Christopher Nolan's "Tenet"

[Andrew NDB]

I didn't see a thread for it, surprisingly, so...

Saw "Tenet," the first movie I've seen in theaters for about 7 months. Almost drove to Lacey to see it a while back but now it's at all AMCs... so here we are. Not exactly a full theater and it wasn't an IMAX screen (which is unfortunate, but it was a good size screen). Loved it! Starts with a bang but after that the first act is a little hard to get through... but mostly that was because I thought I was being delivered a lot of information I was probably going to forget. Not so. And paying attention is paid off by the end, though it's not as dense as I feared -- and my daughter was able to completely follow along, too. I'm glad I didn't read TOO much about the story until now.

Music score was great. I know it's not Zimmer, but it's like Zimmer on steroids. Which isn't bad or good, it's just what it seems like to me.

Anyway, 2 and a half hours well spent! I can't wait to see the next big budget movies in theaters, No Time to Die and Wonder Woman 1984... which will probably continue to be pushed back until 2023.

I'd read some bad things about it that Nolan's characters are a little flat and not enough background is given, also that the sound mix made some of the dialogue difficult to hear. I don't agree about the characters... it's not like we needed flashbacks of James Bond's childhood or training in "Dr. No." The latter... I agree difficult, but I understood.

Spoiler:

For anyone who has seen it, remember when they were talking about, if you come into contact with your other self then it's "annihilation"? Who else was expecting that to foreshadow an "end of Timecop" moment?

[neatoman]

Saw this a few weeks ago.

Spoiler:

Since the time travel backwards in time happens exactly as fast as the normal time flow, how did Washington found Tenet in the future to then go back in time (presumably decades) to then make sure everything is going smoothly without... You know... Going nuts? Or at least age drastically?

Let's say Tenet is actually founded... Ten years after the movie started and then went back another ten before the start of the movie to make sure everything got set in motion.. Then the people going back would have to spend twenty years in an inverted state, assuming they don't take breaks in normal time. That would be kind of a nightmareish existance wouldn't it?

Spoiler:

Also... When you spend days/weeks/months/years in such a state... Does that mean... Insteading of eating food and pooping out ****... You'll have to suck in **** through your anus and puke food? Gross I know, but some version of that must happen given the rules established, either you eat food and crap normally when you're inverted but the nasty inversion happens when you become normal again, or you have to do that the first time and then eat food you puked up. The only alternative I can think of is that you carry your poop around in a container and have it normalise with you, but I'm not sure that would work.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by neatoman

Saw this a few weeks ago.

Spoiler:

Since the time travel backwards in time happens exactly as fast as the normal time flow, how did Washington found Tenet in the future to then go back in time (presumably decades) to then make sure everything is going smoothly without... You know... Going nuts? Or at least age drastically?

Let's say Tenet is actually founded... Ten years after the movie started and then went back another ten before the start of the movie to make sure everything got set in motion.. Then the people going back would have to spend twenty years in an inverted state, assuming they don't take breaks in normal time. That would be kind of a nightmareish existance wouldn't it?

Spoiler:

Also... When you spend days/weeks/months/years in such a state... Does that mean... Insteading of eating food and pooping out ****... You'll have to suck in **** through your anus and puke food? Gross I know, but some version of that must happen given the rules established, either you eat food and crap normally when you're inverted but the nasty inversion happens when you become normal again, or you have to do that the first time and then eat food you puked up. The only alternative I can think of is that you carry your poop around in a container and have it normalise with you, but I'm not sure that would work.

It's a little bit like Nolan's Interstellar in that way. Like... how could the people from the planet Anne Hathaway settles on build the tesseract inside the Black Hole if the implication at the end is that he can just hop in a shuttle and go and see her? The loop kind of makes sense until that.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I haven't seen it, but only because all of my usual movie-going friends are too uncomfortable to go to a theater. Sigh.

It's just not the same experience if I don't have someone to watch it with.

[MikeandRaph87]

I have been limiting where I go since my last survivivng grandparent is in failing health. In other words I have yet to see it, but still really want to. Has a DVD release date been set yet? Preferably before Christmas? Its rare I buy a movie that I have not already seen, but this is one of those I likely would buy after I see it anyway. I know Nolan wants me to get the cinematic experience, but this should be better than Dunkirk and has potential. I am going to give the film my money just it will be a DVD purchase instead of a movie ticket.

[IMJ]

I thought it was good. Another very interesting and believable take on science fiction that feels like it could be accurate. Not my favorite Nolan flick - or even in the top five to be honest, but a good movie.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Has a DVD release date been set yet? Preferably before Christmas?

Who in the world would want to watch this movie... on DVD?

Originally Posted by IMJ

I thought it was good. Another very interesting and believable take on science fiction that feels like it could be accurate. Not my favorite Nolan flick - or even in the top five to be honest, but a good movie.

Let's hear your top 5.

[MikeandRaph87]

For the reason mentioned above.

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
Interstellar
The Prestige
Inception
Batman: The Dark Knight

Hopefully, Tenet will break into the top five.

[IMJ]

I'd say it's something like this.....

1) The Prestige
This might even be laughable to Nolan fans, but I think it's an endlessly watchable flick, with a great twist on Tesla science which fascinates me. I've had to stop myself from doing weird **** like changing the entire paradigm of my hobbies so that I spend time building Tesla coils in my basement. I think the cast was amazing and the movie unfolds at a captivating pace. I love The Prestige.

2) Inception
The psychology of this flick is endlessly appealing. It's only weakness is the "just there" technology MacGuffin that makes the whole thing possible. But outside of that, the effects, the style direction, the suits, etc all make for a place I want to be in and explore. And any movie that made me think of Joseph Gordin Levitt as one of the coolest dudes on Earth falls high on my list. Another movie where the cast was amazing and executes perfectly.

3) Interstellar
I was so impressed with this one. I loved how the science was maintained against real theory as if it was all functional. It drew an amazing balance between science fiction and real science what if? And all of that was punctuated incredibly through the relationship of McConaughey and his daughter. I know it sounds terrible to say, but it is my adamant belief that anyone who sought out that movie but didn't like it simply didn't understand it or track with it. It was executed as clearly as possible given the material it dealt with and that's saying a lot.

4) Batman Begins
Measured against the other Nolan Bat flicks and I'd say this one was the most entertaining, least flawed and had the highest hopes of being the coolest Batman to-date. The Dark Knight was good, but that was mostly carried on the back of Ledger as the Joker. If you separate that from the rest of the content I think you have a flick that wasn't as strong as BB. The Nolan Bat flicks are not the perfect Batman movies, by any means. But this one was the first to have Batman on a roof yelling at people and it wove a solid character story regarding Ras Al Ghul. It was a real world, but it was a pissed off comic book, Neal Adams Batman on screen.

5) Insomnia
I want to say that Insomnia was a better film than the other Batman flicks. I'm putting it here because that's my memory, but it has been a Very. Long. Time. since I've seen it. I can say though that any movie that made Robin Williams scary and compelling was doing something right. I can also say that back in the day this was not the kind of movie I'd have sought out, but I caught it somehow way back when and I couldn't turn it off. If I rewatched it, things my change on this list, but if memory serves, I'd say this one belongs here.

[Leo656]

Holy sh*t, I'm not sure I've even SEEN 5 Nolan moves (probably, but I'm not inclined to think about it very hard right this second ), but "Dark Knight Rises" absolutely HAS to be the worst thing he's ever done. I haven't seen his entire catalog but if DKR isn't the bottom-scraper I swear I'll eat a goddamn shoe. A wingtip, even.

I can't even dismiss that as "Everybody's got opinions". That is BARELY even a "good" movie in the first place. Yikes. I guess a little "Bane" goes a long way for SOME people.

I'm gonna go have some coffee and try and forget that I ever saw that opinion because I want my faith in human nature to remain above sea level.

Happy Halloween! "Dark Knight Rises" kinda sucks! Please don't ask me why unless you want a novel. AND I WILL WRITE ONE, YOU KNOW I WILL DON"T GET ME STARTED YOU @#$%^&*(

.....oh, right... coffee.... whoops.... later....

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Top five Nolan movies? $hit, may as well rank them all.

1. Inception
2. The Dark Knight
3. Batman Begins
4. The Dark Knight Rises
5. Interstellar
6. Memento
7. The Prestige
8. Following

Honorable mentions:

Insomnia, the one Chris Nolan movie I still need to watch... I'll get around to it eventually
Dunkirk, the one Chris Nolan movie that bored me. War movies bore me in general; I watched too many in high school and college and now I'm just done with them.
Tenet, which I STILL haven't seen because nobody will go to the theaters with me. Just wear a mask and wash your hands, guys. FFS Maybe it's me?

[Leo656]

It's not just you. They're the same people who still make Mommy check under their bed for monsters before they can fall asleep. And they won't be happy until they've ruined everything for everyone.

ALSO... "Dark Knight Rises" isn't very good. I only mock you because I really, really love you. No homo.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by Leo656

It's not just you. They're the same people who still make Mommy check under their bed for monsters before they can fall asleep. And they won't be happy until they've ruined everything for everyone.

Gonna try to arrange babysitting and go with the wife. SHE'S willing to go, just none of my usual "movie and a beer" buddies.

Originally Posted by Leo656

ALSO... "Dark Knight Rises" isn't very good. I only mock you because I really, really love you. No homo.

The parts in it that ARE good are good enough for me to rank it that high. That first Bane fight, man. Still gives me chills.

Though to be fair, Intestellar could pretty easily switch places with The Dark Knight Rises on any given day. Those two are really close for me. Neither perfect, neither in my top three, but really, really good in spite of some nitpicks and criticisms.

Also, The Dark Knight Rises has Anne Hathaway AND Marion Cotillard.

[MikeandRaph87]

Of The Dark Knight trilogy Rises is my favorite, but Batman Forever, Sub Zero, and Mask of the Phantasm are all preferred. Yes, I know I am ridiculous. The whole John Blake taking over for Bruce after he faked his death, how Bruce did not see through Talia when it was telegraphed, and Bane being what he is best someone else's muscle all bother me.

I have never seen Insomnia nor have I seen The Following. One day I might, I have not since that plots did not sound intriguing.

The premise of Tenet calls back to the dreamscape of Inception and wormhole/ other dimension of Interstellar which makes it an automatic viewing for me.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Of The Dark Knight trilogy Rises is my favorite, but Batman Forever, Sub Zero, and Mask of the Phantasm are all preferred. Yes, I know I am ridiculous. The whole John Blake taking over for Bruce after he faked his death, how Bruce did not see through Talia when it was telegraphed, and Bane being what he is best someone else's muscle all bother me.

John Blake is terrible. Anybody should be able to agree on that!

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

I have never seen Insomnia nor have I seen The Following. One day I might, I have not since that plots did not sound intriguing.

That's why I haven't seen Insomnia still. Following wasn't bad, but it honestly didn't stick in my mind like pretty much every other Nolan movie has. It's just sorta interesting.

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

The premise of Tenet calls back to the dreamscape of Inception and wormhole/ other dimension of Interstellar which makes it an automatic viewing for me.

Oh yeah. It really pisses me off that I still haven't seen it.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Tenet, which I STILL haven't seen because nobody will go to the theaters with me. Just wear a mask and wash your hands, guys. FFS Maybe it's me?

Tenet was decent, man. But I'm not gonna lie - it's not a movie that you "need" a theater screen for. I'm not even sure where some people have gotten off saying that. Must be the same people that pimp any Nolan film because of zeitgeist and also said that Iron Man 3 was "the best marvel movie yet!" because of the social party. It's just not true.

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Also, The Dark Knight Rises has Anne Hathaway AND Marion Cotillard.

Anne Hathaway's tight ass in cat leather goes an incredible distance towards redeeming that movie, for sure.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Of The Dark Knight trilogy Rises is my favorite

I'm a fan of yours in general but that is not a defensible opinion.

I do like parts of the movie but it is VERY badly-written and poorly-staged (bad guys falling down for no reason, etc.). It's just SO sloppy compared to everything else I've seen in Nolan's catalog that no sentimental feelings can override it in my brain.

It wasn't Nolan's fault, WB rushed him. But that thing's very clearly a rush-and-hack job and it suffers on every single level for it. It's not anywhere NEAR as good as the first two films by any objective standard. Terrible movie? Nah, not even. Just way below par compared the the rest.

It's okay, we're still friends.

Originally Posted by IMJ

Anne Hathaway's tight ass in cat leather goes an incredible distance towards redeeming that movie, for sure.

That does go a long way, yeah.

[MikeandRaph87]

Hey, I don't care as long as I am allowed to love Batman Forever and the two animated films. Like I said EVERY Batman film has its flaws. Some flaws are easier to look past depending on personal preference while others agitate us more depending on what we are looking for. Its personality and psychological.

With Batman Begins, its hard for me to get past Henri Ducard being Ra's al Ghul and Ken Wananbe is a decoy. Sure, making a personal connection with Two Face works, but Ra's training Bruce and Ra's should be depicted as ethnic and they go with the twist. Therefore I want Ra's al Ghul done again in film and done more akin to who he was in the comics. I got the redo I wanted with Catwoman and Hathaway did more to what I wanted to see in Catwoman that Michelle Pfeffer did not deliver on. I also note that Bane yet again was a patsy just in a different way.

Besides Interstellar and The Prestige are growing on me with time. As for Midway, I love reading books about wars and watching documentaries about various wars, but to watch films about wars, well its boring, political, and gory. Granted Nolan's Midway was not gory it was just drawn out boring. It is hard to make war interesting in film. Some war films are beloved like Apocalypse Now! which is just reinterpreting The Heart of Darkness with the Vietnam War, political statement ad violent for violence sake. You get the idea.

[CyberCubed]

For some reason I never realized Bane wasn't hispanic in The Dark Knight Rises. I don't know what he was intended to be, middle eastern?

[Andrew NDB]

I like The Dark Knight Rises more than Dark Knight but probably not more than Batman Begins.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

For some reason I never realized Bane wasn't hispanic in The Dark Knight Rises. I don't know what he was intended to be, middle eastern?

Or just a white guy who ended up there. In any case, not remotely Hispanic.