MovieChat Forums > Reminiscence (2021) Discussion > Could have been a great movie except…

Could have been a great movie except…

posted 3 years ago by LookMaAFag (145)
4 replies | jump to latest

1. The fighting..Hugh Jackman spent years in combat and he fought like he spent his service time in pillow fights….pretty lame fight scenes
2. The underwater scene….how many times do we have to see a scene where someone is underwater and down for so long under normal circumstances they’d drown?

I also felt like the movie was a Westworld/Dr. Sleep reunion

[–] ExTechOp (2758) 3 years ago

I don't think this movie ever could've been "great" although that's admittedly a matter of opinion.

I think this film used an intriguing premise (invading memories) but told a remarkably pedestrian story for such an interesting set-up

Typically, films like this include existential crises or epistemological questions ... how do we know what's real? What happens if our memories become our future? This film's trailers made it seem like it might delve into those notions.

Instead, we get this competent but by-the-numbers film noir that happened to use memory-scanning as a convenient plot device. To me, that's only enough to rate "good," never "great."

I liked it, but I won't be watching it again.

[–] Filmtenk2 (3386) 3 years ago

ExTevhOp I could not agree more with everything you wrote. Maybe an A- for effort but a C+ for execution, and that is generous. No need to watch again. What will Warner Brothers do next year when we have zero incentive to watch their theater only movies?

[–] bertnernie (43) 3 years ago

What will Warner Brothers do next year when we have zero incentive to watch their theater only movies?

We should all be thankful that major releases going streaming only, concurrently in theaters, or with minimal delay to streaming are letting people avoid a waste of time in the theater.

[–] bertnernie (43) 3 years ago

This film's trailers made it seem like it might delve into those notions.

This is probably the best take on why the film was a disappointment and I really couldn't put my finger on it until now.

On one hand, even for the cliches on noir, I liked it. In fact, the noir throwback is probably the only part that made the released film worth the watch to me. Simply put: gritty looking and sounding guy on an old fashioned detective hunt for tempting lounge singer gone missing that did him wrong. It can't get much more old fashioned noir than that - and for that reason alone - I actually like the film. I have a soft spot for noir movies so I know I'm probably alone on this take but I'll stand behind it as the reason the movie was at least watchable for that aspect, even if it is very paint by the numbers.

The trailer painted a picture exactly as you say: this feeling of possibly parallel timelines, or lost memories he is using the device to help restore and that sends him down a rabbit hole, using the devices/machines to escape reality and that leading to "which reality" is happening or real, etc. etc. etc. As you said, such as cool setup only to let it fall flat.

I think part of the issue is the trailer also (IIRC) listed the director and Westworld ties - and that itself gives a very direct message of mystery, intrigue to any viewers - only to end up as a story straight from A to B to C. I will 100% agree that it was good, not great and only worth a one time watch.

Appreciate your comment! Very spot on.