tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post2506786664485300190..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: An Imperfect Circle.NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-38904862887127838142010-06-07T04:18:31.733-04:002010-06-07T04:18:31.733-04:00I saw it here in Seattle at the SIIF and I thought...I saw it here in Seattle at the SIIF and I thought it was OK. Great production values and Rachel does a commendable job in her part but I found it a tad boring and I like slow moving " art " movies. Not the worst thing you'll see but def not the best or anywhere near it. Art direction and costumes are a plus.No Bad Movieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953359754737036858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89017460148789964892010-06-04T05:33:30.980-04:002010-06-04T05:33:30.980-04:00@Jose.
I think you're right, that's why ...@Jose. <br /><br />I think you're right, that's why I think he had too much material going on to put on one film, and one film that is focused on the story of Hypathia, not on the Christians. Disregarding any other factors for the decline of that era is probably just a choice, because he wanted to focus on the science vs religion thing, exemplified in Hypathia. I don't think it was a movie about the decline of that era and culture, but about something specific of that era.<br /><br />It's true some of the Christians are portrayed in a simplistic way, they seem to be pure evil for the sake of it, but I thought it fitted the way extremists think, following the leader, repeating what they're told and not questioning anything (there are still people like that nowadays). I think Amenábar was well aware of it so to counterbalance this, he included other "good Christians", or he was pressed to do so, I don't know. As far as accuracy is concerned, ****spoiler****<br />even the ending isn't accurate either (ha, I can't spoil it properly). But the truth is that I've never seen a historical drama that's accurate to the historical facts. <br /><br />I'm glad you mention the resentment of Christianism you see in it. I thought about it too when I saw the movie. In fact you can rethink his previous movies (except for <i>Tesis </i>, probably) as dealing with some Christian issues in one way or another.<br /><i>Mar adentro </i> (<i>The Sea Inside </i>): euthanasia<br /><i>The Others </i>: strict religiousness connected (leading to?) madness.<br /><i>Abre los ojos </i> (<i>Open Your Eyes </i>): twisted heaven as a result of replacing God?. Fate? But to me this is his worst movie, so I'm not sure I got it right.<br /><br />I think there's an interesting increasing presence of religious issues in his movies, from its complete absence in <i>Tesis </i> to main focus in <i>Agora</i>. Maybe he received a "Bad education" :). <br /><br />But back to <i>Agora </i>, for me I really admire the man (still in his 30s) who can make every movie in a single different genre. A guy who can move comfortably in a big lavish production and deal with the external pressures to include a love story, for instance and still stick to his ideas. And having as a result a very good movie.Iggynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-2429079891699655102010-06-04T04:03:55.730-04:002010-06-04T04:03:55.730-04:00Too much longer, but I think it's a great film...Too much longer, but I think it's a great film, Rachel is great, music, cinematography, visual effects, etc... too.<br />The supporting actors are, for me, the worst in he filmMIGUELÓNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11471931547550472702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-14898064676808377852010-06-03T22:06:38.796-04:002010-06-03T22:06:38.796-04:00Re Gattaca - I do remember something about them ch...Re Gattaca - I do remember something about them choosing the Marin County center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for one of the futuristic settings, because it was all curvy and non-boxy.<br /><br />I can't wait to see Agora. I don't care if it's not perfect, a film about ideas with a great heroine (I always liked what I read about Hypatia in Plato) is just what I like. And after watching a few seasons of The Tudors, I think I'm accustomed to seeing the vile effects of organized religion and how quickly it's used to kill some other part of the population.adrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-12414117712228886732010-06-03T13:37:35.582-04:002010-06-03T13:37:35.582-04:00Andrew: I'm not picking on it! Haha in fact I&...Andrew: I'm not picking on it! Haha in fact I'm expressing that I liked something about it A LOT.<br />I haven't been able to stop thinking how good it would've been if Amenábar has been less violence obsessed.<br /><br />Iggy: you don't need to be a historian to know that the rise of Christianity was won by blood.<br />My problem was that the director disregarded anything else about the era and put the blame for everything on the violent Christians (again like Mel did with the Jews).<br />The allegation that they destroyed every bit of knowledge in the ancient world isn't historically accurate at all and if you ask me it actually smells of resentment not objective film making.<br /><br />Nat: haven't seen Gattaca in years! Interesting though...Notas Sobre Creación Cultural e Imaginarios Socialeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01423835555933819338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-71017642540623795922010-06-03T09:14:53.295-04:002010-06-03T09:14:53.295-04:00wasn't Gattaca also obsessed with visual circl...wasn't Gattaca also obsessed with visual circles? or am i remembering it wrong?NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-36303803756640027802010-06-03T05:20:09.409-04:002010-06-03T05:20:09.409-04:00I wouldn't call it mediocre, either. Is it fla...I wouldn't call it mediocre, either. Is it flawed? Yes, it is. But I found it was a really compelling story. Though sometimes the production reminds you of all those old "Roman movies" it services a very different story. I must confess I have no idea about Hypathia, her story or the scientific part shown in the movie, but I was hooked by it and at the same time I didn't feel it had been dumbed down for people like me.<br /><br />As for the Christians being the bad guys, it's clearly stated in the movie that it's a specific section more interested in power than in religion. Personally, I'm thankful for that approach. It would've been so easy to portray muslims as the bad guys, I think it's brave to show that there was a time and place where some Christians factions were as fundamentalists as some islamist nowadays. Because in the end that's the point of the movie for me, that religious fundamentalism is destructive no matter where it comes from.<br /><br />All in all, I agree with Jorge, it's so ravishing, the story so interesting, the love the camera feels for Weisz, as Andrew said, that I can forgive Max Minghella or its desire to tell too much (they had to cut 20' before releasing it, right?). I'd say the best way to enjoy it, it's as an above the average level popcorn movie. One of those that make you feel satisfied when you leave the theatre.Iggynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-52883572427281573572010-06-03T03:18:16.271-04:002010-06-03T03:18:16.271-04:00Oh Jose, must you continue to lambast Agora? You’r...Oh Jose, must you continue to lambast <i>Agora</i>? You’re picking on the <i>un</i>popular kid at school. For shame.<br /><br />I did see it again last week and I do still love it. Sure, the Christians are loathsome at times, but Gibsonian – Lord no…at least I don’t think so. I’m still willing to disregard some of the in-your-face moments for the poignant scenes he injects (admittedly few). I end up seeing it as less as an attack on Christianity and more of a – perhaps biased – view of power/religion and what it precipitates. But then, I wonder if I’m just so wonder over the luminosity of Rachel Weisz in the same way that Amenábar is (his camera really does love her).<br /><br />The lone issue I have with the movie, which is as much against Amenábar as the public, is that I don’t think it’s as Avant-garde as everyone (and I think Amenábar too) believe it to be. Of course, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.Andrew K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01104647944747041277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-18060065470370156042010-06-02T20:58:16.481-04:002010-06-02T20:58:16.481-04:00Yes I've seen it last year because it premiere...Yes I've seen it last year because it premiered here in Portugal in the fall.<br /><br />It's so ravishing that I am able to forgive its many, many flaws. Rachel Weisz is, as you said, effective as Hypathia but since she is not the "lead" of the movie per se, her performance does not matter that much.<br /><br /><br />Despite all the controversy and its depiction of the early Christians, the visuals really stuck with me. Those scenes in the Library were astonishing.<br /><br /><br />The film is too long and the script is not-at-all brilliant and he seems to have lost himself by the middle of the movie.<br /><br />"Perhaps if Amenabar had been a little less worried about pre-postfeminism and religious hooligans he might've realized he had the power to create a complete film course." - I couldn't have put it better myself.Jorge Rodrigueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773926428295140628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-24716296801299478312010-06-02T20:38:14.570-04:002010-06-02T20:38:14.570-04:00I just have to wait for it to come around the Twin...I just have to wait for it to come around the Twin Cities. Or the DVD release...Zachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589860265825882635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-16601100672298934692010-06-02T19:17:45.912-04:002010-06-02T19:17:45.912-04:00Despite it being "mediocre," as you call...Despite it being "mediocre," as you called it, it sounds interesting and I want to see it. That's an interesting visual idea with the circle changing.Nick Duvalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00089865009208643645noreply@blogger.com