Dana and I were discussing this a bit on the old digs. Has anyone seen Tenet yet? I'd love to explore the metaphysical themes but don't want to spoil for anyone who hasn't yet.
Memento and Inception are good candidates to discuss as well.
Tenet Trailer -
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:02 am
by Soul_of_Shu
Ashvin .... Yet to watch Tenet, but when I do I'll get back to you with some thoughts if feeling so inclined at that time ~ since these days, for whatever unknown reason, I seem more and more drawn to quietude. Btw, great signature you affixed to your posts ... Nice to see that anima side unveiled.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:56 am
by AshvinP
I was inspired by yours, but I'm not nearly as poetically minded, so I just searched through some Rilke quotes. Synchronically, after deciding on that one, I came across this "Quest" drawing that is now my profile avatar.
No rush on Tenet... you may need to have a couple viewings, anyway. Nolan and quietude definitely do not mix.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 5:12 pm
by Simon Adams
It takes a little while to get your head around Tenet. It’s interesting that they have it such that it’s the intention to drop the reverse entropy bullet that picks it up...
(I don’t think that’s too much of a spoiler?)
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:02 pm
by AshvinP
Simon Adams wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 5:12 pm
It takes a little while to get your head around Tenet. It’s interesting that they have it such that it’s the intention to drop the reverse entropy bullet that picks it up...
(I don’t think that’s too much of a spoiler?)
For sure, Nolan explores the Fate-Free Will polarity in depth, while only having a few lines of exposition related to it. In that bullet scene, the scientist character remarks, "don't try to understand it, just feel it". She is speaking to the audience too, because that's exactly when things start to ramp up and "just feeling it" allows us to follow along with what's happening more effortlessly.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:50 pm
by Simon Adams
Yes you do need to just follow it along at some level. I feel like I need to watch it again some time, even though you see most of the relevant scenes twice ...
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 4:17 am
by AshvinP
Simon Adams wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:50 pm
Yes you do need to just follow it along at some level. I feel like I need to watch it again some time, even though you see most of the relevant scenes twice ...
It's a real shame it came out during lockdowns and theater closing. The theatrical experience of this movie was beyond words. Although I will admit it is easier to hear what the characters are saying with a shitty sound system.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:17 pm
by Simon Adams
I have a very small lounge (you'd probably call it a closet from a US perspective), but I have a great AVR setup which goes some way towards a theatrical experience. It's definitely one of those films where you feel like you've seen a new experience. I think the problem I had is that I'd read a few things saying how amazing and brilliant it was beforehand, and it's always difficult for things to live up to such high praise...
It's funny how these things change over time. When I first saw The Matrix in the cinema that was one where you came out of the cinema thinking you'd really had a new experience. But I saw it again a few months ago and it looks quite dated now.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 4:02 pm
by AshvinP
Simon Adams wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:17 pm
I have a very small lounge (you'd probably call it a closet from a US perspective), but I have a great AVR setup which goes some way towards a theatrical experience. It's definitely one of those films where you feel like you've seen a new experience. I think the problem I had is that I'd read a few things saying how amazing and brilliant it was beforehand, and it's always difficult for things to live up to such high praise...
It's funny how these things change over time. When I first saw The Matrix in the cinema that was one where you came out of the cinema thinking you'd really had a new experience. But I saw it again a few months ago and it looks quite dated now.
I would liken it to reading a great work on philosophy. The first time you read it, you will be too caught up in figuring out what all the terminology means to appreciate it. You may even put the book down and revisit it a few months later. Eventually you figure out what all the rave was about.
Setting high expectations is usually a problem for films too, but Nolan's name will be synonymous with high expectations no matter what given his previous works. This one actually had relatively bad reviews. It's only 70-76% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Re: Nolan Movies - Especially Tenet
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 2:01 pm
by Starbuck
When characters loop back on themselves, wouldn't they go a bit mad. They have seen how things play out the first time around, and no matter what they do the same events must occur - a bit like being in locked in syndrome while the world plays out?