ralphfreud

It's really annoying when good movies like this one go unnoticed. But I'm glad I did not miss it.

They should re-release it with a lot more publicity. I do not think they did anything to promote it. Great work Paxton.

In true David Fincher style we're taken for a ride that defies commonsense and yet is fun. Michael Douglas is a wealthy but unhappy man, who's only outlet is watching CNN moneyline and firing people. That is until, his brother decides to wake his inner feelings up again by asking him to play a game. What is this game and how it plays is what the movie is about.

If you think too hard and try to analyze too much, you won't like it. It's not complaint with the normal commonsense rules. Just put yourself in Michael's shoes and you'll enjoy it.

A recommendation: Watch in complete darkness.

Superbly acted, with great production values and an intelligent story line. It's follows the life of an alien hunter, Ellie Arroway (Jodie foster) whose mission in life, that of finding her own identity run parallel with her passion for discovering alien life. Along the way she bumps into a religious writer, Palmer Joss (played by Matthew McConaughey, the only sore point in the movie...good looking as he is...this guy can't act), the government and another opportunist astronomer (played with great effectiveness by Tom Skerritt).

Watch this movie when you're alone or with people who don't talk during the movies. It's one of those atmosphere movies wherein you've got to be inside the movie to enjoy it the most.

I had first read the book on which this movie is based a couple of years ago. It started out really well, but after a point it just spiralled out of control into crapdom.

The movie, on the other hand , is crap all the way. The storyline was thin anyway to start with, but the acting just layers it with more junk. The dialogue is plain stupid and cliched. For example, before kissing the mechanic Smilla says "Have you heard the phrase that I did not know what I was doing after getting drunk" or something like that...and this scene along with almost the entire movie has been acted with such boredom by all the actors (What was Richard Harris doing in a movie like this?)that I literally went to sleep. (Please note that the phrase "literally went to sleep" makes no sense...just like the movie!)

The only thing that kept me awake was the beauty of Denmark and Greenland. Thanks god for that.

NOTE: For all of you out there...there is a new weapon that can be used against girls, as showcased in this movie. Get her where it hurts most...Her crotch!! Yeah..its disgusting isn't it...But that's the only scene that fits perfectly with the rest of the movie. Totally pointless and obtuse.

Well, I can write much better than this...But just to make the point about how bad the movie was...I'll follow suit.