Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on January 12, 2007 at 14:37:19

In Reply to: the nativity angle posted by Bulkington on January 12, 2007 at 06:36:56:

>>> "Anti science how?" <<<

On several levels science was seen as having caused the problems and then failed to correct them only leaving the door open to a miracle. The breakdown of society to the point of near savagery also lended itself to this anti-science theme.

>>> "Anti-cultural diversity?" <<<

The rounding up of dissidents in nazi-esque fashion and depiction of ghetos where foreign speaking occupants survived in squalor under armed guard is a pretty good indication that cultural diversity was under siege in this dystopian world.

>>> "The movie and not the world it represents? What are you talking about?" <<<

That's trickier, because in most SF movies there's some shread of hope in which the cautionary is grounded; IMHO, there's little if any such hope in Cuaron's film. CoM isn't just dystopian and allegorical, it presents a somewhat hopeless picture of the near-future society it depicts; it could be argued and rightfully, that Kee and her child's departure on the fishing trauler was the end of hope.

If I'm not mistaken, Cuaron himself has stated that Children of Men is anti-science fiction. As a science fiction aficionado who appreciates both utopian and dystopian concepts, I concur with his view of this work. While I admire his film I'm troubled by the anti-science, or rather anti-SF, elements and have reservations about the slice-of-life miracle birth.

Again, and I don't know how many times I can repeat myself here, I admire his film and respect his achieving what he set out to do, but for me, it just falls short of greatness. The consensus may be different, and I respect that as well, but 3 1/2 to 4 stars is all I can muster for a very good to excellent movie based on how I felt about this film when I left the theater. The bottom line, I was moved by certain scenes within the film and left unmoved by others; likewise, in some places the suspension of disbelief was accute and in others I felt manipulated into disbelief. As always, everyone's mileage varies.

AuPh