A Scanner Darkly

FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
edited July 2006 in Strut Central

  Comments


  • ariel_calmerariel_calmer 3,762 Posts
    Am checking tonight, will report back.

  • MoSSMoSS 458 Posts
    I'm trying to see Scanner Darkly ASAP!!

    On a similar note, have you seen this shit yet? You'll know why why I posted it here when you take a look. Crazy looking shit, just like Scanner Darkly;

    http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/renaissance/

  • karlophonekarlophone 1,697 Posts
    looked astounding, was entertained, some hilarious scenes with Harrelson and Downey Jr., overall thumbs up for sure. On the negative side, it was fairly meandering for its 1st 2/3rds or so... just had to sit back and be patient that it was all coming together somehow.

  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
    looked astounding, was entertained, some hilarious scenes with Harrelson and Downey Jr., overall thumbs up for sure. On the negative side, it was fairly meandering for its 1st 2/3rds or so... just had to sit back and be patient that it was all coming together somehow.

    the casting was perfect. the personalities of the four mains came through well. two dope fiends, a clepto and a gay robot.

  • glad to see some of you liked it, i've heard good reviews overall. i'm excited to check this out tomorrow. i fell asleep the first time i saw waking life (i think i smoked too much and it was a late show - plus there was a lot to grasp) but i am gonna watch this during the day while i'm fresh so i can catch the whole story.

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Just saw it tonight.

    I say YES.

    It's not too often one of my lifelong favorite novels gets
    made into a feature film. At last they adapted Dick without
    trying to convert his extroverted nature into massive spectacle.
    The power of his science fiction was that it wasn't about star fleets
    or intricate interplanetary civilizations, it was about people
    and their flaws and their heartaches - and their moral and ultimately
    spiritual conflicts. And yet, he never took himself too seriously, and
    always told a good story. And in that way the film captures his novel,
    and is why it ultimately succeeds, IMO.

    For someone not familiar with the material, I'm not sure what
    impression it would make. The audience was quiet and even the laughter
    seemed a bit hesitant. Or maybe they were just as stoned as I was.

    Everyone I told I was going to see it said the same thing - some
    variation on "man, Keanu Reeves? C'mon" ... but Keanu makes a good cartoon,
    and was definitely not a negative. Robert Downey was great in
    this film, and he REALLY seemed like an animated character, not just
    a traced-over actor.

    Ugh, I'm rambling but at least no spoilers!

    "three thumbs up"

  • sergserg 682 Posts

    The power of his science fiction was that it wasn't about star fleets
    or intricate interplanetary civilizations, it was about people
    and their flaws and their heartaches - and their moral and ultimately
    spiritual conflicts. And yet, he never took himself too seriously, and
    always told a good story.

    that is why I'm a fan of PKD's writing. I've yet to see this film but it sounds promising, way better than the bullshit that was minority report

  • gloomgloom 2,765 Posts

    "three thumbs up"


    "three thumbs up"


    "three thumbs up"


    "three thumbs up"


    "three thumbs up"

  • I'm going to go out on a limb and say it was what I expected it to be: A little better than mediocre. It seemed kinda unfocused (meandering like someone previously said) and the bulk of it could have been chopped out to make a more concise movie. It certainly wasn't bad and I'm really glad I saw it in the theatre, but I don't think it's as good as everyone else is saying. Granted, I never read A Scanner Darkly so that could make a huge difference. I also found Robert Downey Jr. to be REALLY annoying, just as he was in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang...

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    It seemed kinda unfocused (meandering like someone previously said) and the bulk of it could have been chopped out to make a more concise movie.

    I'm not really getting this - it seemed fairly linear and concise to me.
    I mean, it's only 100 minutes long, it's not like it goes off in a bunch
    of different directions. It tells a story from start to finish, with a couple
    of asides for either humorous or background purposes.

    I'm curious - what would you have cut?
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