Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Impossible"

[DaMovieMan]

Is there a thread about this?

Completely forgot about this one until I just saw a Spanish trailer for it, and...well, watch the trailer. I didn't understand a word of it excepts when she cries out "NINYAS!!" which means kids I think.

But.

This guy made the Orphanage which I really, really, liked. And this is looking mighty promising already. I'm getting spirtual vibes, horror sensations and some great looking effects of a very recent tragedy.

Thoughts?

http://youtu.be/l427n9DxF6o





Could be making its North American premiere at TIFF.

[marilynMONROBOT]

Posted this in the AFI Fest thread in the General section but figured I might as well copy/paste it here, in case anyone was interested. I checked this out at the Fest and wasn't entirely thrilled as you will read, but I did respect the film on a technical level- very much so in fact. I will post an actual complete review and not just a critique of what turned me off nearer to the release date as there are TONS of reviews i'm trying to squeeze into my (very little ) available writing time right now.


But for now:

The Impossible I thought at least, was a very well constructed, beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and at times incredibly intense and emotional film that still ultimately never found a way to rise above the decent/average level due to the sometimes overbearing heavy handed-ness of it all. It wore me out emotionally but just like I did last year with Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close I felt it was manipulated out of me in a way that rang very untrue and almost forceful, even as I was feeling deeply involved with the film. I donno...it's a technically great flick and it achieves the emotional response it wants but that's the problem, I KNOW that is the response I am supposed to feel, and at times i caught myself catching myself getting sadder when Id hear other audience members sniffle or cry- I love the theatre going experience and the vibe can, for me, truly make or break a pictures first impression, and while it wasn't a bad thing to emote along with my movie neighbors, I shouldnt have noticed it as it was happening. Obviously that isn't going to be relevant at all for future home viewings, but honestly- I don't know if I ever really NEED to see it again anyway, which is strange for me. My feelings can be best described by channeling the way it feels in the few recent instances where mainstream audiences have hyped up an above average sci fi flick (you know which ones and yeah mostly, all really great movies regardless) as some sort of wildly transcendant, life changing experience, when 2 out of 3 times it's not that it is THAT incredibly smart or ahead of it's time, it's just finally NOT outlandishly dumbed down. In order to get there though they have to appeal to the childlike attention spans of the average occasional movie goer which in turn means all the people of even just barely above average intelligence will easily be able to see it try so hard to be what it ultimately does wind up becoming, be it complex, belief challenging sci-actioner or an (almost guaranteed) tear jerkingly sad but ultimately inspirational story of triumph over tragedy, dressed as an adults disaster movie. It doesn't mean it wasn't a good movie, or it didn't accomplish it's task story telling wise, just that I have a migraine from being bashed over the head with the "subtlety" (read: lack thereof) of it all. So, to say what would have just summed it all up- My brother once told me- "It isn't very cool to try and be that very cool." Switch cool with emotionally resonant and that spells it out lol I guess it just didn't do it for me. Sorry to give a mini review just on what I didn't like. Ha. Technically i'd say 8/10, Personally though, I would be more at a 5/10.

[AspectRatio1986]

The trailer looks incredible...Ill give it that.

[Bourne101]

I thought it was really good. It does have the problem of the second half not being able to match the first half, but even when it gets a bit repetitive it's still moving as hell. The acting is top-notch.

[LifeLiquid]

Saw it at AFI. Thought this movie was phenomenal! Acting was outstanding and the movie was intense. Very well directed and everything about the film was just superb. 9/10

[marilynMONROBOT]

Originally Posted by Bourne101

I thought it was really good. It does have the problem of the second half not being able to match the first half, but even when it gets a bit repetitive it's still moving as hell. The acting is top-notch.

This seems to be the reaction of everyone else I talk to who has seen it. Id be lying if I said parts havent stuck with me, I just did not connect in as legitimately a way with it as everyone else seems to have.

[Moviefan02000]

Originally Posted by marilynMONROBOT

The Impossible I thought at least, was a very well constructed, beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and at times incredibly intense and emotional film that still ultimately never found a way to rise above the decent/average level due to the sometimes overbearing heavy handed-ness of it all. It wore me out emotionally but just like I did last year with Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close I felt it was manipulated out of me in a way that rang very untrue and almost forceful, even as I was feeling deeply involved with the film. I donno...it's a technically great flick and it achieves the emotional response it wants but that's the problem, I KNOW that is the response I am supposed to feel, and at times i caught myself catching myself getting sadder when Id hear other audience members sniffle or cry- I love the theatre going experience and the vibe can, for me, truly make or break a pictures first impression, and while it wasn't a bad thing to emote along with my movie neighbors, I shouldnt have noticed it as it was happening. Obviously that isn't going to be relevant at all for future home viewings, but honestly- I don't know if I ever really NEED to see it again anyway, which is strange for me. My feelings can be best described by channeling the way it feels in the few recent instances where mainstream audiences have hyped up an above average sci fi flick (you know which ones and yeah mostly, all really great movies regardless) as some sort of wildly transcendant, life changing experience, when 2 out of 3 times it's not that it is THAT incredibly smart or ahead of it's time, it's just finally NOT outlandishly dumbed down. In order to get there though they have to appeal to the childlike attention spans of the average occasional movie goer which in turn means all the people of even just barely above average intelligence will easily be able to see it try so hard to be what it ultimately does wind up becoming, be it complex, belief challenging sci-actioner or an (almost guaranteed) tear jerkingly sad but ultimately inspirational story of triumph over tragedy, dressed as an adults disaster movie. It doesn't mean it wasn't a good movie, or it didn't accomplish it's task story telling wise, just that I have a migraine from being bashed over the head with the "subtlety" (read: lack thereof) of it all. So, to say what would have just summed it all up- My brother once told me- "It isn't very cool to try and be that very cool." Switch cool with emotionally resonant and that spells it out lol I guess it just didn't do it for me. Sorry to give a mini review just on what I didn't like. Ha. Technically i'd say 8/10, Personally though, I would be more at a 5/10.

Your review makes no sense. If there is that many great things about it, it obviously deserves at least a 7/10.

[marilynMONROBOT]

Originally Posted by Moviefan02000

Your review makes no sense. If there is that many great things about it, it obviously deserves at least a 7/10.

And this is why I have supplied 2 scores instead of one. Haha

8/10 on a film making, acting, technical level and a 5/10 on a personal level. It wasnt the first time I was not wild about a critically lauded epic or anything, i just feel like sometimes you have to try and seperate your personal tastes and your critical opinions when it comes to some flicks.