Slowcloud

3 de agosto de 2018

Probably the best film of 2018

So far the only movie of 2018 I bought on Blu-ray. I loved it so much I want to reprint my blog post from Independent Ethos. It tops the list of what I think are the best films of 2018 at the halfway point of the year. I'll admit, Annihilation‘s position at number one is very personal and far from objective, as it certainly isn’t a movie — from a major studio, no less (Paramount) — for everyone. A surreal blend of science fiction and horror that will frustrate plot hole obsessives, this film speaks to the core of how I prefer to be entertained by the medium of cinema. I’m referring cinema in the true theatrical sense, as the sound design — from the film’s score to its sound effects — begs for that isolating experience in a large room in front of a big screen.Director Alex Garland based his script on the first book of Jeff VanderMeer’s “Southern Reach Trilogy.” Its plot involves an armed research time entering a new land created by a meteor that crashed into a lighthouse. A pearlescent dome called “The Shimmer” encapsulates the lighthouse and has gradually expanded over time to cover the land around it, dubbed Area X. No exploration team has ever returned from it, save for one man, a soldier named Kane (Oscar Isaac). After acting strangely in front of his biologist wife Lena (Natalie Portman), he is soon stricken ill and ends up comatose. Lena volunteers to join the next small crew to enter, a diverse mix of women including a psychologist and a botanist. What they find inside includes genetic mutations and a warped sense of time and place, where nothing seems to fall in order of the science we know on Earth.During their adventures toward the lighthouse, which include encounters with things and scenes that are horrific, surreal and beautiful — sometimes all at once — the women, including a terrific Jennifer Jason Leigh as the psychologist Dr. Ventress, their numbers dwindle. A mix of ambivalence, enlightenment and menace, Ventress is key to the film’s ingenious reveal of what lies at the heart of the alien power. It’s not just because she has the best line alluding to the film’s title during the film’s most startling moment of pyrotechnics. Ventress is the sort of embodiment of life and death refracted in the world below the shimmer. DNA and psychology play a role that speaks to inherited neurosis and obsession, but also the sensitivity of DNA mixing between beings, where a kiss — or a bite — could change your construction and destiny forever. Annihilation is out there in a beautiful and fearsome way that makes the viewer aware of something else besides escapism or the present moment, a thoughtful science fiction film that is illogical in a frightful way because it’s based on something mystical in our biology.—Hans MorgensternVer más

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Andy

22 de abril de 2023

A Cool Blend of Classic Science Fiction, Modern Action, and Art House

An exciting, visually arresting, and symbolic science fiction film and worthy follow up to Alex Garland's superb instant classic Ex Machina (2014). This film may not be as original, but works very well telling its intelligent story and definitely excels in awesome production values, special effects and dreamy atmosphere. In a traditional set up the military sends a all female team of scientist and soldiers, each bearing psychological baggage, on a potential suicide-mission into a mysterious area of spreading alien activity, a shining veil over a forest where time and nature are warped and -of course- no one has ever returned...well almost no one. Keen viewers will be rewarded with a thrilling blending of H.P. Lovecraft's The Colour Out Of Space, Andrei Tarkovsky's classics Stalker (1979) and Solaris (1972), a bit of Arrival (2016), and a huge dose of Predator (1987). The film also has a unique and smart interpretation of alien life, human biology and self destructive tendencies. A pleasant surprise. Blu ray extras include some good making-of interviews with the cast and crew.Ver más

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Alycia

15 de mayo de 2026

Great movie

I’ve always loved this movie and the whole story plot

Susan D.

1 de diciembre de 2025

Awesome!

This reminded me of an Orange Sunshine trip that I took in the 70's. Whoa! I couldn't look away. The performances are superb. What a trip!

Paul

14 de septiembre de 2025

A Visual and Auditory Masterpiece – A Must-Have Upgrade for Home Theater Enthusiasts

As a fan of science fiction cinema, I was eager to experience Annihilation in 4K UHD, and I must say, the upgrade from the standard Blu-ray is nothing short of transformative…and completely blows away the streaming version!!Video Quality:The 4K UHD presentation of Annihilation is a visual feast. The film’s unique color palette, characterized by its muted tones and surreal lighting, is rendered with exceptional clarity and depth. The HDR10 enhancement brings out subtle details in both the darkest shadows and brightest highlights, providing a more immersive experience. According to AVS Forum, the HDR10 implementation is particularly effective, enhancing the film’s ethereal visuals without introducing unwanted artifacts.High-Def Digest also praises the 4K UHD release, noting that the Dolby Vision HDR presentation significantly improves the film’s visual appeal, offering a more vibrant and detailed image compared to the Blu-ray.Audio Quality:The audio experience is equally impressive. The 4K UHD disc includes a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that elevates the film’s atmospheric sound design. AVForums highlights the effective use of the Atmos track, noting how it enhances the surround environment with subtle ambient sounds, such as the buzzing of overhead fluorescent lighting and the chirping of creatures within The Shimmer.Additionally, AV Nirvana emphasizes the immersive nature of the Dolby Atmos track, which adds depth and dimension to the film’s soundscape, making the viewing experience more engaging.Comparison to Blu-ray:When compared to the standard Blu-ray, the 4K UHD version offers a noticeable improvement in both video and audio quality. The enhanced resolution and HDR capabilities provide a more detailed and vibrant image, while the Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers a richer and more immersive sound experience. High-Def Digest notes that the 4K UHD release offers a superior visual and auditory experience, making it a worthwhile upgrade for home theater enthusiasts.Conclusion:If you have a 4K HDR-capable display and a sound system that supports Dolby Atmos, upgrading to the 4K UHD version of Annihilation is highly recommended. The improvements in both video and audio quality significantly enhance the film’s immersive experience, making it a standout addition to any home theater collection.

Thomas Wikman

5 de enero de 2021

Shimmering Indifference

I love science fiction movies and I’ve seen a lot of them. This is one of the best science fiction movies that I’ve seen. It loosely resembles Andrei Tarkovsky’s “the Stalker” about a zone that’s been consumed by an alien presence, in this case called the shimmer, and nothing that enter the zone seems to be able to get back out. The story is fast paced but strange and the movie evolves like an eerie nightmare. The mystery is thick, there are gruesome discoveries and horrific events, and a lot of things doesn’t make sense, but that’s the point. The movie is very much about emotional pain and self-destruction, so it is not a lighthearted movie. You can say that it is both a non-traditional horror movie and a science fiction movie. Some people may say it is weird or crazy but in a good sense, and there’s not a dull second.The movie has a deeper meaning, which I did not figure out the first time I saw it. There is a lot of symbolism in the movie. Then I understood what it meant. The acting is beyond amazing with Natalie Portman in the leading role. The cinematography was beautiful, and the eerie soundtrack created a perfect and eerie atmosphere for every scene. It was one of the most artistic science fiction movies I’ve ever seen. I watched this movie when it came out in the movie theatres and since then I’ve watched it 15-20 times on DVD. I will probably watch it many more times before this pandemic is over.Ver más

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