Annihilation (2018)

[CrazyBlu-RayFan]

Originally Posted by StarWarsIsAwesome123

If this film is so brainy it's weird that they chose to release it in theaters here in the US rather than straight to Netflix like everywhere else.

Chances are Paramount agreed to a theater release for it for certain areas and they have uphold it.

[kylec123]

What level of "brainy" is this? Film-comparison?

[imsounoriginal]

Somewhere around Arrival or Ex Machina, maybe a little more.

[eiknarf]

The director said you need to have a degree in biochemical engineering, a PhD in math, and must understand every single facet of the ecosystem..etc to understand this movie.

[kylec123]

Hmm.....sounds fairly approachable to me.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by kylec123

What level of "brainy" is this? Film-comparison?

From what I recall (been almost a year) maybe along the level of Prometheus. It certainly does go into deeper themes, but also has some monster movie elements to it, as well as HR Giger style visuals in places (probably the biggest issue with the test screening, cause without color grading and with temp visual effects, I felt like the film was lacking potentially some of its strongest elements).

[Cremildo]

First Reactions: "Phenomenal", "Dazzling", "Head-Spinning"

[Riddler The Slag]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

First Reactions: "Phenomenal", "Dazzling", "Head-Spinning"

I have been mixed about seeing this. This sold it for me. I crave for original sci-fi.

[don3663]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

First Reactions: "Phenomenal", "Dazzling", "Head-Spinning"

Good.

Knew it would be great. This is why I don't believe those idiots who talk about test screening and BS like that.

Not referring to "imsounoriginal" as they seemed to like the film from the screening mentioned in the beginning of the thread

[tigertron]

Ex Machina is a bloody brilliant film so I'm glad this is getting good reviews.

[eiknarf]

So am I reading that correctly?
Even in America, it'll hit Netflix seventeen days after it's theatrical release on 2/23?

[Leonidas King]

I didnt expect any different. Everything Alex Garland does is kind of amazing.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

First Reactions: "Phenomenal", "Dazzling", "Head-Spinning"

" 'Annihilation' will debut on the big screen in North America first, before hitting the streaming service seventeen days later. The decision to broker a deal with Netflix came after producers battled over the final cut of the film..."

So it'll be on Netflix in America on March 12th??!

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

" 'Annihilation' will debut on the big screen in North America first, before hitting the streaming service seventeen days later. The decision to broker a deal with Netflix came after producers battled over the final cut of the film..."

So it'll be on Netflix in America on March 12th??!

I believe it is a normal theatrical window in the U.S., and hits Netflix overseas 17 days later (perhaps to avoid piracy cutting into the height of the U.S. theatrical run).

[ScarredLungs]

Nice to see that it is getting good reviews.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by don3663

Good.

Knew it would be great. This is why I don't believe those idiots who talk about test screening and BS like that.

Not referring to "imsounoriginal" as they seemed to like the film from the screening mentioned in the beginning of the thread

I thought it was good enough (though certainly a step down from Ex Machina) from a test screening, but it didn't seem to get a strong reaction overall. And I think a lot of that has to do with the unfinished visuals close to a year before release.

The visuals seem to be constantly praised in the reactions we are getting (and it is clearly meant to be a very visually driven film), but the color and cinematography looked much less impressive in the test screening that what I've seen in the trailer. And one scene that's supposed to be a terrifying creature confrontation drew laughter because of the temporary effects.

[don3663]

Interesting.

Begs the question why bother testing a film so early into post. Was it the complete movie you saw?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by don3663

Interesting.

Begs the question why bother testing a film so early into post. Was it the complete movie you saw?

Probably seeing if many reshoots were needed, and wanted to get them done before they worked on the effects.

[Spencer_Kain92]

Glad to hear about all the good reactions. I’m reading the book now and really looking forward to it even more now.

[sawdustandtinsel]

I wonder if they are at all worried about whitewashing backlash since Natalie Portman and JJL's characters are Asian and Native American in the book?