SubJeff on 11/8/2013 at 10:28
I give it a 5.
But then I like to keep my ranking simple.
3 is Average. Watchable, nothing special. Average.
2 is bad. 1 is total dross.
4 is good/above average.
5 is very good or excellent. Few films get this from me. Blade Runner is one of them.
faetal on 11/8/2013 at 18:33
I also give Blade Runner a 5.
I watched Oblivion the other day and I'm feeling so conflicted by it. I can see why people rate it down. It plays itself far too safe, is a bit Michael Bay where it should be more Duncan Jones and kills suspension of disbelief more than a few times, but the setting and story are great. It's like an extrapolation of Moon.
Also, whether intentional or not, there are strong subtexts of commentary on both human society and religion. The former in the sense that all of the constructs of society that we are born into and follow with scarcely a question are trusted and followed simply because they pre-date us and most of which are not designed to be of benefit to us other than a side-effect of serving those at the top. Likewise religion - people believe in something simply because it is much older and larger than they are etc... I found it really affecting, just marred by the aforementioned problems. Despite those though, I'd give it an easy 3, with ambition to be a 4 with better execution.
[EDIT] Nearly done watching Warm Bodies. An interesting idea that squandered much of its gravitas on trying to entertain teens.
SubJeff on 11/8/2013 at 19:30
Well I gave Oblivion a 4, despite it's many flaws.
I may have been swayed a little because I saw it at IMAX, but it looked fantastic, had a great score (m83 I think) and just a wonderful, wonderful atmosphere. The idea was so so, but it did touch on a lot of "stuff" (as all good sci-fi does) like you say faetal.
There was something strangely moving about it all though, and it worked for me.
It also made me think (what with Ender's Game on the horizon) that it's about time for some of the great sci-fi novels to be made into films that can finally capture the atmosphere - The Forever War, Rendezvous With Rama, etc.
Moon is really good but one of the problems was I "knew" about 10 minutes into the film. Bah. At least Oblivion had a few surprises. I saw some coming but some of them worked on me.
Muzman on 11/8/2013 at 21:16
"knowing" takes nothing away from Moon since it's not about twists or revelations but character. It probably even helps.
Angel Dust on 11/8/2013 at 22:45
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I give it a 5.
But then I like to keep my ranking simple.
3 is Average. Watchable, nothing special. Average.
2 is bad. 1 is total dross.
4 is good/above average.
5 is very good or excellent. Few films get this from me. Blade Runner is one of them.
And that's why ratings on their own are pretty useless. For me 1 is bad, 2 is mediocre, 3 good, 4 great and 5 classic with 0 stars being reserved for the truly wretched.
Alien: 5
Blade Runner Final Cut: 4
Oblivion: 2
Contact: 3
District 9: 3
I reckon this would be more suited to a TV series actually. A film would have to dramatically cut down, or cut out, the different eras of civilization that occur.
faetal on 11/8/2013 at 23:01
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
There was something strangely moving about it all though, and it worked for me.
I agree. Despite their interaction being minimal, there was a great chemistry between Cruise's character and
his wife - the part where he was putting her in the box was particularly good, but I also agree that the great score was part of the mood. I love the sounds made by the drones too.
Briareos H on 11/8/2013 at 23:11
Speaking of Oblivion, I just watched it. It's competently made and very pretty, the structure is by-the-numbers Hollywood fare but I didn't expect better anyway. I watched it as a pretty homage to a century of science-fiction, because that's pretty much what it is: not only is there nothing original, but all the references are pretty obvious, even blunt. The Matrix, Moon, 2001, Independence Day, Total Recall, one of the Star Trek films, Planet of the Apes and even video games such as Portal and modern FPSes for some of the visuals... you name it, it has it. Actors are boring, action and narrative aren't really engaging but overall I found it to be an enjoyable and sleek reference fest.
I rate it
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http://i.imgur.com/rhKIb9I.jpgSubJeff on 12/8/2013 at 01:47
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
And that's why ratings on their own are pretty useless. For me 1 is bad, 2 is mediocre, 3 good, 4 great and 5 classic with 0 stars being reserved for the truly wretched.
I reckon this would be more suited to a TV series actually. A film would have to dramatically cut down, or cut out, the different eras of civilization that occur.
That is a 6 point scale and therefore has no place for an average film. It is also non linear.
I beg you, reconsider a true 5 point scale.
I think The Forever War would have to be a 2hr 45 minuter. Or 2 films. They could fit it into one though.
And please give it to Cronenberg.
Fafhrd on 12/8/2013 at 04:19
I did quite like Oblivion when I was watching it, but rating it objectively as possible it's too much of a mishmash of ideas from much better films without bringing much originality to the table beyond the art direction. And it's story doesn't hold up to very much scrutiny, so it has to fall into 'mediocre overall.' Especially when being rated against Aliens, Blade Runner, District 9 and Contact.
Elysium I enjoyed viscerally during the action bits, and then the ending shat in my mouth so I left the theatre feeling insulted and angry.
Yakoob on 12/8/2013 at 04:49
Quote Posted by dethtoll
Giving Blade Runner a 4 out of 5 is surprisingly generous for TTLG.
OH why do you do think so? I just mentioned how I was considering rewatching cause my first watch left me vehemently underwhelmed (I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS :joke:)
Lol, that reminds me of one of the many reasons I love X-Play (old game reviews show from TechTV/G4 with Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb), they recognized futility of game ratings and thus deliberately used silly scales like 3 fluffy kittens out of 5 solid snakes or something like that.
