[worry]

I like it for the same reason I like, say, The Road or Children of Men. It implants the reality that human beings will self destruct relatively soon, into a specific spec fic conceit and follows it through logically. The fact that it focuses on ecology, mass hysteria, and the not-just-uphill-but-definitely-losing battle of sensible people means it desires to hue fairly close to the truth (talking apes are just the fanciful entry point). The fact that this will all end with the virtual extinction of humanity and this generation's children and grandchildren are doomed to a nightmare hellscape in the meantime means it respects its audience enough not to sugarcoat it (so far, at least), at least insofar as a PG-13 movie will allow that much honesty.

[worry]

It's a trilogy afaik.

[QuickTidal]

A Demon Llama!, on 02 March 2015 - 03:39 AM, said:

I would call it more of an action movie trying to scratch a surface rather than delving.

There's only really two action sequences in it though. The midway attack by Koba & Co. on the human compound, and the one at the end. Otherwise it's posturing, and in-camp dissention on both sides fueling the eventual showdown.

As for delving, we've got apes communicating complex emotions or ideas with a flick of the eyes (example: Maurice towards the humans when the Ape home burns). To me that was pretty amazing.

It's obviusly not going to be for everyone, but I don't know that I'd reduce it to "action movie" either.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 02 March 2015 - 12:15 PM

[Jakovasaurus]

Sean Penn FTW! Bizznatches!

[Primateus]

Last night I watched Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Can't say that I enjoyed it overly much. I dunno, it just seemed rather lackluster and predictable. The story didn't engage me and I didn't really care about the characters.

Today, however, I just finished watching The Grey!

Holy shit that was intense and fucked up, yeah, I think it's safe to say I'll never look at a wolf the same way again. That was some scary fucking shit.

Spoiler

I actually thought he'd make it in the end, the one man who actually wanted to die

[worry]

I guess one man's predictable is another man's inevitable. I found great comfort in the acknowledgement of that willing, eyes-forward march towards self-obliteration. I suppose the movies are a little sunnier than real life, because at least there's another intelligent species out there to mark our fall and remember us, however poorly.

[Nicodimas]

worry, on 02 March 2015 - 04:43 AM, said:

I like it for the same reason I like, say, The Road or Children of Men. It implants the reality that human beings will self destruct relatively soon, into a specific spec fic conceit and follows it through logically. The fact that it focuses on ecology, mass hysteria, and the not-just-uphill-but-definitely-losing battle of sensible people means it desires to hue fairly close to the truth (talking apes are just the fanciful entry point). The fact that this will all end with the virtual extinction of humanity and this generation's children and grandchildren are doomed to a nightmare hellscape in the meantime means it respects its audience enough not to sugarcoat it (so far, at least), at least insofar as a PG-13 movie will allow that much honesty.

On that note...Children of Men was such a good movie. I can't state this enough. None of the people I watched it with liked it and called it "pointless" . I am still miffed they didn't enjoy it..totally bugged me.

I like when a movie goes places like The Road, Children of Men, and Requiem for a Dream. Get a little darker with the social constructs they push forth showing reality in a different light. They have more balls to them is the way I view it.

Or in war movies-->
If you look at it with War movies you have have ones like American Sniper, etc that make war seem Heroic in the battles. Then other's are like Fury..which are so much more fun in bleakness. I used two moderns ones for the purpose of this debate so they are fresh on peoples minds. The both have battles, but the tone and the projection of soldier's at the end is far different.

[amphibian]

I have a good friend who is very resistant to the "dark" trend of movies. He very much enjoys the Silver Age era/style of comics, if that explains things. Huge Superman follower and dislikes Man of Steel for its very grim tone in addition to some story problems he sticks on.

I can understand that resistance as plenty of movies/books/tv get dark just to get dark; it's not to serve the story or the characters and thus becomes a sort of sleazy thing, rather than an exploration of darkness in a well written/plotted manner. Erikson refers to this grimdark trend in his Authorial Intent posts.

But... Children of Men is an all time masterpiece. Requiem for a Dream, I'm not that sold on. The Road was very good.

American Sniper is an irresponsible movie about a human piece of shit sanctioned murderer that made tons of money, which makes me doubly angry.

[worry]

I like light fare and dark fare both, of course. It's a matter of not hitting any (or many -- the Apes movies are PG-13, after all) false notes. I'd contrast it with War of the Worlds (Spielberg's), which

Spoiler

had a great beginning, an interesting/challenging middle (the Tim Robbins section), and a potentially solid finale that betrayed its audience with the inexplicable survival of the lost son. A brave choice early on turned into absolute sentimental treacle. I didn't feel relief, I felt lied to. That's the feeling I'd prefer to avoid, regardless of how dark or not the intent.

[polishgenius]

Yeah, the ending of War of the Worlds was an exercise in how to tarnish a whole film with ten seconds of footage. Dreadful stuff, and I really like the rest of the film.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 04 March 2015 - 05:57 AM, said:

Yeah, the ending of War of the Worlds was an exercise in how to tarnish a whole film with ten seconds of footage. Dreadful stuff, and I really like the rest of the film.

Yep, 100% agree. I often wonder if Spielberg considers it that way looking back? I don't know anyone who doesn't HATE the fact that the son lives. It literally ruins all that came before and negates a huge section of the storyline.

[Nicodimas]

Avengers Trailer 3 Up

Looks nuts...definitely more scenes...might want to avoid if not a fan of THOSE trailers.

[Gnaw]

I read awhile back that Marvel Studios is looking to make the Black Widow the more central character to their universe. That was why they weren't going to do a Black Widow origin story; her future is more important than her past. From that trailer it looks like what they meant is she's going to kiss them all eventually.

[HoosierDaddy]

Gnaw, on 05 March 2015 - 01:57 AM, said:

I read awhile back that Marvel Studios is looking to make the Black Widow the more central character to their universe. That was why they weren't going to do a Black Widow origin story; her future is more important than her past. From that trailer it looks like what they meant is she's going to kiss them all eventually.

Would you say no to a kiss from her?

[Gnaw]

HoosierDaddy, on 05 March 2015 - 02:41 AM, said:

Gnaw, on 05 March 2015 - 01:57 AM, said:

I read awhile back that Marvel Studios is looking to make the Black Widow the more central character to their universe. That was why they weren't going to do a Black Widow origin story; her future is more important than her past. From that trailer it looks like what they meant is she's going to kiss them all eventually.

Would you say no to a kiss from her?

I'd probably panic and freeze so she'd withdraw the offer. *shrug*

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 05 March 2015 - 02:39 AM, said:

Who is that at end? Prob a good idea to spoiler it. I have no clue who that was.

Spoiler

Vision, he's a good guy.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 05 March 2015 - 03:37 AM

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Chappie is fucking brilliant.

[Morgoth]

I saw Jupiter Ascending and Kingsman with my Brother. Both were fine films in their own way.

Jupiter was quite the spectacular space opera with an excellent antagonist in Redmayne. Nothing particularly groundbreaking perhaps, but it might be the only sci fi I can think of that provides a believable reason for why galactic powers would care about earth.

Kingsman was a fantastic throwback to the age of Roger More, and I quite enjoyed the meta humor connected to that. Excellent acting too, all around, and the action was simply superb.

[worry]

I watched The Book of Life, and quite liked it. It had its cons (way too many pop songs, a fairly basic plot), but was visually quite stunning and some archetypal characters were injected with personality.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

It's awesome. Go watch chappie.