Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) - Originally Written 6/17/2012

 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

Watching the Movie: 

Not applicable. Only a sadist would consider EL&IC a "movie" More in "The Bottom Line"

Screening the film: 

Images of mental illness, with specific focus on Asperger's syndrome, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive disorder. The family unit, with special focus on the father-son relationship, risk-reward trade-offs Communication methods and techniques. Interpersonal relationships as they relate to societal norms, rationalism vs absurdity and naturally, considering the 9-11 element; it's a significant reflection of historical context.

Best Dialogue: 

"My Dad told me that New York once had a sixth borough that floated away. They tried to save it, but they couldn’t and it’s never coming back. As much as I want him to, my Dad is never coming back … and I thought I couldn’t live without him, but now I know I can. I think that would make my Dad proud, which is all I ever wanted.”

The Bottom Line: 

These reviews are divided into "Watching the Movie" and "Screening the Film" because perspective is important. The movie is how much to I enjoy what I am seeing on the screen; how FUN is this experience. While EL&IC is an amazing film with some incredible imagery, as a movie it is a complete exercise in torture. It's worth noting that by all accounts the book of the same name which the movie is based upon is incredible reading; as I have not read it I can neither confirm nor deny that sentiment. However, I do think that this same story told in the written words rather than moving pictures would be a far more amiable experience. As it I don't regret giving two hours of my life to it; but I will NEVER sit through this film again. 

 2 out of 5

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

(Video Games) Dispatch

    Dispatch Dispatch before Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ? Yeah. I am as surprised as you. The Usual Video Game Disclaimer Long time followers of my blog know that I don't usually do Video Game reviews. Part of this is because the WTM/STF format doesn't really apply to video game story telling. Movies/Films top out at 3-3.5 hours. Modern video games with a story even worth exploring start at 10-12 hours. There's usually just too much there there to keep up with. The other major reason I don't review video games is that fun is such a subjective and evolving concept. In 1972, Pong was the greatest game ever. It was two sticks passing a digital ball back and forth. In 1980, Pac-Man was the greatest game ever. It was a big yellow circle eating small white circles and running away from multi-colored ghosts; pretty much indefinitely. In 1991 Street Fighter II was the greatest game ever. It was pick one of 8 people (well, 7 people and whatever the hell Blanka is) and beat up ...
Read more

(Video Games) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Image
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 For Ledger: Many people have taught me that tomorrow is not necessarily guaranteed, you taught me that today is not necessarily guaranteed either. Uncle Michael loves you kiddo. You deserved so much better than you got. Rest in Peace little one. The Prophecy Foretold "The studio made their game because they wanted to make a game that they wanted to play themselves. They didn’t make it to increase market shares. They didn’t make it to serve a brand. They didn’t have to meet arbitrary sales targets or fear being laid off if they didn’t meet those targets. Furthermore, the people in charge forbade them from cramming the game with anything whose only purpose was to increase revenue, and didn’t serve the game design. They didn’t treat their developers like numbers on a spreadsheet. They didn’t treat their players as users to exploit, and they didn’t make decisions they knew were shortsighted in function of a bonus or politics. They knew that if you put the g...
Read more

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)

    Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Watching The Movie: Enjoyment of this as a movie is highly correlated to enjoyment of Final Fantasy VII and the universe and lore created therein. However, that's not to say that knowing every aspect of lore around the narrative is necessary. My wife went in knowing very little about FFVII and was not entirely lost in the story. The movie does a good job giving at least a base framework of who the characters are to one another and the general issues going in within the world. If you like frantic, non-stop action then it's likely you'll enjoy watching this movie, even if it is only once. Screening the Film:  Obviously, a movie with the word children in the title will have a few images of the parental relationships, specifically between mothers and sons. There also is significant imagery around familial bonds of siblings with specific focus on brothers. Given the focus on Rufus, the Turks, and Shinra in general, there's some pretty s...
Read more