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jimmyjohnjones69
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Settlers (2021)
Could have been something
I love being "dropped in the middle" of something and to have the story become exposed over time. I watched this because someone compared it to "Moon," one of my favorite slow-burn sci-fi movies. It was a pretty bad comparison. Slow-burn sci-fi westerns are one of my favorite genres, but this movie needed a lot more. Maybe double the dialog and have people actually talk just a little more, and don't whiff on the ending. It's a shame because this story really had potential.
The Little Drummer Girl (2018)
Thought it was just me
Came here to see what others thought. I am four episodes in and bailing. I really wanted to like this and tried to give it a chance, but I guess it's just not one of those things that was going to click for me. Just seems confusing and slow. I usually love a good slow burn, but usually the story seems headed somewhere.
Annihilation (2018)
Polarized Audience - You apparently may love or hate this
I don't review films, but I felt I had to counter the "one star" ratings from people who evidently didn't "get" this modern sci-fi masterpiece. I have to say I'm baffled by the extremely low reviews from some people, especially those who claim they went to sleep during the movie (is it fair to give it one star if you didn't see all of it?), or those who claim they are doing it to counter the "fake" ten star reviews.
I am giving this a ten because this movie single-handedly restored my faith in cinema as capable of giving me an "experience" in the theater. This is not a perfect film. That's not why I gave it a ten. I gave it a ten because of its vision and its impact. I'd say it's a cross between Alien, Arrival, Monsters, and 2001. If you don't like films that create an environment and put you in it to experience something, you probably won't like this. It's not a straight linear sci-fi film where you will have all your questions answered. Instead, it will make you think about what life and death is, about what ties us together, and it will give you a few scares along the way, and show you things you have never seen in other films. It will also convey how important the soundtrack can be in a film.
It's tragic that other countries didn't get a chance to see this in the theater. For anyone watching this overseas on Netflix, I recommend you watch on the largest television you can find with the best sound system you can get, and crank it. If you have to bribe your friend with the 70" television and Atmos sound system, do it. It's worth it to experience this film to the fullest. I wish I could see it for the first time again in the theater.
If you've read the book, Garland says this was created as a sort of "dream" of the book, and it's only roughly based on that work. If you have read the book first, you need to reset your expectations going in.
Again, this is not a "paid" review, it's not a "fake" review. I experienced what I can only describe as a near-religious experience in the theater watching this film, and a repeated view at home brought all those feelings back. It's a tremendous work, and I can't wait to see what Garland does next.