I'm pretty sure Netflix's Persuasion was created for [let me redact this because it's just ageist but in all honesty I was thinking of myself] viewers who "know of" Jane Austen, who might indulge in the fantasy of historical period films with a wistful romantic ideal, but certainly it was not written for someone who has read the actual novel, nor ( Read more... )

The Annihilation trailer makes the film (and its novel) look like a retelling of Solaris, except to the extent that the former is discussing how one is "annihilated" by one's inability to understand something so completely other ("other," in this case, being not of the planet earth = extraterrestrial), and in that inability, a kind of nihilism: ( Read more... )

Ex Machina ... I wanted to have faith in you because your writing appeared, potentially, smart. But I think that "faith" was broken.

One interpretation of the ending that could save the film--and its message--for me, is if its interpreted as an oppressed/oppressor narrative. That is, while we could view Ava as heartless/ruthless/humanless/ ( Read more... )