Invisible Waves is the first film I watched at the recently re-opened Picture House cinema on Hardy Street in Singapore. It is a good thing that there is a venue that focuses on independent films, it will also hopefully interest those that have not had much exposure to productions created outside the Hollywood system.
However, if you make 'Invisible Waves' your first foray into this brave new world, I am afraid you will slam the door shut, lock it, weld it and throw away the key.
There are some fantastic films out there, I have heard excellent feedback for 'Paradise Now' for example, but this is not on the same level.
Dick, the previous submitter's assessment is sadly spot-on. What is most frustrating is that this secondary-school, English-literature level script has no compelling story arc whatsoever and could have been told in less than half the time. Yet the film makers expect us to swallow this and find insight? I don't think so.
Production values are awful. Yes, it is small budgeted production but that is no excuse for not making a film look fantastic. Take 'Primer', made with a budget of only US$7,000 appears to have much higher production values AND has a story that requires multiple viewings to full appreciate it (watch it please).
In comparison, let's take the cruise ship in Invisible Waves as an example. It looked awful. Not just the lead character's accommodation as he was staying in a budget room at sea level, but the entire ship. Why would any mafia/triad boss send his mistress on a ship like that for a holiday? Plus, the ship did not appear to be moving at all. Go production values!
As I mentioned previously, there is no story. I don't care how much symbolism there supposedly is but watching the protagonist get lost on a ship followed by his hotel room in Phuket for over an hour is completely and utterly dull.
The acting is uniformly appalling. The cinema audience I watched this with began snickering and giggling at all the wrong spots in the second half. Clearly, they were trying to keep themselves amused and occupied by finding humour while this slow, painful torture unfolded before them.
I can sympathise with them.
Save two hours of your life and please watch something else.
However, if you make 'Invisible Waves' your first foray into this brave new world, I am afraid you will slam the door shut, lock it, weld it and throw away the key.
There are some fantastic films out there, I have heard excellent feedback for 'Paradise Now' for example, but this is not on the same level.
Dick, the previous submitter's assessment is sadly spot-on. What is most frustrating is that this secondary-school, English-literature level script has no compelling story arc whatsoever and could have been told in less than half the time. Yet the film makers expect us to swallow this and find insight? I don't think so.
Production values are awful. Yes, it is small budgeted production but that is no excuse for not making a film look fantastic. Take 'Primer', made with a budget of only US$7,000 appears to have much higher production values AND has a story that requires multiple viewings to full appreciate it (watch it please).
In comparison, let's take the cruise ship in Invisible Waves as an example. It looked awful. Not just the lead character's accommodation as he was staying in a budget room at sea level, but the entire ship. Why would any mafia/triad boss send his mistress on a ship like that for a holiday? Plus, the ship did not appear to be moving at all. Go production values!
As I mentioned previously, there is no story. I don't care how much symbolism there supposedly is but watching the protagonist get lost on a ship followed by his hotel room in Phuket for over an hour is completely and utterly dull.
The acting is uniformly appalling. The cinema audience I watched this with began snickering and giggling at all the wrong spots in the second half. Clearly, they were trying to keep themselves amused and occupied by finding humour while this slow, painful torture unfolded before them.
I can sympathise with them.
Save two hours of your life and please watch something else.