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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sarah on January 24, 2008, 01:38:53 PM

Title: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 24, 2008, 01:38:53 PM
So I just watched this thing.  Will someone explain to me why it got four stars and hysterical praise from all kinds of critics?  Don't get me wrong, I thought it was perfectly all right, but I'm mystified by the over-the-top fawning.  I get that there are action sequences that were shot in single long takes, which is nifty, but is that enough to merit all the enthusiasm?  I think not.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 01:44:14 PM
I loved it, for all the stated reasons - compelling story, great metaphor for contemporary capitalist malaise and the death of ideology, great action sequences, Michael Caine as a hippie.  I also love the Slavoj Zizek special feature on the DVD, because Zizek rules and I will unleash a dinosaur army of Stalinist superegos on the Petit Objet a of anyone who argues otherwise.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Laurie on January 24, 2008, 01:46:22 PM
Oh man, I have to add that to my queueueue. There's nothing like watching Žižek in a boat saying, "I want to fuck Mitch."
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 01:49:47 PM
Oh man, I have to add that to my queueueue. There's nothing like watching Žižek in a boat saying, "I want to fuck Mitch."

You and your fancy Slovenian Z's.  Did you buy those?

Where/when does he say that? 

I'm screening the documentary Žižek! in my class this semester.  I wonder what the kids'll make of it.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Laurie on January 24, 2008, 01:52:45 PM
Oh man, I have to add that to my queueueue. There's nothing like watching Žižek in a boat saying, "I want to fuck Mitch."

You and your fancy Slovenian Z's.  Did you buy those?

Where/when does he say that? 

I'm screening the documentary Žižek! in my class this semester.  I wonder what the kids'll make of it.

The Pervert's Guide to Cinema, regarding Hitchcock's The Birds.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: bruce on January 24, 2008, 01:54:20 PM
Am I the only one who read the book and watched the film going ok where is the plot from the book.

The single shot through the battle was pretty cool though.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 01:58:26 PM
Oh man, I have to add that to my queueueue. There's nothing like watching Žižek in a boat saying, "I want to fuck Mitch."

You and your fancy Slovenian Z's.  Did you buy those?

Where/when does he say that? 

I'm screening the documentary Žižek! in my class this semester.  I wonder what the kids'll make of it.

The Pervert's Guide to Cinema, regarding Hitchcock's The Birds.

Whoa, I am Netflixing that shit right now.  Awesome.

Bruce, I bought the book after seeing the movie but haven't read it yet.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Martin on January 24, 2008, 02:31:18 PM
Yeah, Jason, you should totally see The Pervert's Guide to Cinema - 100% Zizek overload. I love when he re-visits all the "scenes of the crime", like The Birds, The Conversation, etc.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Chris L on January 24, 2008, 02:36:25 PM
I liked it.  It wasn't great but it was pretty damn good.  Between this and Y Tu Mama Tambien that director is amassing a helluva track record.  Didn't like Y Tu Mama Tambien?  Put on your WRONG shoes and dance the blues.*

*with apologies to Andrew Earles
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: samir on January 24, 2008, 02:43:10 PM
I agree with what Mr. Grote said, although it always pains me to see my city laid to waste on film.
The Pink Floyd album cover reference was neat, too.
AND! The girl with the baby went to middle school with my sister. FACT.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: erika on January 24, 2008, 03:03:57 PM
Am I the only one who read the book and watched the film going ok where is the plot from the book.

The single shot through the battle was pretty cool though.

I watched the movie, then read the book, and for once I liked the movie better.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Gilly on January 24, 2008, 03:52:14 PM
Am I the only one who read the book and watched the film going ok where is the plot from the book.

Nope.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 04:21:02 PM
I agree with what Mr. Grote said, although it always pains me to see my city laid to waste on film.
The Pink Floyd album cover reference was neat, too.
AND! The girl with the baby went to middle school with my sister. FACT.

Damn, Samir, I sense a competitor in the name-dropping contest.  Maybe Laurie and I should make like Hillary Clinton and John Edwards and Kucinich you.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 04:21:28 PM
Yeah, Jason, you should totally see The Pervert's Guide to Cinema - 100% Zizek overload. I love when he re-visits all the "scenes of the crime", like The Birds, The Conversation, etc.

It's not on Netflix.  Sob.  Maybe I'll buy it.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 24, 2008, 04:43:10 PM
I liked Y Tu Mama Tambien much more than I liked Children of Men.  The latter I just didn't think was so special.  The story is hackneyed with a couple of annoying holes (the mysterious deus ex machine of the Human Project and the silliness of one baby making all the difference:  there'd have to be mass fertility for the tide to be turned in humanity's favor), the metaphor heavy-handed, the acting acceptable but nuttin' special.  Michael Caine's character was a caricature, however likable.  Owen's was a stereotype.  The whole thing, in fact, was a cliché--well-done and reasonably interesting/entertaining but a cliché nonetheless.  The action, I grant you, was done well, but I think it should take more than snazzy action sequences to earn four stars. 

I call Emperor's New Clothes.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Martin on January 24, 2008, 05:29:48 PM
I hated Y Tu Mama Tambien. So there's that.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Oogie on January 24, 2008, 05:45:47 PM
Movie made me cry when they revealed that the one lady was pregnant

Also, when other lady got head blown off made me go WTFBBQ

And further Owen has an awesome voice

I like the movie a whole lot very rare to see science fiction done even close to well
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 24, 2008, 06:56:18 PM
There's no need to worry about spoilers a year after the fact, still I guessed she was pregnant well before she showed her belly (speaking of which, it was ridiculous that she took her top off to do so, when all she had to do was raise it a bit), so the moment didn't move me as it was supposed to. 
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: dave from knoxville on January 24, 2008, 06:57:01 PM
Spoilers should be like Diamonds
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Oogie on January 24, 2008, 07:05:07 PM
Spoilers?

If you don't wanna read spoilers, don't read pages-long threads about films you haven't seen.

I refuse to read reviews or watch "specials" about any film that I have an interest in seeing, let alone threads.

This worked out great especially for History of Violence. I was actually shocked when Vigo turned out to be a journeyman!


 
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Oogie on January 24, 2008, 07:10:12 PM
There's no need to worry about spoilers a year after the fact, still I guessed she was pregnant well before she showed her belly (speaking of which, it was ridiculous that she took her top off to do so, when all she had to do was raise it a bit), so the moment didn't move me as it was supposed to. 

You know, in real life, I can be pretty cynical, but sometimes pharmaceutical commercials bring me to tears.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: bruce on January 24, 2008, 07:21:30 PM
I need to point something out the big spoiler your all worried about was in the trailer. It was a known fact going into the film.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Oogie on January 24, 2008, 07:29:16 PM
Spoilers should be like Diamonds

Do you mean that spoilers should Be forever, or that they are overpriced and soaked in the bLOod oF opprEssed peopLes anD covereD In thE fingerprintS of televangelists?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 24, 2008, 09:19:26 PM
Blofelddies?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: bruce on January 24, 2008, 09:22:08 PM
Blofelddies?
I just got the reference and sadly he doesn't not till View To A kill. So were supposed to believe once dropped down a chimney by helicopter. All pre title sequence. One of the very few films in the series with carryover since it starts at a certain grave stone.

Christ I'm such a Bond nerd
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 24, 2008, 10:57:13 PM
You know, in real life, I can be pretty cynical, but sometimes pharmaceutical commercials bring me to tears.

For me it's Pedigree commercials. 
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Jason on January 24, 2008, 11:39:56 PM
You know, in real life, I can be pretty cynical, but sometimes pharmaceutical commercials bring me to tears.

For me it's Pedigree commercials. 

For me its humanity.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: dave from knoxville on January 25, 2008, 12:14:21 AM
Spoilers should be like Diamonds

Do you mean that spoilers should Be forever, or that they are overpriced and soaked in the bLOod oF opprEssed peopLes anD covereD In thE fingerprintS of televangelists?


Yes!
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 25, 2008, 09:14:10 AM
Conflict spoilers?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: senorcorazon on January 25, 2008, 12:05:29 PM
Why the movie got the hype, besides the crazy long shot and the director track record:
- Michael Caine's life is the dream for all stoners and nerds alike. Lives out off the grid in the woods but still has great computers and crap, grows his own pot, lives with his lady, draws cartoons, and fights The Man. And has great last words.
- A pretty weird soundtrack.
- Attention to details; having the character wearing a worn-out sweater from the upcoming London Olympics, for example.
- Things blow up, things get shot at, lots of running.

Basically, a Bourne movie with a vague heady plot.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 25, 2008, 12:20:36 PM
Why the movie got the hype, besides the crazy long shot and the director track record:
- Michael Caine's life is the dream for all stoners and nerds alike. Lives out off the grid in the woods but still has great computers and crap, grows his own pot, lives with his lady, draws cartoons, and fights The Man. And has great last words.
- A pretty weird soundtrack.
- Attention to details; having the character wearing a worn-out sweater from the upcoming London Olympics, for example.
- Things blow up, things get shot at, lots of running.

All this adds up to above average, not the dropped-jaw wonderment so many of the reviewers express.

Also, all stoners and nerds dream of living with a catatonic lady?  Yuck.

Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Oogie on January 25, 2008, 10:15:21 PM
Why the movie got the hype, besides the crazy long shot and the director track record:
- Michael Caine's life is the dream for all stoners and nerds alike. Lives out off the grid in the woods but still has great computers and crap, grows his own pot, lives with his lady, draws cartoons, and fights The Man. And has great last words.
- A pretty weird soundtrack.
- Attention to details; having the character wearing a worn-out sweater from the upcoming London Olympics, for example.
- Things blow up, things get shot at, lots of running.

All this adds up to above average, not the dropped-jaw wonderment so many of the reviewers express.

Also, all stoners and nerds dream of living with a catatonic lady?  Yuck.

necronerds
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Fido on January 26, 2008, 02:02:47 AM
Oh man, I have to add that to my queueueue. There's nothing like watching Žižek in a boat saying, "I want to fuck Mitch."

You and your fancy Slovenian Z's.  Did you buy those?

Where/when does he say that? 

I'm screening the documentary Žižek! in my class this semester.  I wonder what the kids'll make of it.

Show off.  With all your fancy accent marks.  By the way, how do you do that?  I'm dying to try it.

Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 26, 2008, 12:44:57 PM
Fido, I did what I always do: I stole them from a rich person.

I just copied and pasted from Laurie's post.  I don't know what secret trick she used.  If only us little guys could figure that stuff out, we wouldn't be little guys anymore!
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: buffcoat on January 26, 2008, 11:01:37 PM
Daddykins flew the accents in from their native lands.  He pulled the Concorde out of mothballs!  Nothing's too good for his little girl!
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: senorcorazon on January 28, 2008, 08:08:41 AM
All this adds up to above average, not the dropped-jaw wonderment so many of the reviewers express.

Also, all stoners and nerds dream of living with a catatonic lady?  Yuck.

Let us not forget the "dropped-jaw wonderment" heaped on Juno, which at best is simply a good movie.

Well, maybe not the catatonic part; more so the period before she goes catatonic and he goes off getting the big sleep himself.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Stan on January 31, 2008, 03:54:53 AM
 So what?

 Should every movie soundtrack have to go "In the court of the crimson kiiiiing, aah aah uhh"!
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on January 31, 2008, 07:34:09 AM
Huh?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: dave from knoxville on January 31, 2008, 11:45:16 AM
So what?

 Should every movie soundtrack have to go "In the court of the crimson kiiiiing, aah aah uhh"!

Uhhhhhh, yes?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Laurie on January 31, 2008, 12:21:49 PM
If you have a Mac, that little American flag on your toolbar is not there because you love America. It's there because you're typing in American English. I often have to switch between the Cyrillic and English alphabet, so I use the International language presets often. It's one of the many reasons I love my iMac. So, you can choose to switch to a Slovenian keyboard or simply pull the Ž (pronounced like "g" as in genre or like the Cyrillic Ж - Жiжek!) from the character palette which can also be accessed by selecting the American/Swedish/Union Jack flag. Or whatever.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: senorcorazon on January 31, 2008, 02:12:26 PM
So what?

 Should every movie soundtrack have to go "In the court of the crimson kiiiiing, aah aah uhh"!

Uhhhhhh, yes?

I'm with DFK. Also, I thought it was hilarious to play the Roots Manuva song while Michael Caine drove around. Michael Caine goes on the wall with Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery as occasionally talented actors who play some hilariously stupid characters in movies. Zardoz, anyone?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Stan on February 01, 2008, 09:11:57 AM
Huh?

 In a call several years back, Tom made a similar comment to me regarding my appreciation of King Crimson.

 And yes, he sang it.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: dave from knoxville on February 01, 2008, 10:04:39 AM
Stan, like me, you must be a dinosaur. Which, for the benefit of the rest of you, is a terrific song by King Crimson.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Sarah on February 01, 2008, 11:05:29 AM
So if I call about Children of Men, Tom might perform it?
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: Laurie on February 01, 2008, 11:09:53 AM
My favorite King Crimson song is "Sensitive Artist."












I'm kidding. Kind of.
Title: Re: Children of Men
Post by: dave from knoxville on February 01, 2008, 12:10:41 PM
[youtube]d0S4-VA-0zY[/youtube]

Join hands with me, Stan!!!