MovieChat Forums > Kynodontas (2009) Discussion > Wayyy overrated

Wayyy overrated

posted 13 years ago by parnoldo
60 replies | jump to latest

I've been hearing the acclaim this film has gotten and as a film lover I've been looking forward to seeing it. So I did, just now, and here's my quick review for what it's worth...

My immediate reaction- great cinematography and sound design, decent acting, interesting pacing and editing. A solid exercise in visual storytelling.

Also- pretentious, pointless, tedious, self indulgent bull$__t. Not funny, not shocking, not anything. Just an hour and a half of my life that I won't get back. I've read the arguments for allegory, and satire and I don't buy it. It's not that I don't "get it", I just don't buy it. Cinematic masturbation at it's finest.

“Everything government touches turns to crap.” -Ringo Starr

[–] teaandhorror 12 years ago

This film can best be described as trite and unique in an incredibly boring way.

The weird family plot has been done over and over again. So, when I read the plot description for this film and heard that the film was nominated for an Oscar, I assumed that their must be something beyond the weird family plot that makes this movie really awesome. I was wrong. There is no real story line, no amazing cinematography, no mind-blowing dialog....even the setting for the film wasn't all that special. It made me stop and think but, try as I might, I was unable to actually take anything away after seeing this film. Maybe I'm not " delusional a.k.a. "artsy" enough to understand it....

[–] StaunchWoman 12 years ago

Your reaction is relative to your expectations... your own fault.

We've met before, haven't we?

[–] ViewandReview 12 years ago

I've just watched it, and, while it didn't go far enough, or really do enough with all its fragments of concept, it evoked a response. And that's what art is supposed to do, right? On a base level I found it distressingly sad, and that was further emphasised by the very lack of meaning and motivation of the parents. Perhaps exploration would have diluted that.
It's very subjective, but what I'm saying is the impression it drew was effective, and probably more so than if this same film had coloured in the brushstrokes and connected more of the dots it left for us to dwell upon.
Performance wise the 'children' (who were basically adult actors!) were very bland but I think this was intentional, and was in keeping with the way they had been manipulated to misunderstand so many things about life. As with the words, it isn't necessary about the core goal of that mis-education, but rather the power behind that level of manipulation, and the impression of cruelty it gives.
The disparity between parents and children really frightened me, as did the nonchalant attitudes of both parents throughout.

So yeah, overall I believe what you bring to the film and how you choose to interpret its lack of strong definitions, will leave you frustrated or satisfied.

[–] ferriscooler 12 years ago

what are you talking about ? it was so funny - i wouldnt call it self indulgent and the tedium is actually pretty important

Leisure Rules

[–] exatera 12 years ago

FUNNY? You found this movie funny?

[–] deRider84 12 years ago

I thought it was hilarious. It's the blackest of black comedies, but a comedy nonetheless.

I'm surprised this film gets so much hate, to be honest. I think it's fantastic.

[–] TrickGum 12 years ago

I laughed a few times but to call this a comedy is a stretch.

[–] exatera 12 years ago

I feel the same way.

[–] Stevarooni 12 years ago

You make good points, parnoldo. Good, technically, and the plot is interesting, but there's a lot of pretension going on here. While parents can act irrationally, children will eventually (prior to late teens, I would think) call them on their B.S. and not buy into obviously ludicrous arguments. I did think that there were some amusing points throughout, but generally it was self-indulgent.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MelanieSwift 11 years ago

You don't sound very open-minded to me. You could have phrased your post in the form of a question and learned a lot more.

No, this is not part of my post.

[–] eolloe 11 years ago

Agree with the OP that it was waaaay overrated.
Academy Award nominee? Film festivals awards winner? I had an overwhelming sense of The Emperor's New Clothes with this one.

It was sooo boring. I constantly wanted it to just hurry up and end. Or for something to happen.
This one goes on my list of Worst Films I Have Ever Seen.