"Find the schism between the worlds. Open and close the door in front of witnesses." This was the "mindspeak" message from my alien contacts throughout my life. I was told I was given unusual skills and I would to through many trials in life until later in life I finally used the skills for this mission.
This aspectd of thte film was extremely accurate. But, still, I never understood the mission. It made no sense. But, somehow in my life, my skills and obsessions led me on a path that seems pre-designed. I understood this with the lead male and female characters, but Spielberg did not bring their history into it to understand the destiny they were going to involved with.
This is the only part of this film that rang true.
Let me be profoundly honest about this film.
First, we all assumed, hey, Spielberg movie! What about, "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "ET," and "Jurassic Park?" This will be THE film to see at the graduation of all his decades of focusing his medium.
Let me refer right away to M. Knight Shamalan. "Unbreakable" and "The Village" made us think he was an amazing new movie maker. Then...."The Lady in Water" and "The Happening" and we walked away. This is that moment for Spielberg. I will never invest in his name or his skill again. He cannot regain what he has lost.
I spent $19.99 buying the digital version of this film based on - Spielberg and the present-day conversation about disclosure.
I need very much to impress on readers, no matter how curious you are, no matter how much you love this subject - please... please... DO NOT RENT OR BUY THIS FILM. It is adolescent, inexperienced filmmaker CAH CAH!
ll you are buying this, you are helping Spielberg recoup this investment on something that was a BAIT AND SWITCH - it promised a film in Spielberg style (which it was not at all) about a subject we are all focused upon (which it was really not portraying).
Let me explain in detail what was so wrong about this POS -
1. Chase scenes. Yes, if someone has the disclosure info, the powers that be (whomever they are) would want to stop that. We have seen in the news lately about suppositions that scientists with delicate info are being off'd. The film was way over 2 hours long and literally the "climax" which the foreplay did not built up to - was the last 15 minutes and kinda like, "oh" instead of "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
2. No connection with any characters at all. Had Spielberg shown the protagonist male and female and the reasons why they were chosen - based on their experiences in childhood, we might have had compassion. We did not see a motivation in either character for the fact that they were willing to ruin relationships, go on long-ass road chases, and do some "greater good" that even they did not feel motivated to do. Honestly, I think the female lead was an excellent actress, glad to do a Spielberg film, not realizing that her part would be diluted by the BS Spielberg threw around like burning bags of poo to ruin her amazing efforts.
3. It was anti-Spielberg. What I mean about this is Spielberg has a formula and we have loved it, patronized it, and couldn't wait for the next over-the-top creation. This was of the quality of a indie filmmaker with esoteric concepts, who thinks it's artsy. The editing was atrocious, using clips where lighting and positioning were incongruous. The shots were amaturish. The characters, especially the bad guys, lacked motivations and seemed mechanical trying to be the roadblocks for the protagonists. It was staged, horrid, and made me so angry that I spent over 2 hours of my life watching this, well, I'll say it again - CAH CAH
I have never in my entire life of studying to be a film critic since I was in 4 years of college studying for it and for being an experiencer in a moment in time of dislosure to feel so utterly angry and disgusted by Spielberg and his full-of-ego commentary about a very important and very real subject matter for this moment in mankind.
We must look at this as we have in the past with films that showcased Cold War fears and Middle Eastern terror because, the reality is - they are not our peers. They should not elicit the same knee-jerk fears.
They are our moment of realization and acceptance because if we can accept it's not all about us, we might stop doing that on earth among ourselves.