Just watched this film last night - I was disappointed enough to get of my ass and write this review!
I've read quite a few of other reviews and I disagree that the movie is visually stunning. Although the desert has a certain beauty, I wasn't impressed by the actual filming techniques. There was nothing above ordinary with how the movie was shot - with the exception of the "human lab" scene with the white silhouettes of figures, but that seemed a bit gimmicky to me - the novelty wore off quick.
As many others have noted, the pace of the editing was unbearably slow. There doesn't seem to be any purpose to the excessively drawn out scenes other than to make a 15 minute movie into a feature length. I've seen "2001: A Space Oddessy" many times and feel that the slow pace in that film fits the themes of isolation, infinity, quiet in space, etc.
This film was SO abstract and vague that you can't help but ask a lot of questions like: What's the robot's function/purpose? Do humans even exist on this planet? Why are there toilets if everyone is a robot? Have others attempted to become human?
So they become human (or wear human masks anyways)- why do they just stroll down the street after? They have nothing better to do? Is their sole purpose just to show off their new faces and get a reaction out of others? And OK - so the other robots (whom I assume they don't know) don't seem to approve of their transformation.....why do the two main characters even give a shi* ?
If this film were transposed to a different world where a couple of young guys decided to become drag queens, walked down to Anytown, USA and then were ostracized - you think they would wander back to the desert and commit suicide??? Of course not - and that's why this movie makes no sense.
The best films make you care about the protagonists and identify with them on some level. The two main characters in this film are two-dimensional and weak. I think the story would have been much more interesting if they actually dealt with the rejection and came up with a different solution other than self-destruction.
I didn't learn anything from this film, I don't see the world any differently, and I wasn't even entertained for the hour-plus that I wasted watching it.
Daft Punk should have just stuck with Interstella 5555 for their cinematic contributions.
I've read quite a few of other reviews and I disagree that the movie is visually stunning. Although the desert has a certain beauty, I wasn't impressed by the actual filming techniques. There was nothing above ordinary with how the movie was shot - with the exception of the "human lab" scene with the white silhouettes of figures, but that seemed a bit gimmicky to me - the novelty wore off quick.
As many others have noted, the pace of the editing was unbearably slow. There doesn't seem to be any purpose to the excessively drawn out scenes other than to make a 15 minute movie into a feature length. I've seen "2001: A Space Oddessy" many times and feel that the slow pace in that film fits the themes of isolation, infinity, quiet in space, etc.
This film was SO abstract and vague that you can't help but ask a lot of questions like: What's the robot's function/purpose? Do humans even exist on this planet? Why are there toilets if everyone is a robot? Have others attempted to become human?
So they become human (or wear human masks anyways)- why do they just stroll down the street after? They have nothing better to do? Is their sole purpose just to show off their new faces and get a reaction out of others? And OK - so the other robots (whom I assume they don't know) don't seem to approve of their transformation.....why do the two main characters even give a shi* ?
If this film were transposed to a different world where a couple of young guys decided to become drag queens, walked down to Anytown, USA and then were ostracized - you think they would wander back to the desert and commit suicide??? Of course not - and that's why this movie makes no sense.
The best films make you care about the protagonists and identify with them on some level. The two main characters in this film are two-dimensional and weak. I think the story would have been much more interesting if they actually dealt with the rejection and came up with a different solution other than self-destruction.
I didn't learn anything from this film, I don't see the world any differently, and I wasn't even entertained for the hour-plus that I wasted watching it.
Daft Punk should have just stuck with Interstella 5555 for their cinematic contributions.