ANNIHILATION (2018)

[GRWelsh]

I saw several movies over the weekend, and they were all excellent: ANNIHILATION, THE SHAPE OF WATER, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, and THE ENDLESS. ANNIHILATION starring Natalie Portman stood out for me because I like the director, Alex Garland (also did EX MACHINA), and it is based on a story by 'Lovecraftian' author, Jeff VanderMeer. Without giving too much away, it works as a science fiction/horror movie and also on another level. Effects are good, the story and approach all felt fresh. I can't say more without giving spoilers, but I think you guys would all like it -- it has some game-related ideas that could be useful. And, it is a movie that requires thought.

[grodog]

Heather and I watched it a few weeks ago, and while it was interesting, it didn't really come together in a way that was appreciable (for us). Lots of weird dangling threads of plots, internal contradictions, and such.

Allan.

[GRWelsh]

Here is a link to an article that helped to bring it all together for me (spoilers):

collider.com/annihilation-movie-explained/#alex-garland

Something I liked about this movie was the representation of the 'monstrous' or 'alien' as truly inexplicable and weird. It is easy to understand an alien that merely wants to eat you, or kill you, or enslave you... But what if its intentions are unknown, and the experiences of contact with it are bizarre? I thought it was obviously influenced by "The Colour Out of Space," one of H. P. Lovecraft's finest stories, and his personal favourite.

[geneweigel]

I tried to watch it twice but its still PPV so we have a limit on that because we went insane one month I can't get a vote on anything that has that "woman from those stupid Star Wars movies, UGH! I can't believe you made me watch those, she was the best part about THOR RAGNAROK" I kid you not.

[geneweigel]

I finally watched ANNIHILATION, that is weird that I mentioned THOR RAGNAROK and had no idea that the actress from THOR RAGNAROK was in this ( I was referring to my wife being glad Portman chose not to continue her role in THOR).

My take is that this is a remake of another movie (I'm not saying for SPOILER SAKE) just done in a really long and elaborate manner instead of a few hours.

[GRWelsh]

It reminded me of SOLARIS (1972 Russian original and 2002 remake) and if that's what you're thinking of I wouldn't call that a spoiler. I like the idea of encountering an entity or force and recognizing some intelligence and intent yet totally being alien to each other and unable to communicate clearly. That's deeply unsettling. Is it an enemy? or is it simply trying to make contact with us and this is the only way it knows how to?

I like Natalie Portman a lot, but any actor can be given clunky roles with little to do... I think that was her problem in STAR WARS and the first two THOR movies.

[geneweigel]

I was thinking a more familiar American movie outing (which I probably shouldn't say as a SPOILER) but are you referring to SOLARIS (1972) or STALKER (1979)? I was thinking STALKER a little as I watched.

[GRWelsh]

I haven't seen STALKER (1979) but I read there are similarities to that one as well. I'll have to stalk it down and watch it.

[foster1941]

My favorite part of this was the cameo by the alzabo from Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun"

[geneweigel]

Wow, that went right over my head. I knew it seemed familiar. I had that BARLOWE'S GUIDE TO EXTRATERRESTRIALS since it came out and at one point I had sought out all the aliens from the series and it included that creature.

[GRWelsh]

Yeah, the screaming bear was one of the best monsters I've seen in a long time. It reminded me of a leucrotta. If the entire movie is a metaphor for cancer, then the screaming bear represents your last memory of a loved one dying from it and crying out for help.