Mel Gibson and the Crop Circles, what a crap!

[Mistwell]

I liked this movie.

A lot.

I also find it very odd that people on a D&D board complain about the lack of realism with an alien movie.

 

[Umbran]

For me, it isn't a movie about aliens. It isn't a movie about demons. It is a movie about the emotional and spiritual journey of one man and his family. And from that standpoint, it is a reasonably decent work.

And Unbreakable is fantastic. The Village was okay, but doesn't have much value on second viewing.

 

[Darthjaye]

I'm with those on the Unbreakable front but as for the rest of MKS's stuff in recent time, it's just gotten worse as he goes. The Village IMO was just as bad if not worse than Signs. I'm just wondering how bad "Lady in the Water" will end up being.

Edit: Speaking of which. I just watched the trailer for Lady and it's not that impressive although I have enjoyed just about every movie Paul Giammatti has done to date.

 

[Simplicity]

Okay, spoilers for M Night's movies ahead... Sorry for those who haven't seen them.

Signs is not a sci-fi movie. It masquerades as one to get the point of faith across unexpectedly.

Unbreakable:

Spoiler

Just as Unbreakable isn't a drama, it's a (great) comic book movie. You just don't know it until the end.

The Village:

Spoiler

Just as The Village isn't a period film.

The movie's NAME is SIGNS for crying out loud. It turns out the movie is about Signs from God, not aliens. The girl's love of putting water everywhere, the boy's asthma, the wife's last words all have reasons for existing, and they're all part of God's plan.

Of course the aliens suck. God hates aliens.

 

[Morrus]

I stand by "Signs." I can say I liked it because I realized it wasn't a science fiction movie, but an apocalyptic fantasy, where demons captured the sinners and doubters and took them away.

I disagree. I understand the viewpoint that it's not a Sci-fi alien movie, and I accept it, but that fact does not counter any criticism of the plot. It does not exempt it from a stupid plot with big holes. Why does it being a religious movie mean it's allowed to have a crappy plot, whereas it being sci-fi doesn't?

It's a movie with big stupid plot things in it. Whether it's a sci-fi movie, a religious movie, a family drama, a sardonic look at the lives of duckbilled platypi or whatever, it still has the big holes.

However you choose to view the movie, whatever metaphors you lay over the top of it, it still has stupid aliens who came to a world 2/3 covered in something which kills them.

 

[Mistwell]

I disagree. I understand the viewpoint that it's not a Sci-fi alien movie, and I accept it, but that fact does not counter any criticism of the plot. It does not exempt it from a stupid plot with big holes. Why does it being a religious movie mean it's allowed to have a crappy plot, whereas it being sci-fi doesn't?

It's a movie with big stupid plot things in it. Whether it's a sci-fi movie, a religious movie, a family drama, a sardonic look at the lives of duckbilled platypi or whatever, it still has the big holes.

However you choose to view the movie, whatever metaphors you lay over the top of it, it still has stupid aliens who came to a world 2/3 covered in something which kills them.

Every planet mankind has sent probes to is 100% covered in something which kills them.

I just don't understand how it is impossible to believe an alien race would land on a planet that has deadly stuff all over in order to rape and pillage. WHY is that so stunning a thing to believe, if the notion of aliens is acceptable? Space pirates go to dangerous places man. That's all the aliens were, space pirates going into a deadly place to grab some loot at the spots marked with a big X...or the alien version of a big X.

 

[Rackhir]

Every planet mankind has sent probes to is 100% covered in something which kills them.

I just don't understand how it is impossible to believe an alien race would land on a planet that has deadly stuff all over in order to rape and pillage. WHY is that so stunning a thing to believe, if the notion of aliens is acceptable? Space pirates go to dangerous places man. That's all the aliens were, space pirates going into a deadly place to grab some loot at the spots marked with a big X...or the alien version of a big X.

The problem is not with their motivation it's with them doing so essentially stark naked and without any weapons or tools. THAT is just stupid. Of course people have done plenty of stupid things, but the difference between fantasy and reality is that Reality doesn't HAVE to make sense.

 

[Umbran]

However you choose to view the movie, whatever metaphors you lay over the top of it, it still has stupid aliens who came to a world 2/3 covered in something which kills them.

What counts as a hole depends very much upon the logic you expect the beings to adhere to.

I suggest that demons coming to take faithless souls need not follow the same logic as aliens coming to invade and keep the planet. The supernatural need not follow the same logic as the scientific.

 

[Morrus]

Every planet mankind has sent probes to is 100% covered in something which kills them.

I just don't understand how it is impossible to believe an alien race would land on a planet that has deadly stuff all over in order to rape and pillage. WHY is that so stunning a thing to believe, if the notion of aliens is acceptable? Space pirates go to dangerous places man. That's all the aliens were, space pirates going into a deadly place to grab some loot at the spots marked with a big X...or the alien version of a big X.

Probes? What on earth do probes have to do anything?

The analogy would be men disembarking on the moon without a space suit. Somewhat notably, it hasn't happened.

A waterproof coat - and poof! The aliens are protected. Interstellar travel is easy for them. I'm sure a raincoat isn't beyond their technology.

Sorry, it's silly however you look at it.

 

[Morrus]

What counts as a hole depends very much upon the logic you expect the beings to adhere to.

I suggest that demons coming to take faithless souls need not follow the same logic as aliens coming to invade and keep the planet. The supernatural need not follow the same logic as the scientific.

They're aliens. They're only "demons" in metaphor. If you're saying that the aliens are merely an analogy (which I accept as a valid viewpoint, although I'm not sure I totally subscribe to it), then that analogy has to make sense.