. Very classy. Good to see they're getting behind it.
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:34 pm |
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Dkmuto
Forum General
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 1:00 am
Posts: 6502
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I'm actually very pumped for Children of Men.
I'm still unsure of its Oscar prospects, though (i.e., still don't believe Snrub). What's the critical response been like? Or, have there even been screenings yet?
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:37 pm |
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Shack
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:30 am
Posts: 40256
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I think the chances for this film keep getting better and better, considering the competition for the last spot(assuming United 93 makes it) is awfully weak, all the other contenders have serious problems.
_________________Shack’s top 50 tv shows - viewtopic.php?f=8&t=90227
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:22 pm |
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Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm
Posts: 8767
Location: Great Living Standards
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Dkmuto wrote: I'm actually very pumped for Children of Men.
I'm still unsure of its Oscar prospects, though (i.e., still don't believe Snrub). What's the critical response been like? Or, have there even been screenings yet? I'm gonna stop trying to convince people now, I'm just going to sit back smugly, watch you all talk up Iwo Jima's, Babel and United 93's chances, then, when the time comes, turn you all away from the elite club of Children of Men supporters, population: me.
The critical response in the UK was good. Anyone who's anyone (i.e., me, my boss at work, my best friend Stu, Devin from CHUD, and Kris Tapley) has called it a masterpiece. There's an embargo in the states at the moment, when that's lifted expect to see its Tomato-meter skyrocket.
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| Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:56 pm |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm
Posts: 92093
Location: Bonn, Germany
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I've seen it and it's a very solid film, but no masterpiece. On top of that, no way it is getting somewhere near BP/BD.
Technically, however, it is brilliant. The cinematography is awe-inspiring. I couldn't believe how many single-shot scenes there have been in the film. So masterfully done!
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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| Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:09 am |
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