MovieChat Forums > Phenomenon (1996) Discussion > When he sees the Light at the start of t...

When he sees the Light at the start of the film....?

posted 16 years ago by horatiohornblower
11 replies | jump to latest

Been awhile since I saw this, just saw part of the beginning. Just wondered from anyone who may have read somewhere---the light that he sees, is there anything more to it than just a flash of light he sees from having a tumor or something like that? I dont mind spoilers, would just like to know if theres anything more interesting about that light that is known? Thank You!

"Are you righteous? Kind? Does your confidence lie in this? Are you loved by all? Know that I was, too. Do you imagine your suffering will be any less because you loved goodness and truth?" - Corporal Fife, in Malicks' philosophical masterpiece 'The Thin Red Line' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120863/)

[–] olivet47 16 years ago

If I remember correctly, it is explained as a hallucination caused by the tumor. However, I think that the film is left open to interpretation. If you'd like to think that it was a UFO giving mankind these new abilities, you can. If you'd like to think of it as a gift from God, you can think of it that way.

At least, that's how I like to feel about it.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] peep4000 14 years ago

Personally, I agree with both of you, that it's more likely a hallucination from the brain tumor, rather than extraterrestrial source...or it's possible that both are correct, but less likely. The film leaves this open to the view to decide on his/her own.

[–] loserkids54 13 years ago

I always interpreted this as the sudden onset of raging homosexual desires in John Travolta's character.

[–] tranxHDR 12 years ago

as a person who prefers to look at things with a scientific approach, i see it as the brain tumor causing George to see the flash of light. Not once but twice. but the filmmakers left this purposely for an ambiguous explanation which is one of the good things about this movie.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] LaPfieffer92 12 years ago

lol as a kid seeing this movie i always thought it was like aliens or something.

[–] gregorykirwan 8 years ago

I watched that part again with the light...I own the movie....and after viewing it again several times, my thought is that it isn't just a tumor....I think the tumor developed while he was using his powers....why not just a tumor....because when he views the light and it looks like the light comes at him...it knocks him backwards and to the ground with extraordinary force; he doesn't just faint or crumple to the ground....which would have happened if it was just a tumor...

[–] Projekta 8 years ago

I think if he was knocked down by the tumor it would be similar to the effect as when you're dreaming and you try to stop yourself from falling. If the mind thinks it's real then your body will react.

A counter-argument would be that it knocked him back further or harder than he could with his own strength. I don't remember exactly from the scene how they make it look but I remember it looking like he didn't just throw himself.

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"You just stroke it all day. You're a hero!"

[–] psmithyyyyy 7 years ago

OH please, it is defnetly NOT the light of a tumor. That was a very special light that clearly gave him super intelligence. Tumors don't do that! they said the tumor was spreading yet he was able to think and function. again, tumors don't do that! it was clearly from another source, hence the Title of the film.

[–] antonasmodeus 7 years ago

Those mysterious lights were Xenu, the God of Scientology, telling John Travolta to make this silly movie.