I have watched it twice now and plan to watch again. I loved It!
One of the first scenes inside the cabin of the plane after the crash was very moving.
It was the one where a badly hurt surviving passenger is dying. The connection and brief interaction between John Ottway and the man who is dying was so well done.
Despite the sadness...it was a beautiful and comforting moment between John and the other man. John helped him focus on something to hold onto as he slipped away.
Yep. Right here. Borderline masterpiece is right. For me, easily one of the most underrated movies of the last fifteen years.
People thought it was about Neeson fighting killer wolves, but it was way deeper and more profound than that. It's more of a work of art based on the human condition with philosophical themes. The emotions in it, especially by Neeson and one or two of the supporting cast, are about as raw as I can recall seeing in a movie of the past decade. There's not much competition with the comic book superheroes, CGI based stuff, Transformers and pretentiousness that is the majority, but still...
Some scenes I like the most are: the opening 10 minutes, the fireplace scene, Grillo's final scene, shortly after that when the one guy confronts Ottway on why he walked out of the bar, and when Ottway yells up to the sky-- Really raw and powerful stuff, including the scene Nubyan above mentioned in the beginning. And honorable mention: one of the most intense and realistic plane failure/crash scenes I've ever seen in any movie, by the way.
i was a little disappointed because i'd heard it described as "that movie where Liam Neeson fights bears." it certainly isn't that (even substituting the correct animal wouldn't be very apt), but it's an enjoyable Survival picture. at points it even flirts with Horror.
i was a little disappointed because i'd heard it described as "that movie where Liam Neeson fights bears." it certainly isn't that (even substituting the correct animal wouldn't be very apt), but it's an enjoyable Survival picture. at points it even flirts with Horror.
Borderline means "almost" a masterpiece, not definitely, but close, maybe, etc...And compared to the crap Hollywood spews out on a regular basis these days that are nothing but cliches and CGI, comic books, remakes, etc., compared to all that it kind of is a masterpiece; at least it's original.
For me, it's not a horror movie, but a philosophical movie on life and death, survival, existentialism. I'd take this movie over 99% of movies that have been nominated for awards over the last decade. Django Unchained comes to mind as a popular movie with rave reviews and many awards nominations that was really not that good as the praise it got.
Truly... We just watched **The Martian **last night... couldn't believe how bad vs how raved it was. Very glad we didn't see it in a cinema, or that we 'paid' for it.
Like we dodged a trainwreck. Haven't seen **Transformers **in cinemas since the first, and happy they do well, and happy I keep my $$ for elsewhere.
Only thing, is that I doubt superhero films will wane any time soon. Remember Idiocracy? That's where we're heading. If only we could bet on it...
i was a little disappointed because i'd heard it described as "that movie where Liam Neeson fights bears." it certainly isn't that (even substituting the correct animal wouldn't be very apt), but it's an enjoyable Survival picture. at points it even flirts with Horror.
Borderline means "almost" a masterpiece, not definitely, but close, maybe, etc...And compared to the crap Hollywood spews out on a regular basis these days that are nothing but cliches and CGI, comic books, remakes, etc., compared to all that it kind of is a masterpiece; at least it's original.
For me, it's not a horror movie, but a philosophical movie on life and death, survival, existentialism. I'd take this movie over 99% of movies that have been nominated for awards over the last decade. Django Unchained comes to mind as a popular movie with rave reviews and many awards nominations that was really not that good as the praise it got.
i realize a qualifier was used, but so was the word "masterpiece". you even did it again when explaining that it means it's not a masterpiece. i, too, used a qualifier when i compared it to a Horror film. by "flirts with" it was meant that it dabbles with similar techniques but without going full bore. the wolves in this were played almost like monster movie creatures.
praising this for not being an action blockbuster makes about as much sense to me as condemning it for not being the Wizard of Oz. i don't see what awards shows or Tarantino films have to do with it, either. i prefer to take a film on its own merits. watching a bad movie doesn't automatically make the next good movie i see even better.
@Heisenberg12
You've reminded me of another scene involving the other John...played by Grillo. His final in the movie at the river as the picture pans away and he says..."I'm afraid". Finally! I respected that he admitted to that fear. No shame in my book.
Truly... We just watched **The Martian **last night... couldn't believe how bad vs how raved it was. Very glad we didn't see it in a cinema, or that we 'paid' for it.
Like we dodged a trainwreck. Haven't seen **Transformers **in cinemas since the first, and happy they do well, and happy I keep my $$ for elsewhere.
Only thing, is that I doubt superhero films will wane any time soon. Remember Idiocracy? That's where we're heading. If only we could bet on it...
Copy that. There are a lot of movies that I didn't see while in the theatre that I'm so happy I missed.
Have you ever watched a bad movie at home, all the way to the end...only to regret It?
Precious time one can NEVER get back. I hate that.
Fifty Shades of Grey comes to mind. What a shit movie!!!
It’s good but I couldn’t help but compare it to The Edge (1997) and found it wanting. The CGI wolves paled next to Bart the Bear mauling Hopkins, Baldwin and Co, and some CGI scenery also let it down. I have a gnawing urge to see it again, though, which is always a good sign. Some people have pointed to its artistic or philosophical dimension, I’d like to hear some elaboration on that if anyone has thoughts on it...
Reply by Travis Bell
on February 24, 2017 at 11:05 PM
Ya, it is excellent, you're right. Underappreciated for sure.
Reply by Nubyan
on September 21, 2017 at 2:34 AM
I have watched it twice now and plan to watch again. I loved It!
One of the first scenes inside the cabin of the plane after the crash was very moving.
It was the one where a badly hurt surviving passenger is dying. The connection and brief interaction between John Ottway and the man who is dying was so well done.
Despite the sadness...it was a beautiful and comforting moment between John and the other man. John helped him focus on something to hold onto as he slipped away.
Reply by Nubyan
on September 21, 2017 at 2:38 AM
I'm here. Kinda late. But here nonetheless.
Reply by EnlightenMe
on September 21, 2017 at 8:54 AM
I enjoyed it many years ago. Was blown away at the ending. Will re-watch it again. Thx for reminding me about this!
Reply by Heisenberg12
on September 21, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Yep. Right here. Borderline masterpiece is right. For me, easily one of the most underrated movies of the last fifteen years.
People thought it was about Neeson fighting killer wolves, but it was way deeper and more profound than that. It's more of a work of art based on the human condition with philosophical themes. The emotions in it, especially by Neeson and one or two of the supporting cast, are about as raw as I can recall seeing in a movie of the past decade. There's not much competition with the comic book superheroes, CGI based stuff, Transformers and pretentiousness that is the majority, but still...
Some scenes I like the most are: the opening 10 minutes, the fireplace scene, Grillo's final scene, shortly after that when the one guy confronts Ottway on why he walked out of the bar, and when Ottway yells up to the sky-- Really raw and powerful stuff, including the scene Nubyan above mentioned in the beginning. And honorable mention: one of the most intense and realistic plane failure/crash scenes I've ever seen in any movie, by the way.
Reply by BarkingBaphomet
on September 21, 2017 at 3:55 PM
masterpiece is kind of a big word.
i was a little disappointed because i'd heard it described as "that movie where Liam Neeson fights bears." it certainly isn't that (even substituting the correct animal wouldn't be very apt), but it's an enjoyable Survival picture. at points it even flirts with Horror.
Reply by Heisenberg12
on September 21, 2017 at 4:04 PM
Borderline means "almost" a masterpiece, not definitely, but close, maybe, etc...And compared to the crap Hollywood spews out on a regular basis these days that are nothing but cliches and CGI, comic books, remakes, etc., compared to all that it kind of is a masterpiece; at least it's original.
For me, it's not a horror movie, but a philosophical movie on life and death, survival, existentialism. I'd take this movie over 99% of movies that have been nominated for awards over the last decade. Django Unchained comes to mind as a popular movie with rave reviews and many awards nominations that was really not that good as the praise it got.
Reply by EnlightenMe
on September 21, 2017 at 6:15 PM
Truly... We just watched **The Martian **last night... couldn't believe how bad vs how raved it was. Very glad we didn't see it in a cinema, or that we 'paid' for it.
Like we dodged a trainwreck. Haven't seen **Transformers **in cinemas since the first, and happy they do well, and happy I keep my $$ for elsewhere.
Only thing, is that I doubt superhero films will wane any time soon. Remember Idiocracy? That's where we're heading. If only we could bet on it...
Reply by BarkingBaphomet
on September 21, 2017 at 6:59 PM
i realize a qualifier was used, but so was the word "masterpiece". you even did it again when explaining that it means it's not a masterpiece. i, too, used a qualifier when i compared it to a Horror film. by "flirts with" it was meant that it dabbles with similar techniques but without going full bore. the wolves in this were played almost like monster movie creatures.
praising this for not being an action blockbuster makes about as much sense to me as condemning it for not being the Wizard of Oz. i don't see what awards shows or Tarantino films have to do with it, either. i prefer to take a film on its own merits. watching a bad movie doesn't automatically make the next good movie i see even better.
Reply by Nubyan
on September 22, 2017 at 11:37 AM
@Heisenberg12 You've reminded me of another scene involving the other John...played by Grillo. His final in the movie at the river as the picture pans away and he says..."I'm afraid". Finally! I respected that he admitted to that fear. No shame in my book.
Guys may think differently about that.
Reply by Nubyan
on September 22, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Copy that. There are a lot of movies that I didn't see while in the theatre that I'm so happy I missed.
Have you ever watched a bad movie at home, all the way to the end...only to regret It?
Precious time one can NEVER get back. I hate that.
Fifty Shades of Grey comes to mind. What a shit movie!!!
Reply by Nubyan
on September 22, 2017 at 11:53 AM
@BarkingBaphomet Off topic...curiosity question. Why don't you begin your sentences with a capital letter? Is it a trademark of yours?
Okay, so that was two questions.
Reply by BarkingBaphomet
on September 23, 2017 at 8:11 AM
i try not to use capital letters outside of proper nouns or occasional emphasis. i'm pretty big on conservation.
Reply by Drooch
on September 23, 2017 at 11:17 AM
It’s good but I couldn’t help but compare it to The Edge (1997) and found it wanting. The CGI wolves paled next to Bart the Bear mauling Hopkins, Baldwin and Co, and some CGI scenery also let it down. I have a gnawing urge to see it again, though, which is always a good sign. Some people have pointed to its artistic or philosophical dimension, I’d like to hear some elaboration on that if anyone has thoughts on it...
Reply by Nubyan
on September 23, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Question asked and answered. Thank you.