I didn't see any thread on this, so here goes.

I liked it! I liked it a lot, actually, although I felt it fell way, way apart in the last act, when the movie seemed to give up on what little internal logic it had set up previously. But still, it was really enjoyable. Great popcorn movie, fun summer flick, all that.

What did everybody else think?

Efan said:

I didn't see any thread on this, so here goes.

I liked it! I liked it a lot, actually, although I felt it fell way, way apart in the last act, when the movie seemed to give up on what little internal logic it had set up previously. But still, it was really enjoyable. Great popcorn movie, fun summer flick, all that.

What did everybody else think?

Just saw this. I liked the movie, but not as much of you did I don't think. I agree it's a nice little summer flick....sweet and funny at the same time. No one does the "little boy as the hero" and "poor alien just wants to go home" movies like Spielberg.......

This movie is no ET though......

Took my 5 year old son and my 11 year old neice tonight. 11 year old loved it, my son thought it was "ok" - he actually enjoyed the little Zombie film at the end the most.

I enjoyed it. It wasn't super great, but I'd definitely watch it again when it's out on dvd...or maybe at the drive-in.

It's was a great family flick. Lot's of fun, and has heart.

I wish they didn't use the f-word in the movie though--it's the perfect family movie otherwise.

Saw it today.

It is ok.

Seen it all before though.

I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a Stephen King tale.

It's a pastiche of E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Goonies, Cloverfield, and LOST.

But ultimately, that's what it felt like. Didn't feel like a real coherent solid movie to me. I like all those past ones better, except for maybe Goonies. Never liked Goonies.

That's hot.

SUPRMAN said:

Saw it today.

It is ok.

Seen it all before though.

I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a Stephen King tale.

haven't seen it yet but this was the first thing i thought of when i read the synopsis

JustErin said:

Took my 5 year old son and my 11 year old neice tonight. 11 year old loved it, my son thought it was "ok" - he actually enjoyed the little Zombie film at the end the most.

I enjoyed it. It wasn't super great, but I'd definitely watch it again when it's out on dvd...or maybe at the drive-in.

Y'all still have drive-in's? Awesome!

Just to go right into spoiler territory...

At the end when all the bikes and microwaves and other metal things magically transform into a seamless rocket ship and it blasts off--did that make an iota of sense to anyone? What was the fuel source for the rocket?

Efan said:

Just to go right into spoiler territory...

At the end when all the bikes and microwaves and other metal things magically transform into a seamless rocket ship and it blasts off--did that make an iota of sense to anyone? What was the fuel source for the rocket?

and what was it building out of the engines and cables?

ufoclub said:

Efan said:

Just to go right into spoiler territory...

At the end when all the bikes and microwaves and other metal things magically transform into a seamless rocket ship and it blasts off--did that make an iota of sense to anyone? What was the fuel source for the rocket?

and what was it building out of the engines and cables?

I assumed they were all under the general "metal for the ship, power for the fuel" umbrella, with no real concern for the actual physics that would be involved in such a thing.

Efan said:

ufoclub said:

and what was it building out of the engines and cables?

I assumed they were all under the general "metal for the ship, power for the fuel" umbrella, with no real concern for the actual physics that would be involved in such a thing.

But the ship was made out of all the cubes! And it was put together out of cubes in a different place.

RodeoSchro said:

JustErin said:

Took my 5 year old son and my 11 year old neice tonight. 11 year old loved it, my son thought it was "ok" - he actually enjoyed the little Zombie film at the end the most.

I enjoyed it. It wasn't super great, but I'd definitely watch it again when it's out on dvd...or maybe at the drive-in.

Y'all still have drive-in's? Awesome!

One of the only cool things about this plsce.

What the hell is it about?

Drive-ins are a lovely thing. Sad to see them dying.

Wow, am I old enough for the late 1970s/early 1980s to be cropping up in period pieces? First, The Box; now, this.

Anyway, I dug the slow revelation of the creature. Very Jaws- and Cloverfield-like in the shrouded devastation and killings throughout the bulk of the movie. I'd expected that. I especially liked the faint reflection of the monster seen in the gasoline puddle at the attendant's feet. Very. Cool.

I thought the ending took, perhaps, the largest leap. The creature's behavior changed before he picked up the boy, it seemed to me. He went very quickly from ferocity to near-reticence before picking him up. Maybe it was for tension and build-up.

(Moment of silence for the woman in the rollers. )

The end got me a bit teary: "I've got you."

And, the zombie film was awesome.

2freaky4church1 said:

What the hell is it about?

Basic story is these kids are trying to film this short horror film for a school project....they cast in the middle of the night by a train station where a train has an accident and causes something chaotic to happen in the town.

Efan said:

ufoclub said:

and what was it building out of the engines and cables?

I assumed they were all under the general "metal for the ship, power for the fuel" umbrella, with no real concern for the actual physics that would be involved in such a thing.

yeah, cause science fiction movies always follow physics. like one needs to have a warp drive to go with light speed and a flux capacitor to travel in time. now that is what I call a real concern for physics. but microwaves? pleaazzzzeee

[Edited 6/14/11 1:42am]

ThreadBare said:

The end got me a bit teary: "I've got you."

I thought that was kind of a bad ending. The father was pretty horrible, and I don't think he changed in any way. I guess he wasn't as bad as the drunk, abusive dad of the girl, but still.

Efan said:

ThreadBare said:

The end got me a bit teary: "I've got you."

I thought that was kind of a bad ending. The father was pretty horrible, and I don't think he changed in any way. I guess he wasn't as bad as the drunk, abusive dad of the girl, but still.

The father...was excused by me because he was really hot..but they quickly resolved his character for as much as they put him in the movie..where the audience did not have enough room to 'forgive' his character for being a douche through the film.

[img:$uid]http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc3MjE5MzU2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzE2OTc1MQ@@._V1._SY314_CR16,0,214,314_.jpg[/img:$uid]

paisleypark4 said:

Efan said:

I thought that was kind of a bad ending. The father was pretty horrible, and I don't think he changed in any way. I guess he wasn't as bad as the drunk, abusive dad of the girl, but still.

The father...was excused by me because he was really hot..but they quickly resolved his character for as much as they put him in the movie..where the audience did not have enough room to 'forgive' his character for being a douche through the film.

[img:$uid]http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc3MjE5MzU2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzE2OTc1MQ@@._V1._SY314_CR16,0,214,314_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I think there was subtlety to his character. It seemed obvious to me that his reactive hatred for Alice's dad had to be connected to his wife's death. It was irrational, coming from someone expected to keep a level head during stressful situations.

The big, subtle moment came during his argument with Joe: "I'm trying to keep 12,000 people from losing their minds. It used to someone else, but now I'm the one." (paraphrasing)

It seemed subtext for his relationship with Joe and for how their relationship had to change after the accident.

Efan said:

ufoclub said:

and what was it building out of the engines and cables?

I assumed they were all under the general "metal for the ship, power for the fuel" umbrella, with no real concern for the actual physics that would be involved in such a thing.

Hell, I thought the ship HAD to be made from the cubes and not just any metal. So, what was the point of that sole cube being "summoned" back from the boy's room from so far away? He could've easily substituted something else for it. Am I missing something or were the cubes something else?

The last part of the movie is definitely where it got a side eye look from me. Everything leading up to it was cool. Though, the deputy's escape from military confinement was as unbelievable as all get up and go. But hey, we're talking about a movie with an alien who just wants to go home and only kills people he really, really hates like the military guy. My belief was supposed to have been checked at the concession stand!

ThreadBare said:

paisleypark4 said:

The father...was excused by me because he was really hot..but they quickly resolved his character for as much as they put him in the movie..where the audience did not have enough room to 'forgive' his character for being a douche through the film.

[img:$uid]http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc3MjE5MzU2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzE2OTc1MQ@@._V1._SY314_CR16,0,214,314_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I think there was subtlety to his character. It seemed obvious to me that his reactive hatred for Alice's dad had to be connected to his wife's death. It was irrational, coming from someone expected to keep a level head during stressful situations.

The big, subtle moment came during his argument with Joe: "I'm trying to keep 12,000 people from losing their minds. It used to someone else, but now I'm the one." (paraphrasing)

It seemed subtext for his relationship with Joe and for how their relationship had to change after the accident.

Well, why was Alice's dad such a grouch and a bitch towards Alice?? Was he always that mean when he was drunk, or did it just start when the mom died and he started feeling guilty for calling out that morning cuz he was hungover? Or maybe because the wife left him. I don't know...

alexnvrmnd777 said:

ThreadBare said:

I think there was subtlety to his character. It seemed obvious to me that his reactive hatred for Alice's dad had to be connected to his wife's death. It was irrational, coming from someone expected to keep a level head during stressful situations.

The big, subtle moment came during his argument with Joe: "I'm trying to keep 12,000 people from losing their minds. It used to someone else, but now I'm the one." (paraphrasing)

It seemed subtext for his relationship with Joe and for how their relationship had to change after the accident.

Well, why was Alice's dad such a grouch and a bitch towards Alice?? Was he always that mean when he was drunk, or did it just start when the mom died and he started feeling guilty for calling out that morning cuz he was hungover? Or maybe because the wife left him. I don't know...

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Efan said:

I assumed they were all under the general "metal for the ship, power for the fuel" umbrella, with no real concern for the actual physics that would be involved in such a thing.

Hell, I thought the ship HAD to be made from the cubes and not just any metal. So, what was the point of that sole cube being "summoned" back from the boy's room from so far away? He could've easily substituted something else for it. Am I missing something or were the cubes something else?

The last part of the movie is definitely where it got a side eye look from me. Everything leading up to it was cool. Though, the deputy's escape from military confinement was as unbelievable as all get up and go. But hey, we're talking about a movie with an alien who just wants to go home and only kills people he really, really hates like the military guy. My belief was supposed to have been checked at the concession stand!

I guess you're right about the cubes. That must be it. But it looked to me like all the metal in town gets absorbed into the ship and then just kind of magically transforms into a seamless rocket. Maybe the cubes did all that work.

But I feel like the cubes were a Macguffin anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Efan said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

Hell, I thought the ship HAD to be made from the cubes and not just any metal. So, what was the point of that sole cube being "summoned" back from the boy's room from so far away? He could've easily substituted something else for it. Am I missing something or were the cubes something else?

The last part of the movie is definitely where it got a side eye look from me. Everything leading up to it was cool. Though, the deputy's escape from military confinement was as unbelievable as all get up and go. But hey, we're talking about a movie with an alien who just wants to go home and only kills people he really, really hates like the military guy. My belief was supposed to have been checked at the concession stand!

I guess you're right about the cubes. That must be it. But it looked to me like all the metal in town gets absorbed into the ship and then just kind of magically transforms into a seamless rocket. Maybe the cubes did all that work.

But I feel like the cubes were a Macguffin anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

I feel like they didn't cook the script long enough.

ufoclub said:

Efan said:

I guess you're right about the cubes. That must be it. But it looked to me like all the metal in town gets absorbed into the ship and then just kind of magically transforms into a seamless rocket. Maybe the cubes did all that work.

But I feel like the cubes were a Macguffin anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

I feel like they didn't cook the script long enough.

Yeah the random metal was NOT a factor on building this machine that suddenly just started up out of nowhere..what a quick rushed ending. THey showed the cubes made up his ship..not any source of metal...I understood the alien was making something out of metal; however they never explained WHAT it was....we just assumed he was doing something with his ship because in the video they watched in the classroom it clearly showed that the cubes were the model for it.

[Edited 6/15/11 11:10am]

paisleypark4 said:

ufoclub said:

I feel like they didn't cook the script long enough.

Yeah the random metal was NOT a factor on building this machine that suddenly just started up out of nowhere..what a quick rushed ending. THey showed the cubes made up his ship..not any source of metal...I understood the alien was making something out of metal; however they never explained WHAT it was....we just assumed he was doing something with his ship because in the video they watched in the classroom it clearly showed that the cubes were the model for it.

[Edited 6/15/11 11:10am]

Okay, but they definitely showed all the metal "melting" into the form of the ship, right? I'm pretty sure that's what it looked like.