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Can Latex Come Out To (Cos)play?

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In previous columns I’ve alluded to many different materials that can potentially make an amazing cosplay outfit. Every situation calls for something different, but my personal favorite medium and one I think is the most adaptable is latex.

Because of latex’s shine, it can add a real color ‘pop’ to anything that you might be thinking of cosplaying. 

This makes it a great fabric to create bright costumes from. It of course works just as well with plain black latex, the contrast of the mirror like sheen against the dark obsidian makes for a great look. 
 
It was also used as the primary material for Malin Akerman's Silk Spectre costume in Watchmen

It’s available in an enormous range of colors and finishes, so whatever you are trying to create, you will be able to find the perfect piece of latex somewhere. It is also very versatile, which some people might not consider when making a new costume. 

Obviously it can be worn skin tight, which suits many cosplayers anyway – as all our favorite super heroes seem to favor the aerodynamic and body-hugging ensembles. But it can also be worn draped in folds, or inflated for a completely different effect all together.

Latex is a great idea for cosplay. 

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Boston Cinegeeks! We've Got Passes For TRANSCENDENCE!

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Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him.

However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can…but if they should.

Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.
And we're giving away passes to Forces of Geek readers to see the film on Tuesday, April 15th, at 7pm at the AMX Regal Fenway!

For the chance to receive a pass for two to the screening please click HERE and enter the RSVP code  FOG4VWV

Just a reminder that tickets are oversold and you should plan on getting there early. Passes and admittance are on a first come first served basis.


Transcendence opens on Friday, April 18, 2014

COLEMAN. DABNEY COLEMAN...

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Welcome to the eighth installment of Flashback to the Present.  I’ll be your contributing writer, Charles Knauf.  

DABNEY COLEMAN!

Anyone born after 1988 won’t know this man and shame on you.

Seriously, “I want more Dabney Coleman” should be in your vernacular with phrases like “I said well whiskey” and “no officer, that isn’t my inflatable pumpkin.”

Some say Dabney Coleman was forged during a panty-raid attended by God, Oden and Ra.

Some say Dabney Coleman exposed Watergate.

Some even go as far as to say the single row of footprints in the sand behind you on the beach was Dabney Coleman’s.


I’m not too sure if any or all of those statements are true, but I can say with 100% accuracy is Dabney Coleman was the conscience in a little movie that is our focus today called Cloak & Dagger.

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Shout! Announces HERZOG: THE COLLECTION

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Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set to be Released July 29th, 2014
by Shout! Factory
100 Autographed Copies Available Only from ShoutFactory.com

A visionary creator unlike any other, with a passion for unveiling truths about nature and existence by blurring the line between reality and fiction, Werner Herzog is undoubtedly one of cinema’s most controversial and enigmatic figures. Audiences the world over have marveled at his uniquely moving, often disturbing, but always awe-inspiring stories, and his ever-growing body of work has inspired an untold number of filmmakers. He is, and continues to be, the most daring filmmaker of our time.


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Buy A TRS-80 Computer From Bill Bixby...You Don't Want to Make Him Mad Do You?

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In this 1984 ad for a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer, Bill Bixby conveys the power of the desktop computer (which you could buy at a store known primarily for spools of wire and batteries) while uncomfortably fumbling around with a pair of eyeglasses, meant, I believe, to convey "Superior Computer Know-How".

It is truly a powerful bit of advertising for a computer that ended up with the nickname of Trash 80...wow, those were some good times.

Of course, The Hulkmeister wasn't the only superhero to spin the righteousness of the TRS-80, Superman did as well:


But we both know that when it comes to following through on advertising pressure, the spokesperson we are going to go with is the one who could suddenly become a rampaging monster who will happily rip our arms off and beat us to death with them.

Yep, Bill Bixby it is...Commercial after the break.

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Is That A Tea Pot On Your Head Or Has My Mother's Little Helpers Kicked In? Bizarre Hat Fashions With A Kitchen Theme

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Back in the more sexist 50s a woman's place was thought to exist only in the home, or, more specifically the kitchen, if you were to believe the multitude of propaganda that touted the belief that if only the little missus could boil meat in Coca-Cola properly, she would keep her man fully satisfied. Due to this emotionally stifling life adjustment that millions of women had to endure after tasting a bit of freedom during their "working days" of WWII, let's just say it was no wonder that sales of Diazepam skyrocketed.

The result of which might explain the weirdness of one Madge Chard, a "Career Woman" who was inspired by her kitchen to create bizarre hats that looked like tea pots, colanders, toilet plungers and chocolate candies.

Now, I don't know how strong those long ago Mother's Little Helpers once were, but if women were high enough to create fashionable head wear from the crap lying around their home, then I wish I had some myself. Because Mama wouldn't mind a boost in the creativity department if you know what I mean (and if you read my work here on the site, you do).

So let's all take a look back when pharmaceutically enhanced women would happily wear a frakking chintz salad bowl on their heads just to feel alive shall we?

Video after the break.

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Well, That Explains My Cat's Constant Screams For Food

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In this experimental CG animation the answer to the question "Why the fuck is my cat screaming at me to feed it at 2 am?" is finally answered, and you know what? I always suspected that it was something like this (considering how my cat's preternatural talent for screaming at the top of her lungs for food in the dead of night gave me permanent insomnia and made me believe her hunger for Iams was a life or death situation).

It's good to know that my PTSD was worth it.

Video after the break.

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MICHIGAN STATE Is Offering An Online Class in Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse...The Final's Gonna Be A Killer I Hear

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If you are looking to spend your summer getting your learning on then here's a class that might be worthy of a student loan debt, the Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse – Disasters, Catastrophes, and Human Behavior taught by Sociology professor Glenn R. Stutzky.

According to the class info: This award winning, fully online course brings together the latest thinking on how and why humans behave during disasters and catastrophes. Why do some survive and others don’t? What are the implications for planning, preparedness, and disaster management? 

Students in survival groups will face multiple challenges and tasks as they attempt to survive the catastrophic event, escape death, and preserve the future of civilization. For the ability to survive ultimately rests not with the individual but the group.

Sounds pretty awesome huh? Of course, we all know how most group projects go...

The class is open to pretty much anyone interested in taking it but judging from the intense "Class Intro Video" after the break, you better have some fucking balls to sign up for it.

Yep, that's going to be one killer final.

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Return to Parts Unknown: R.I.P. The Ultimate Warrior (1959-2014)

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A Remembrance by Frankie Thirteen


The Ultimate Warrior is dead.

No, for real.

I say that because rumors of his death abounded back in 1992 and persisted for years thereafter, stoked by his reappearance after a suspension with a smaller, sleeker physique. The word was that he had died and was replaced by his cousin, who later also died. Of course, that was hooey.

So when I woke up this morning and was greeted by the news that he had died, my first response was understandably, "For real?" Sadly, this is entirely for real. Warrior--his legal name after changing it from James Brian Hellwig back in 1993--died last night, reportedly after collapsing outside of an Arizona hotel, accompanied by his wife. He was 54.

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Was PHANTOM MENACE Lucas' Second Attempt to Remake THE HIDDEN FORTRESS?

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I was recently watching the new Criterion Blu-ray of Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress— admittedly the first time since the Criterion DVD was released many years ago — and it occurred to me that Phantom Menace has a lot more in common with it than Star Wars: Episode IV.

George Lucas has always been open to the fact that narrative structure of Fortress— not the plot — inspired Star Wars.

Specifically, the film being told from the point of view of two lesser characters who are along for the ride: the greedy peasants.

In Star Wars they would become the droids R2-D2 and C-3P0, but the film isn’t really told from their perspective.

They carry the movie until we meet Luke, and then it becomes his film.

Let me stop here and say that I find it strange that out of all of Kurosawa’s films, this is the one Lucas drew inspiration from.

It’s among Kurosawa’s weakest specifically because of how the story is told.

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'HOW i MADE THE WORLD' – The Cosmic Treadmill Interview with by Liz Plourde & Randy Michaels

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How i Made The World is a new independent autobiographical comic book getting a lot of attention already. I spoke with writer Liz Plourde and her artist Randy Michael for some insight into the after-hours art school adventure showcased in Issue #1. With honest storytelling and classic Hernandez Bros. inspired cartooning, FOG! thinks they have a hit on their hands!


Liz and Randy took some time to chat with FOG! about the upcoming release of the first issue.


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Be The SLOTH! It's Our GOONIES Giveaway!!!

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While I'm a little nervous regarding the news of a possible, Goonies 2, it did send me back to the Blu-ray player to reminisce with the old gang: Chunk, Mouth, Mikey, Data, Brand, Stef and Andy.

And while I personally am waiting for a new Blu-ray release with all of the deleted scenes (like the ones below), our friends at TV Store Online are sponsoring a contest that's the best thing next to finding "One-Eyed" Willie's treasure.


We want you to BE THE SLOTH!


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THE GAME OF GOATS: 'Game of Thrones' Theme Song "Sung" Via The Screams of Goats (Not Children? How Novel)

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Which One Is King Joffrey Again?

This video of the Game of Thrones theme song being "sung" by goats has been making the rounds on the world wide whatwhosit for about 24-hours now and while I'm sure you've seen it somewhere, something this hilarious deserves to be watched again...and again...and again.

Oh goats, how your human-like screams are so pleasing to the ear.

Video after the break.

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JOHNNY CASH On The Gospel, Pill-Popping And Refusing to See Himself As An American Icon

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In the realm of musical history, there are very few people worthy enough to be considered true icons. But there is always a spot on that list for Johnny Cash, the bad boy of country/rock. I don't care what your preference of music is, when Cash begins his rumbling twang you feel it inside your chest. Now I've seen hardcore punk rockers crumble when Johnny Cash's version of Run On (or, God's Gonna Gonna Cut You Down) comes on the radio (or iPod) and I've seen true blue Born Again Christians feel the pull of the devil at the first note of Sunday Morning Coming Down (a Kris Kristofferson original) but what I've never seen is someone listen to a Cash song and not walk away feeling changed all up inside.

And in this crazy good PBS Blank on Blank animated interview with Cash back in 1996, the Man in Black testifies about the power of music and God, how he deals with pain cold turkey since he is a pill-popping addict and why he's never seen himself in the way we all do, as an American icon.

Video after the break.

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THROWBACK THURSDAY: Times Square...A Little Punk Movie That Changed My Life

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When I was twelve years old (this was all the way back in 1986 mind you) I came across a VHS copy of a little movie called Times Square starring Trini Alvarado (Little Women) and Robin Johnson as two incredibly fucked up teenagers (they meet at a mental hospital) who start a punk band called The Sleez Sisters as a way to articulate their feelings of loneliness and their pisstivity toward authority figures.

As a self-described loser dealing with the way too traumatizing aftermath of a parental divorce and being constantly bullied at school for being different, the story of two girls around my age (Johnson was fifteen at the time and Alvarado was just thirteen) fighting against the hostile forces in their lives through music and anarchist behavior hit me in the gut full force.


It was as if the movie was created just for me, articulating all the frustrations I felt with my parents and my peers, my struggle to develop my own, independent identity and my desire to feel the soul-changing freedom that rebellion from the norm could give you if you weren't the kind of person who seemed cherry-picked to find the bland suburban lifestyle ideal.

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The Story Behind the Man Behind Big Bird

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By Thad Komorowski

It isn’t common knowledge that the same man has been giving life to both Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, the north and south poles of that world, and a new documentary aims to change that.

I Am Big Bird chronicles the career of puppeteer Caroll Spinney, promising an intimate portrait of the unsung talent who’s entertained children across the world on a daily basis for over 40 years.


Co-directors Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina of Copper Pot Pictures completed the film in January after they raised funds for the production on Kickstarter.

The filmmakers offered their insights about how a film on Spinney and his feathered and filthy friends came to be, and how crowdfunding an independent film featuring a trademarked character is completely attainable.

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When Game Universes Collide

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It saddens me to admit I haven’t got around to purchasing a next-gen console as yet.

I imagine this will change before the year is out, with the release of so many huge titles as next-gen exclusives.

And yet the Wii U isn’t even a close contender.

Regular readers will know how much I love Nintendo but my monies are finite and precious, can’t be squandering them on the same five characters.

Now it’s announced that the latest Sonic title, Sonic Lost World has two DLC maps: Yoshi’s Island Zone and The Legend Of Zelda Zone.

I might just cry.

Now, when I was a kid, the idea of crossing Sega and Nintendo was about the same likelihood as seeing Batman Vs Captain America on film. But here we are. And it’s got me thinking about The Avengers effect - the idea that crossing over multiple characters/franchises equals BIG success.

So, who’s to say what other characters or titles could share the same universe? We already know Portal and Half-Life share some sort of existence alongside Left 4 Dead, as does Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire and Grand Theft Auto (...probably).

God Of War Golf, anyone?

Here’s a few mashup thoughts that I had that almost make sense (of course some game series' like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed have infinite time lines and potential crossovers due to their story lines so I have omitted them from my game universe mashups):


Silent Hill / Dead Space

Okay, this is a bit of a cheap one, considering Dead Space is effectively Silent Hill in space but go with me here. Silent Hill was set in the present/late nineties and over a series of games managed to lure in several citizens to confront their inner demons and face a grisly demise at the hands of some really messed up demons. All of this, arguably, at the hands of The Order, who worship entities of The Otherworld, led by their faith’s god, which usually takes the form of a woman.

Now jump ahead hundreds of years to 2414 and Isaac Clarke is responding to a mysterious distress signal.. aboard an abandoned ship.. where his girlfriend is stationed.. and a strange object has turned everyone into multiple limbed freaks. Isaac Clarke is basically James Sunderland. Boom. Silent Hill and Dead Space, same universe. Who’s up next?

Dead Space and Silent Hill or should that be Silent Space or Dead Hill?


Command & Conquer / Halo

Another fairly easy one for you. The Global Defense Initiative in C&C and the United Nations Space Command in Halo are the same military force at different points in time. After defeating Kane and his religious army The Brotherhood Of Nod, the GDI unite the globe and ascend into space with their newest extension the UNSC, only to make contact with more religious fanatics, this time in the form of the Covenant. Best way to confirm this point?

Check out the vehicles from both games and tell me they’re not feasible evolutions of the same design: ORCA Assault Craft - AV14 Hornet, CC-6 Pitbull - M12 LRV Warthog, MBT-6 Predator Tank - Scorpion Tank (added connection here being NOD’s Scorpion logo), Titan Mk II - Mantis 97115, need I go on?

Did the GDI become the UNSC? All vehicles point to yes.


Skyrim / Minecraft

Most of us know that Skyrim is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls series but I’m specifically referring to just Skyrim here. Let’s say in the world of Minecraft, a universe of infinite possibilities and construction (not to mention infinite caves and death) the creators constructed what they believed to be the perfect map, the height of all their potential. And after decades.. centuries of building and rebuilding, they finally reached their greatest achievement. So what did they do? Abandoned their abilities and channelled everything into one pickaxe, burying it at the top of the highest mountain peak. The original Minecraft citizens live their lives and limit themselves to simple wooden and stone structures, having families, dying and slipping into legend.

Cut to centuries later and one dragon born warrior, scaling the Throat Of The World (the highest mountain peak) and discovers a unique enchanted Notched Pickaxe which raises the wielder’s smithing abilities and does 5 shock damage to enemies on hit. Thus becoming the most powerful being on the planet! Sure, some could say it has something to do with dragon blood but I’m telling you... PICKAXE POWER!



Pokémon / Final Fantasy VII

It’s really not hard to see the shared universe here, both games feature characters with impossibly perfect hair however the resemblance of the Pokémon and FFVII universe goes much further. In the post-credits sequence of FFVII, Red XIII is seen running wild and free with his offspring, the once industrial landscape is awash with greenery. But surely with all this growing life, there are going to be infinitely more random encounters.

After several decades, it wouldn’t take long before someone would suggest “Why don’t we domesticate and train all the animals we encounter - like the Chocobo.” Over time this would expand and there would be those that capture these creatures for biological reasons and those who would capture them to battle in huge arenas. Or put another way, Pokémon.

I choose you, Vargid Police!

And if that’s not enough for you, just take every apocalyptic game out there, such as The Last Of Us, Fallout 3, Metro 2033, Wasteland and simply space them out to different eras on the same barren planet.

These games share a common ground which is why they are the least surprising. If post-apocalypse games were put into a venn diagram, there’d be very little that didn’t crossover other than the cause of the apocalypse itself. Fallout 3 and Metro 2033 see survivors living underground and in Wasteland, the player is one of the few remaining members of the US Army scavenging for resources, much like...the NCR in Fallout New Vegas.

Hardly revelations but the links are all there!

As our world gets smaller due to globalisation and the number of inevitable crossovers grows, it will be interesting to see what other game universes collide or at least share the potential to. If you have any other examples of games sharing the same universe, put them in the comments below, I’d love to see more!

Win POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE: THE GREAT DRAGON SPIRIT on DVD!

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The super-charged Power Rangers Megaforce action continues with an all-new thrilling adventure, Power Rangers Megaforce: The Great Dragon Spirit is the latest epic saga and follows the Power Rangers Megaforce team as they summon the mighty Dragon Spirit to earn new ultra powers!

Troy, Noah, Emma, Gia and Jake must convince the mysterious Robo Knight to work alongside them and battle a collection of enemies with evil powers including Psychotick's energy-draining abilities, Shadow Serpent's paralyzing touch, Distractor's giant army of MegaMonsters and Nojoke's laughter-stealing traps. Then, when an ancient weapon falls into the wrong hands, the Rangers must summon the mighty Dragon Spirit to gain new ULTRA POWERS! Witness the rise and epic transformation of the Megaforce team in these four ultra-exciting episodes!

And we're giving away a copy!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header "DRAGON SPIRIT" to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

Power Rangers Megaforce uses footage, costumes, and props from this Japanese Super Sentai series?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on April 27th, 2014.


Watch Bruce Timm's 'BATMAN: STRANGE DAYS'

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As part of the 75th Anniversary of Batman, check out producer and Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm's brand new short Batman: Strange Days featuring a very Golden Age Bob Kane/Bill Finger inspired Dark Knight facing off against Dr. Hugo Strange and one of his Monster Men.

And yes, that is the inimitable Kevin Conroy voicing Batman.

UNDER THE SKIN (review)

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Review by Elizabeth Robbins
Produced by James Wilson, Nick Wechsler
Screenplay by Walter Campbell, Jonathan Glazer
Based on Under the Skin by Michel Faber
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, 
Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell, 
Kevin McAlinden


I have to admit I was not jazzed about going to see Under the Skin.

The description I had been given before the press viewing I found laughable:

"A voluptuous woman of unknown origin (Scarlett Johansson) combs the highways in search of isolated or forsaken men, luring a succession of lost souls into an otherworldly lair. "

I can already see the male fan base lining up for the chance at seeing Black Widow naked.

I got myself ready for another sexy alien movie à la Species.

Cue my eye rolling.

What I got treated to was an amazing, thoughtful science fiction film that counts on the audience being intelligent not only to follow along, but to enjoy.

It has been a long time since I have seen a sci-fi film that has left me thinking about it days after viewing it.   

Under the Skin harkens back to the science fiction films of the late sixties and early seventies, films like Kuberick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, George Lucas' THX-1138, or even Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth.  Sparse dialog and the use of documentary-style location shooting or minimalistic sets paint an everyday world with something sinister hunting in the background noise of our lives.

This is the kind of film that reminds us that there is more to science fiction than spaceships, laser blasts, and digital effects aliens.

Scarlett Johansson (The Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Avengers) is memorizing as the hunter.  It shows her skill as an actress the way she is able to portray an other-worldly being passing as human where a lesser actress would just be robotic or wooden. The seduction scenes are subtle, gracefully turning effortlessly into an unnerving capture which has no escape. With each capture/seduction, you feel the shift in Johansson's character, becoming something more human, making it understandable when she abandons her post.

This is no Species.  It is sci-fi at it's gritty best.

Director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) crafts a starkly, beautiful film where the sound and music is as vivid a character as any of the actors.  The motivation of the Johansson's alien is never spelled out, and leaves room for your own interpretation.

And that, in a nutshell, is what I liked most about the movie.  I left the theater not knowing what I had just seen, and at the same time knowing exactly what I had seen. It's one of those films that just when you think you have it figured out, it slips from your grasp, causing you to think about it some more.

It's the kind of film that after I left the theater, I wanted to talk to people about it.  It's the kind of film that I wanted to turn around, go right back in the theater and see again.


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