I gave this production a "5" for some remarkable visuals like the steampunk/Land of Oz cruise ship, and Willem Dafoe is fabulous is everything, BUT; the plot is like dumping a bag of Scrabble letters on the floor and calling it a "story". If there are some deep philosophical themes or character development arcs to learn from, they are well-hidden or so convoluted as to make them incomprehensible. I kept waiting for some "aha!" moment of clarity but it never came.
Other reviewers have addressed - in excruciating detail - the disturbing implicated child molestation theme, but if nothing else the uncomfortable sex scenes are too numerous and too lengthy. The point (if there is one) could have been made without beating the audience over the head with a cinematic cudgel ala Oliver Stone's "JFK". And what in the name of Dr Moreau was with the animal hybrids?
BTW the current "craze" in Hollywood of making movies in a mix of color and black & white ("Oppenheimer" and "Maestro" for example) has run its course, and the mix in this production has very little to do with the storyline....whatever that is.
Frankly the positive reviews are either from people who equate meaningless oddities with high art, or studio minions getting paid to boost the total review rating - which is most likely. I've been in the business long enough to recognize pretentious but ultimately meaningless movie fluff, and this is certainly that. Ultimately the only "Poor Things" in this movie are the people who have to watch it.
Other reviewers have addressed - in excruciating detail - the disturbing implicated child molestation theme, but if nothing else the uncomfortable sex scenes are too numerous and too lengthy. The point (if there is one) could have been made without beating the audience over the head with a cinematic cudgel ala Oliver Stone's "JFK". And what in the name of Dr Moreau was with the animal hybrids?
BTW the current "craze" in Hollywood of making movies in a mix of color and black & white ("Oppenheimer" and "Maestro" for example) has run its course, and the mix in this production has very little to do with the storyline....whatever that is.
Frankly the positive reviews are either from people who equate meaningless oddities with high art, or studio minions getting paid to boost the total review rating - which is most likely. I've been in the business long enough to recognize pretentious but ultimately meaningless movie fluff, and this is certainly that. Ultimately the only "Poor Things" in this movie are the people who have to watch it.