There are some things I watch not expecting them to be good, but because I like to think about the ideas and consider alternate storylines and better alternatives for the characters. Most episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager" are only worth watching because of the discussions and reviews on Usenet.
If you like rewriting stories, this is a good movie to see with a friend. What should the Wilsons have done differently, given that they were abducted? What would have made a better story? (The answer to both is "Lots of things" 8-), which is why the movie is an interesting starting point.)
My major question is why, whenever someone sees a UFO in the movies, that's what they say. They know they sound stupid, and nobody will listen. Why not say "I don't know what it was, but there was a bright light that came up on us from behind, and then disappeared over a hill, and then there was a flash. I thought it was a plane crash, and I know there's an Air Force base nearby, so I reported it. I figured the pilot was just buzzing motorists at night for kicks and lost control."
It's completely believable, and if the good guys investigate and find more, then the bad guys will follow them. If the bad guys investigate and come to your house, they'll think you didn't see anything worth mentioning and leave you alone.
Aral Vorkosigan, in _Mirror Dance_, said "People give themselves to you, in their talking, and in other ways, if you are quiet and patient and let them, and not in such a damn rush to give yourself to *them* you go bat-blind and deaf." Lots of people in movies, such as Mr Wilson in this one, give themselves away to the enemy. People aren't really that dumb, are they? (_Mirror Dance_ is by Lois McMaster Bujold.)
This movie is a bit like "The Phantom Menace" and "Waterworld", in that I left the cinema thinking "What a wasted opportunity." But still, my wife and I were able to have some interesting discussions about the stories, even if defective.
If you like rewriting stories, this is a good movie to see with a friend. What should the Wilsons have done differently, given that they were abducted? What would have made a better story? (The answer to both is "Lots of things" 8-), which is why the movie is an interesting starting point.)
My major question is why, whenever someone sees a UFO in the movies, that's what they say. They know they sound stupid, and nobody will listen. Why not say "I don't know what it was, but there was a bright light that came up on us from behind, and then disappeared over a hill, and then there was a flash. I thought it was a plane crash, and I know there's an Air Force base nearby, so I reported it. I figured the pilot was just buzzing motorists at night for kicks and lost control."
It's completely believable, and if the good guys investigate and find more, then the bad guys will follow them. If the bad guys investigate and come to your house, they'll think you didn't see anything worth mentioning and leave you alone.
Aral Vorkosigan, in _Mirror Dance_, said "People give themselves to you, in their talking, and in other ways, if you are quiet and patient and let them, and not in such a damn rush to give yourself to *them* you go bat-blind and deaf." Lots of people in movies, such as Mr Wilson in this one, give themselves away to the enemy. People aren't really that dumb, are they? (_Mirror Dance_ is by Lois McMaster Bujold.)
This movie is a bit like "The Phantom Menace" and "Waterworld", in that I left the cinema thinking "What a wasted opportunity." But still, my wife and I were able to have some interesting discussions about the stories, even if defective.