Christopher Nolan - Interstellar
Discussion
dxg said:
For example only on this second, more critical viewing did I notice what was going on with the aspect ratio. A quick google confirms that it was deliberate.
The last film I saw where aspect ratio was used as an almost-subliminal device in such a masterful way was Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim. I'm going to ignore Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel as it's arsing around with aspect ratio was cack-handed. But then, I suppose it needed to be obvious given its role in that particular film.
Watching it a second time, it was more clear when the aspect ratio changed from showing the sections filmed in the 70mm IMAX film and the 35mm film.The last film I saw where aspect ratio was used as an almost-subliminal device in such a masterful way was Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim. I'm going to ignore Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel as it's arsing around with aspect ratio was cack-handed. But then, I suppose it needed to be obvious given its role in that particular film.
The IMAX scenes looked stunning, whereas I have to say that some of the 35mm scenes were a bit iffy, and on occasion a bit out of focus, once with Mahogany on the porch at the start quite badly out. That's uncommon now as everything is shot digitally so the Director and DP can instantly review a take. Nolan prefers film though so the error would only have been obvious when the rushes were developed the following day. For a perfectionist I was surprised the shot made it to the final cut.
For creative use of aspect ratio, watch Life of Pi again. It's filmed in scope (2.35 - black bars at the top and bottom) or at least you think it is, until a scene where a fish swims out towards you though the bottom black bar.
rubystone said:
I went to see this again last week. This time a 70mm print at the Cambridge Arts Picture House; screen 1, THX sound. That made an already great film even better. Btw what a great list on here from JustinP1. The sort of post that keeps me on PH. 
You are too kind, but your comments are graciously received nevertheless. If I'd have known somebody was going to take the time to read that I would have thought about it a bit more!
Having watched it for the second time, first at the cinema and now on Blu Ray, it's gone up in my estimations from great to epic!!!!
Its one of those films that I can see improving with every viewing.
It's a great big, hugely moving hunk of a story with some fantastic (read: realistic) acting, great technology (that's believable), some serious science woven throughout and just enough 'leap if faith' imagination to keep the whole thing moving.
Its one of those films that I can see improving with every viewing.
It's a great big, hugely moving hunk of a story with some fantastic (read: realistic) acting, great technology (that's believable), some serious science woven throughout and just enough 'leap if faith' imagination to keep the whole thing moving.
DSLiverpool said:
Sorry I'm not clever enough for this but can anyone explain the bookcase at the end please (in a spoiler) I've watched it a few times but think I'm missing something
in what respect? the whole "what's with the bookcase?" or just the end with the Tesseract thing that Cooper floats around in?The_Doc said:
DSLiverpool said:
Sorry I'm not clever enough for this but can anyone explain the bookcase at the end please (in a spoiler) I've watched it a few times but think I'm missing something
in what respect? the whole "what's with the bookcase?" or just the end with the Tesseract thing that Cooper floats around in?Watched last time for the first time.
Enjoyed it as in it was a well made good film, quite thought provoking and oddly touching in places - such as the bit where relativity has taken its toll (water planet).
Visually stunning.
Possibly a little too long. The wife who doesn't like to over think things still enjoyed it - as at it's heart it's still a daddy / daughter film.
Soundtrack was inspiring - understand a lot of work went into that aspect.
Sort of film you can discuss for hours and come to no conclusions.
But I probably won't watch it again.
Enjoyed it as in it was a well made good film, quite thought provoking and oddly touching in places - such as the bit where relativity has taken its toll (water planet).
Visually stunning.
Possibly a little too long. The wife who doesn't like to over think things still enjoyed it - as at it's heart it's still a daddy / daughter film.
Soundtrack was inspiring - understand a lot of work went into that aspect.
Sort of film you can discuss for hours and come to no conclusions.
But I probably won't watch it again.
JustinP1 said:
The IMAX scenes looked stunning, whereas I have to say that some of the 35mm scenes were a bit iffy, and on occasion a bit out of focus, once with Mahogany on the porch at the start quite badly out.
Can you pinpoint that scene for me with a time? I'd like to take a look.ril7979 said:
Watched the film on Sky, great film but the sound quality especially the vocabulary was very poor, I blame Sky, a friend tied to watch on his computer via Sky but gave up as the sound was so bad.
It's like that on the Blu-ray too. The movie came in for some criticism over the sound - but apparently it was done for 'artistic purposes'.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/chr...
Personally I don't like it - and Matthew McConaughey's mumbling southern drawl is very annoying and difficult to follow, but I have never rated him as an actor anyway - he's very two dimensional.
Moonhawk said:
ril7979 said:
Watched the film on Sky, great film but the sound quality especially the vocabulary was very poor, I blame Sky, a friend tied to watch on his computer via Sky but gave up as the sound was so bad.
It's like that on the Blu-ray too. The movie came in for some criticism over the sound - but apparently it was done for 'artistic purposes'.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/chr...
Personally I don't like it - and Matthew McConaughey's mumbling southern drawl is very annoying and difficult to follow, but I have never rated him as an actor anyway - he's very two dimensional.
For what its worth I thought the audio was fantastic, probably the best of any film I've watched. It's one of the very few films where the sound really is a full and integral part of the film. It doesn't have surround effects or bass effects or dialog...it's all very natural. The sound doesn't feel like an afterthought, it's a three dimensional cloak of sound that envelops you.
I will say it has very different audio to most films. I guess people are used to how films are supposed to sound, and then something like this comes along which is different and it's difficult for people to follow.
Edited by varsas on Monday 24th August 13:54
he uses five dimensions in the film so he can't be that bad.
as for dialogue, i'm sure it is more down to the director than the actor about legibilty of speech in a film.
i really enjoyed it, there are some gaps and convenient plot holes that ask us to make that leap of faith as a viewer, the overall ending is one of them with respect to the reunion and his survival.
ironically the bit that I felt needed more explanation was the time lapse on the water planet and how gravity, light and time are linked, that could have done with fleshing out a bit more for me but overall its an accomplished film if you consider the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts i.e. plot holes and some weak characterisations are more than compensated for by the soundtrack and the cinematography
as for dialogue, i'm sure it is more down to the director than the actor about legibilty of speech in a film.
i really enjoyed it, there are some gaps and convenient plot holes that ask us to make that leap of faith as a viewer, the overall ending is one of them with respect to the reunion and his survival.
ironically the bit that I felt needed more explanation was the time lapse on the water planet and how gravity, light and time are linked, that could have done with fleshing out a bit more for me but overall its an accomplished film if you consider the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts i.e. plot holes and some weak characterisations are more than compensated for by the soundtrack and the cinematography
Nom de ploom said:
he uses five dimensions in the film so he can't be that bad.
as for dialogue, i'm sure it is more down to the director than the actor about legibilty of speech in a film.
i really enjoyed it, there are some gaps and convenient plot holes that ask us to make that leap of faith as a viewer, the overall ending is one of them with respect to the reunion and his survival.
ironically the bit that I felt needed more explanation was the time lapse on the water planet and how gravity, light and time are linked, that could have done with fleshing out a bit more for me but overall its an accomplished film if you consider the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts i.e. plot holes and some weak characterisations are more than compensated for by the soundtrack and the cinematography
Yes, I agree. A good film can get away with a few minor plot-flaws. Especially since the film is about faith and love, it's not like the ending comes out of nowhere, thematically. In a film I hadn't enjoyed it would have really annoyed me.as for dialogue, i'm sure it is more down to the director than the actor about legibilty of speech in a film.
i really enjoyed it, there are some gaps and convenient plot holes that ask us to make that leap of faith as a viewer, the overall ending is one of them with respect to the reunion and his survival.
ironically the bit that I felt needed more explanation was the time lapse on the water planet and how gravity, light and time are linked, that could have done with fleshing out a bit more for me but overall its an accomplished film if you consider the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts i.e. plot holes and some weak characterisations are more than compensated for by the soundtrack and the cinematography
Watched this on Sky last night. Really wasn't impressed. Bloke finds a message which leads to NASA hiding in the woods. Old guy says we really need a good pilot, bloke decides to abandon his kids to try and save the world? That took about 5 minutes to make his mind up. I don't like being away from my kids for a single night.
Visually it was great but I couldn't make out if it was meant to be loosely science based or complete science fiction. The ending I thought was terrible.
Visually it was great but I couldn't make out if it was meant to be loosely science based or complete science fiction. The ending I thought was terrible.
944fan said:
Watched this on Sky last night. Really wasn't impressed. Bloke finds a message which leads to NASA hiding in the woods. Old guy says we really need a good pilot, bloke decides to abandon his kids to try and save the world? That took about 5 minutes to make his mind up. I don't like being away from my kids for a single night.
Visually it was great but I couldn't make out if it was meant to be loosely science based or complete science fiction. The ending I thought was terrible.
The decision for him to leave was a difficult one. What that cost him, and the consequences of it, was something the film keeps coming back to. You could argue it's what the film is about. He does actually regret the decision and his reasoning is well explained, he felt it was the only way his children could have a future. From what we see later on, he may well have been right, in fact his daughter does eventually agree with him. The first 30mins or so of the film are to give that background. And actually he wasn't trying to save the world. I'd also argue he did not 'find a message', how he ended up there is also well explained later on.Visually it was great but I couldn't make out if it was meant to be loosely science based or complete science fiction. The ending I thought was terrible.
The sciene of the film is based upon our best understanding of the universe at the moment, in that regard it is far in advance of most other sci-fi films. Up until the end of course...but that's because we have no knowledge of that environment.
I think the ending works. It is built up to throughout the film, it is an expression of what the main character, and we as an audiance, learn through the course of the story. It is a final reckoning of the themes the film is built upon and a breakthrough for Cooper without being the cliche that it could have so easily been.
Edited by varsas on Monday 31st August 20:34
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