Topic: A Christopher Nolan Thread

[PhilV]

Very excited to see this

[Red_Irishman]

Absolutely pissed that I can't see this until mid next week. First world problems. Maybe the rush to see it will have eased by then.

[Redman0151]

Really want to get the soundtrack for this, been delayed a few weeks because they want people to hear and appareciate the music properly for the first time when watching the film apparently

[edge]

Just got back from seeing this, blew my mind, probably more than Inception did.

And that soundtrack/audio. Wow.

This is picking up some Oscars for sure.

[Mr Dilkington]

Very very disappointed with this.

Comfortably one of Nolan's worst films. It is absolutely breathtaking at times, and you can't knock the scale of the thing, but there are so many problems. Pacing all over the place, incredibly plodding and an unsatisfactory ending.

Dat soundtrack though. Incredible.

[Something Awful]

Very very disappointed with this.

Comfortably one of Nolan's worst films. It is absolutely breathtaking at times, and you can't knock the scale of the thing, but there are so many problems. Pacing all over the place, incredibly plodding and an unsatisfactory ending.

Dat soundtrack though. Incredible.

Fair to say Zimmer is now clearly head and shoulders above anyone not named John Williams, right?

[jooneyisdagod]

Actually, I found the soundtrack a bit loud at times. Especially when there was bits of dialogue at times that were barely audible over the heavy score.

[classycarra]

really enjoyed it

did anyone else feel the soundtrack was largely modelled on philip glass, stuff like pruit igoe?

and a lot of the themes from pohl's book gateway?

[Mr Dilkington]

Yeah, Zimmer is something else.

Gonna throw a grenade in here and run very far..

Gravity>Interstellar.

[jooneyisdagod]

Yeah, Zimmer is something else.

Gonna throw a grenade in here and run very far..

Gravity>Interstellar.

You better run very very far mate.

[Pelé as a Comedian]

Yeah, Zimmer is something else.

Gonna throw a grenade in here and run very far..

Gravity>Interstellar.

Gravity's pacing & music > Interstellar's pacing & music. no joke

not only was Zimmers soundtrack too loud in parts but the organ piece  immediately made me think of the beginning of Solyaris where Tarkovsky used a Bach organ piece. definitely an awkward/uninspired "homage" to the film methinks (and not the only cue Nolan borrows from Solyaris)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/vJdQU_5E_Ao" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/vJdQU_5E_Ao</a>

the movie is a beautiful mess. probably his "worst", has its moments though

alas, the ending really didn't do it for me, let me break it down how i experienced it

Spoiler

Hospital scene with Murph :

Murph: hi dad, this was all about me apparently and now we're finally together again. this whole movie has been zeroing in on this moment.

but look, im really old and about to die so i brought all my extended family with me to be with them instead. not your son though, the one character that you connected with emotionally during the film while i was off somewhere moping Batman style. he can go suck it, no idea where your firstborn son is. so anyway would you mind pissing off now?

like, i dunno,  that Brand girl whom you totally didn't connect with at all during these three hours/dozens of years aside from needling her on the death of a crewmate and then later for her love of another man. could you maybe hook up with her? apparently she's all alone on that third planet (we didn't send a rescue party after her or even a colony ship or anything).

you can totally hotwire a spaceship and get over there pronto though. and while you're at it take that clunky badass Kit-kat-bar-looking robot with you on your X-wing, maybe you can swing by the Dagobah system on your way lol

k'bye time to die, laters

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[Something Awful]

Yeah, Zimmer is something else.

Gonna throw a grenade in here and run very far..

Gravity>Interstellar.

I'd agree with that. Gravity was unreal, Interstellar was good but not as visceral. And after a day thinking about it...fairly flawed in some areas.

[gamble]

Definitely worth a watch, I only ever saw trailers for it so there were a good few surprising cameos/actors that I didn't think were in it.

Ending could have been better though but doesn't spoil the rest of the film. Probably willl talk more about it when more people have seen the film.

[Pelé as a Comedian]

Definitely worth a watch, I only ever saw trailers for it so there were a good few surprising cameos/actors that I didn't think were in it.

Ending could have been better though but doesn't spoil the rest of the film. Probably willl talk more about it when more people have seen the film.

aww cmon braahh, dont leave me hanging! (two posts up)

[gamble]

Well I definitely agree with your point about the ending. That was very rushed, also

Spoiler

Of all the places in the space time continuum to end up and he lands behind little murph's bookcase?? Bit of a cop out. At least he didn't burst through the bookcase like he thought he might have at one point!

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[Pelé as a Comedian]

Well I definitely agree with your point about the ending. That was very rushed, also

Spoiler

Of all the places in the space time continuum to end up and he lands behind little murph's bookcase?? Bit of a cop out. At least he didn't burst through the bookcase like he thought he might have at one point!

[close]

yes, the time travel/wormhole element of the script isn't a tight run ship (like Primer or Donnie Darko for instance) at all.
in fact i think the movie can more easibly be compared to Sunshine (on various levels)..and, essentially, unfavourably at that..

[Something Awful]

Well I definitely agree with your point about the ending. That was very rushed, also

Spoiler

Of all the places in the space time continuum to end up and he lands behind little murph's bookcase?? Bit of a cop out. At least he didn't burst through the bookcase like he thought he might have at one point!

[close]

Spoiler

the future humans that sent the wormhole created the space for him. It had to be there for him to set up the events of the movie. Think of him as Kyle Reese and his daughter as Sarah Connor...


..
Wait that's just wrong...

[close]

[Pelé as a Comedian]

Spoiler

the future humans that sent the wormhole created the space for him. It had to be there for him to set up the events of the movie. Think of him as Kyle Reese and his daughter as Sarah Connor...


..
Wait that's just wrong...

[close]

Spoiler

yeah, that whole element of future humans/her dad peeping tom-ing on a young girls bedroom added a certain creepy as hell issue into things that thankfully went unexplored 

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[JoeH]

crock of crap, too many holes in the film plot, soundtrack that killed the dialogue (and it needed the dialogue for this type of movie), Story stretched out in all the wrong places and then the end rushed.

[IndianRed]

Just back from this.  Certainly has its flaws but thoroughly engaging and entertaining. Solid 8/10 film. Like inception but probably just below the dark Knight. Still a way below 2001 but miles better than gravity.

This pretty much nails it IMO.

[TepidT2O]

Level with inception?

Inception was many people's  film of the year!

[Haemoglobin]

I should really be trying to avoid this thread until I've seen it, but can everyone kinda measure their verdicts a bit?

"Crock of shit" or "mind-blowingly incredible" (a number of summaries I've seen from elsewhere) both seem excessive, hyperbolic. Can a film not quite live up to massive expectations anymore without being "crap"? Leave that language for the proper crap, with no redeeming features (and likewise the other way; if it's highly enjoyable and interesting, but not a work of astounding timeless genius, you don't need to inflate the words you use to make your positive reaction to it more noticable).

If this is a solid 7.5-8 out of 10, I'm cool with that. Hopefully catch it next week.

[Dingus]

saw this last night, great movie, preferred Gravity though!
has been said, the score was deafening at times, and you could see the ending coming a mile off!
I liked Gravity more as it was essentially a 2-hander with Bullock/Clooney, and you identify more with their survival.
would be a 7.5/10 for me, enjoyable enough, if you ignore quite a bit! 

[jooneyisdagod]

Level with inception?

Inception was many people's  film of the year!

Inception was a solid 7.5-8/10 film as well in my opinion. I felt like people calling it a masterpiece was a bit over the top. I think The Dark Knight was actually a superbly made film when compared to them both and even that has its flaws.

[Redman0151]

Interstellar has far more emotion and beauty than Inception ever had. I'm still convinced Inception only got so popular because it got labelled "the thinking mans blockbuster" so it became cool to like it.

One scene in interstellar had tears running down my face and I don't often get emotional during films, some of it may have been down to the music

[jooneyisdagod]

Interstellar has far more emotion and beauty than Inception ever had. I'm still convinced Inception only got so popular because it got labelled "the thinking mans blockbuster" so it became cool to like it.

One scene in interstellar had tears running down my face and I don't often get emotional during films, some of it may have been down to the music

Clearly horses for courses mate. I thought the emotional content was way overdone and to me seemed totally nonsensical.

[End Product]

Interstellar has far more emotion and beauty than Inception ever had. I'm still convinced Inception only got so popular because it got labelled "the thinking mans blockbuster" so it became cool to like it.

One scene in interstellar had tears running down my face and I don't often get emotional during films, some of it may have been down to the music

I rated this better than inception. My problem with inception is is i didn't care for what was at stake, if they succeeded then someone else would own a company.

I think the sound issues will be more down to the individual cinema set up, i had no problem similar, happened with the Dark Knight Rises and Bane's voice being difficult to hear.     

[Saint Kopite]

I have to agree. Liked it more that Inception which was a very good movie as well.

[OsirisMVZ]

Impulse viewing after an absolutely shite day. I have decided that it is "pretty good". Takes an awful lot from Space Odyssey and Sunshine.

I did lose my suspension of disbelief when

Spoiler

Matthew Mahogany became a 5th dimensional being to yell at himself for being an asshole through time and space

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[Something Awful]

More in depth things I didn't like since now I can use a laptop to type it up:

Spoiler

The movie dragged in parts. I liked the three planets but it felt like the movie would have moved better if they didn't do the first one and had a different reason for the time jump. Damon's role was set the moment they argued about it and McConaughey said "you said he was the best of us", and it felt a bit ridiculous. Like maybe he lied and fucked about but they weren't just gonna execute him so they would have dragged him along to the next planet. The best of us not knowing what would happen if he opened an improperly docked airlock was...dumb. Hathaway had an awful role and her actions on the first planet were really awful. Nolan is better than that.

The worst part was Casey Affleck though. His character was smart and tough. He had a shit life but managed to keep the farm going. Then he's suddenly a psycho who wants his family to die solely because we need tension for the bookcase stuff. And then she comes out and hugs him and he's cool again? Or does he stay behind and die? Fuck...

That final scene was some BS though. The more I think about it, the more I think "holy fuck a blockbuster movie directed by Christopher Nolan actually ended with quantum data being transferred through morse code in the second hand of a watch!" That was so, so bad.

[close]

Despite all of that, I actually enjoyed it. As I said, I don't think I could rewatch it and I'm ok with that. I think it's flaws as a story are outweighed by the frankly magnificent visual effects.

And Gravity was better. I was trying to think of the score for this and realised I was actually thinking of the "HOLY FUCK HERE COMES THE DEBRIS" music from Gravity.

[jooneyisdagod]

More in depth things I didn't like since now I can use a laptop to type it up:

Spoiler

The movie dragged in parts. I liked the three planets but it felt like the movie would have moved better if they didn't do the first one and had a different reason for the time jump. Damon's role was set the moment they argued about it and McConaughey said "you said he was the best of us", and it felt a bit ridiculous. Like maybe he lied and fucked about but they weren't just gonna execute him so they would have dragged him along to the next planet. The best of us not knowing what would happen if he opened an improperly docked airlock was...dumb. Hathaway had an awful role and her actions on the first planet were really awful. Nolan is better than that.

The worst part was Casey Affleck though. His character was smart and tough. He had a shit life but managed to keep the farm going. Then he's suddenly a psycho who wants his family to die solely because we need tension for the bookcase stuff. And then she comes out and hugs him and he's cool again? Or does he stay behind and die? Fuck...

That final scene was some BS though. The more I think about it, the more I think "holy fuck a blockbuster movie directed by Christopher Nolan actually ended with quantum data being transferred through morse code in the second hand of a watch!" That was so, so bad.

[close]

Despite all of that, I actually enjoyed it. As I said, I don't think I could rewatch it and I'm ok with that. I think it's flaws as a story are outweighed by the frankly magnificent visual effects.

And Gravity was better. I was trying to think of the score for this and realised I was actually thinking of the "HOLY FUCK HERE COMES THE DEBRIS" music from Gravity.

Yeah pretty much. I enjoyed it as a blockbuster type film and I had to willingly suspend my disbelief at times. But it's certainly not a masterpiece.

[Derzyjudek]

Overall really enjoyed it,some of the dialogue is pretty cringeworthy and its a bit plodding at times but the visuals are incredible and i must admit at finding some of it very moving,didnt much like the ending tho.

[Geormajesty]

More in depth things I didn't like since now I can use a laptop to type it up:

Spoiler

The movie dragged in parts. I liked the three planets but it felt like the movie would have moved better if they didn't do the first one and had a different reason for the time jump. Damon's role was set the moment they argued about it and McConaughey said "you said he was the best of us", and it felt a bit ridiculous. Like maybe he lied and fucked about but they weren't just gonna execute him so they would have dragged him along to the next planet. The best of us not knowing what would happen if he opened an improperly docked airlock was...dumb. Hathaway had an awful role and her actions on the first planet were really awful. Nolan is better than that.

The worst part was Casey Affleck though. His character was smart and tough. He had a shit life but managed to keep the farm going. Then he's suddenly a psycho who wants his family to die solely because we need tension for the bookcase stuff. And then she comes out and hugs him and he's cool again? Or does he stay behind and die? Fuck...

That final scene was some BS though. The more I think about it, the more I think "holy fuck a blockbuster movie directed by Christopher Nolan actually ended with quantum data being transferred through morse code in the second hand of a watch!" That was so, so bad.

[close]

Despite all of that, I actually enjoyed it. As I said, I don't think I could rewatch it and I'm ok with that. I think it's flaws as a story are outweighed by the frankly magnificent visual effects.

And Gravity was better. I was trying to think of the score for this and realised I was actually thinking of the "HOLY FUCK HERE COMES THE DEBRIS" music from Gravity.

Spoiler

Some decent points here but on the Damon/airlock thing: it's classic Nolan morals - they wouldn't have executed him but they didn't have to save him by opening the airlock. He's left Cooper for dead and killed Romilly, they have no reason to trust him. If it meant Cooper had more chance of saving his family etc. he would have left Mann behind. I'm sure he knew exactly what happened if the airlock opened incorrectly, but his desperation to survive caused him to take the chance - he said himself while fighting Cooper - 50:50 odds of survival is better than he's had in years.

[close]

[Mr Dilkington]

Spoiler

I have to say, all I could think during the Matt Damon/Matthew McConaughey showdown was "I'm watching a Chris Nolan directed Sci Fi epic where we travel through wormholes and across dimensions, and it's come to Matt Damon rolling around in the snow with Matthew McConaughey.

[close]

[Schmidt]

Spoiler

I have to say, all I could think during the Matt Damon/Matthew McConaughey showdown was "I'm watching a Chris Nolan directed Sci Fi epic where we travel through wormholes and across dimensions, and it's come to Matt Damon rolling around in the snow with Matthew McConaughey.

[close]

Spoiler

If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure it was an ice cloud they were fighting on.

[close]

[Mr Dilkington]

Spoiler

If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure it was an ice cloud they were fighting on.

[close]

I must say it does a tad.

[Brian Blessed]

I put

Spoiler

Damon's airlock snafu down to him being space crazy. I thought that was clearly established

[close]

[Something Awful]

I put

Spoiler

Damon's airlock snafu down to him being space crazy. I thought that was clearly established

[close]

Spoiler

crazy to survive, not crazy to be a dumbass

[close]

[Brian Blessed]

Crazy is as crazy does.

And the mrs pointed out its a great prequel to Wall-E

[jooneyisdagod]

Spoiler

crazy to survive, not crazy to be a dumbass

[close]

Spoiler

Solitude with no chance of escaping it is one of the easiest ways of slipping into mental health issues.

It's most commonly observed in prison inmates and in a way Damon is one.

I'm just being the devil's advocate though. If that was indeed a train of thought that Nolan wanted to show in the film, it doesn't come across clearly at all.

[close]