Monsters is a remarkable, if not classic, film for a few reasons. Quite obviously the outstanding visual effects achieved on such a small budget is something that has been discussed a lot. The wonderful soundtrack by Jon Hopkinsn too. Yet I think the melting pot of the film is much more impressive.
The fact that it mixes road movie, a romance, a film with people visiting a foreign country, a post-apocalyptic riff and a sci-fi monster film all into one and manages to not be a mess but instead coherent, believable, unnerving and touching is quite a triumph. I found it refreshing how instead of a film that is having a full on love-in with nature that the characters always appear slightly tired and dirty of travelling, and nature always seems dangerous (with the monsters thriving there). They are homesick, and rather than some 'spiritual journey' they instead simply long for home comforts. Of course the question of where home is becomes more ambiguous towards the end.
I think that the title may be somewhat misleading but I completely disagree with any people who seem to believe that the monsters are the central point to this film (Mr Filmnatic). What I saw in the film was some suspenseful moments with the monsters but actually a film looking at what humans would do to other humans for one side's gain. Whether intentional or not there are clearly some political issues here. The casting off of Mexico is throughout the film, people being forgot about for the greater good.
I found throughout the film that there were two monsters: the aliens but also the fighter jets. We hear them and see them from afar and they often cause devastation, in the background mostly that is then left plain in the cold light of day. The fear of the two from the main characters becomes almost equal.
I think the film is not perfect. At times the main relationship, the other clear centre point of the film, is a bit shallow, the dialogue slightly airy. Yet I never found it unrealistic or stupid. People are flawed and I think it comes across well.
A very good film which I think achieves its goals very competently.
This is not a boring film. Of couse, being categorized as horror and sci-fi does not help, because you should not expect the typical horror or sci-fi effects.
I consider this a dystopian road movie, but not set in a barren desert, for a change, but in the central american jungle. This is part Elysium and part Cloverfield, I would say.
From the very beginning you know things will go wrong, just when? But you will also never doubt the outcome in the end.
There are some minor flaws in the script, but they do not affect the overall atmosphere - which is unique and very well crafted.
The movie would have been at least a bit interesting if there was a reason to care about the characters. Honestly, from start to finish, if they had both died I would just have shrugged. And no, their love for each other is just as boring, why would you care about two people falling in love if you don't at least care for one of them? Boring. Good intentions, bad shape.
I might be conforming to the general consensus here, but yes, this film had a great concept but it was not executed well.
For the budget it was shot on (about $500K) and the prosumer equipment used, this film does look like an understated Hollywood sci-fi epic. The cinematography and camerawork is beautiful, and the CGI is for the most part quite convincing. The musical score is also an added bonus, as it is rather subtle and builds at the appropriate moments.
However, the film's positive qualities can't quite overshadow shortcomings. The story is middling and drags along, making its hour-and-a-half running time seem twice as long--any interesting scenes are scarce and sporadically spread throughout the film. In fact, we rarely ever get to see the "monsters" that seem to be the film's center point. Obviously, they didn't show the creatures very often so as to build up suspense, but the film fails to even do that effectively. And to top it all off, the acting is just terrible and the characters' dialogue is for the most part unimportant and unneeded. Though it could be argued that this corresponds with their self-centered characters, it leaves the audience feeling bored and very uninvolved.
Monsters attempted to ride the District 9 wave and aimed to be a great piece low-budget, indie, sci-fi fare, but ended up simply being an amateurish road movie with the occasional alien appearance. Is it absolutely terrible? No, but when there are so many films superior in quality it is hard to recommend.
Gareth Edwards' Monsters is a low-budget attempt at a giant monster movie, but I was actually surprised at how much of the spidersquids we see. The focus is rather on the two protagonists' introspective trek through Mexico's "infected zone", coming so close to death, they can't help but take stock of their lives. Edwards is actually pretty smart with his creatures, establishing them with brief TV clips, signs and urban art before we ever get a good look at them. The real "monster" however, is America's foreign policy. Whether we're talking about how it closes its borders, bombs Mexico, and in general makes the creatures more hostile, there's a whole lot of subtext there.
Possibly the dullest monster movie ever. If you're going to place emphasis on the characters, at least make 'em interesting. Oh, and don't even get me started on the stereotypical portrayal of "Mexico".
As a mexican, i always lol'd about the bad spanish talked and writed in this kind of movies,"should we ask a native spanish speaker before? fuck it!, let's googletranslate it!"
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Comments 1 - 15 of 31
Haunts12
Monsters is a remarkable, if not classic, film for a few reasons. Quite obviously the outstanding visual effects achieved on such a small budget is something that has been discussed a lot. The wonderful soundtrack by Jon Hopkinsn too. Yet I think the melting pot of the film is much more impressive.The fact that it mixes road movie, a romance, a film with people visiting a foreign country, a post-apocalyptic riff and a sci-fi monster film all into one and manages to not be a mess but instead coherent, believable, unnerving and touching is quite a triumph. I found it refreshing how instead of a film that is having a full on love-in with nature that the characters always appear slightly tired and dirty of travelling, and nature always seems dangerous (with the monsters thriving there). They are homesick, and rather than some 'spiritual journey' they instead simply long for home comforts. Of course the question of where home is becomes more ambiguous towards the end.
I think that the title may be somewhat misleading but I completely disagree with any people who seem to believe that the monsters are the central point to this film (Mr Filmnatic). What I saw in the film was some suspenseful moments with the monsters but actually a film looking at what humans would do to other humans for one side's gain. Whether intentional or not there are clearly some political issues here. The casting off of Mexico is throughout the film, people being forgot about for the greater good.
I found throughout the film that there were two monsters: the aliens but also the fighter jets. We hear them and see them from afar and they often cause devastation, in the background mostly that is then left plain in the cold light of day. The fear of the two from the main characters becomes almost equal.
I think the film is not perfect. At times the main relationship, the other clear centre point of the film, is a bit shallow, the dialogue slightly airy. Yet I never found it unrealistic or stupid. People are flawed and I think it comes across well.
A very good film which I think achieves its goals very competently.
tellef
I really liked this film. It is beautiful, quiet and intense at the same time. The ending was amazing!hawkeyevigo
Pyramid on the Mexican...US border!HeikoScharnberg
This is not a boring film. Of couse, being categorized as horror and sci-fi does not help, because you should not expect the typical horror or sci-fi effects.I consider this a dystopian road movie, but not set in a barren desert, for a change, but in the central american jungle. This is part Elysium and part Cloverfield, I would say.
From the very beginning you know things will go wrong, just when? But you will also never doubt the outcome in the end.
There are some minor flaws in the script, but they do not affect the overall atmosphere - which is unique and very well crafted.
Arjofocolovi
The movie would have been at least a bit interesting if there was a reason to care about the characters. Honestly, from start to finish, if they had both died I would just have shrugged. And no, their love for each other is just as boring, why would you care about two people falling in love if you don't at least care for one of them? Boring. Good intentions, bad shape.MrFilmnatic
I might be conforming to the general consensus here, but yes, this film had a great concept but it was not executed well.For the budget it was shot on (about $500K) and the prosumer equipment used, this film does look like an understated Hollywood sci-fi epic. The cinematography and camerawork is beautiful, and the CGI is for the most part quite convincing. The musical score is also an added bonus, as it is rather subtle and builds at the appropriate moments.
However, the film's positive qualities can't quite overshadow shortcomings. The story is middling and drags along, making its hour-and-a-half running time seem twice as long--any interesting scenes are scarce and sporadically spread throughout the film. In fact, we rarely ever get to see the "monsters" that seem to be the film's center point. Obviously, they didn't show the creatures very often so as to build up suspense, but the film fails to even do that effectively. And to top it all off, the acting is just terrible and the characters' dialogue is for the most part unimportant and unneeded. Though it could be argued that this corresponds with their self-centered characters, it leaves the audience feeling bored and very uninvolved.
Monsters attempted to ride the District 9 wave and aimed to be a great piece low-budget, indie, sci-fi fare, but ended up simply being an amateurish road movie with the occasional alien appearance. Is it absolutely terrible? No, but when there are so many films superior in quality it is hard to recommend.
5/10
audiopile
cool flick. well done.CinePal
Yawn.Emiam
6+/10Nice feeling, different movie, exciting, great length.
Siskoid
Gareth Edwards' Monsters is a low-budget attempt at a giant monster movie, but I was actually surprised at how much of the spidersquids we see. The focus is rather on the two protagonists' introspective trek through Mexico's "infected zone", coming so close to death, they can't help but take stock of their lives. Edwards is actually pretty smart with his creatures, establishing them with brief TV clips, signs and urban art before we ever get a good look at them. The real "monster" however, is America's foreign policy. Whether we're talking about how it closes its borders, bombs Mexico, and in general makes the creatures more hostile, there's a whole lot of subtext there.fernandorafael
Possibly the dullest monster movie ever. If you're going to place emphasis on the characters, at least make 'em interesting. Oh, and don't even get me started on the stereotypical portrayal of "Mexico".lachyas
The colours are soooo puuuurddy.Woliver
As a mexican, i always lol'd about the bad spanish talked and writed in this kind of movies,"should we ask a native spanish speaker before? fuck it!, let's googletranslate it!"And yes, bad, not terrible, but bad.
Coxy
Shiiiiiiiitradibioinfo
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