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Ushgarak
Paladin
 Gender: Male
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK Co-Admin |
MOVIE REVIEW- Memento
The release on this film was very odd. Despite being an A-Grade Hollywood film, it got a small British release before the US had even heard of it (during which I was lucky to see it), then a minute release in the US, despite enormous critical acclaim. I understand it may soon get a larger release in the US, and it will be out on video and DVD over here soon, so the review is somewhat relevant.
It stars the people who played Trinity and Cipher from the Matrix, and the main star is the guy who played Eckersley in LA Confidential.
The main story seems quite normal. The main charatcer, an insurance investigator, wakes up one evening to find he is being burgled. The burglers have already raped and killed his wife. He is badly injured in the struggle. The robbers get away, and in the aftermath, he swears to track them down and get revenge.
But it is nowhere near that simple. Because during the attack he suffered brain damange, which leaves him incpable of forming new memories. Everything that happned up to the assault he can remember fine- but everything AFTER thjat, he forgets after a few seconds.
His life SHOULD be impossible. But as part of hios job, he investigated a case like this before, so he knows how to try and deal with it. He tattoes on his body everything he has learnt so far. Every morning when he wakes up, with no memories from after the assault, he can read off of his body- and his copious noteds- EVERYTHING he has discovered so far.
He cannot remember the people he meets along the way- except with his mementos. He takes a polaroid of everyone imporant he meets, and notes on the back what he should think of them.
Meanwhile, he continues his investigation, barely aware of anything else, not knowing how long he has been doing it, explaining his problem to someone who has already heard it a dozen times before...
But it's not even THAT simple. You see, the film does not start at the beginning, but at the END! It STARTS with him killing the man who did it! Then the film goes bBACKWARDS from there. You see, because he has no memoires, what has happened up to the point before his revenge is as much a mystery to him as it is to us, as the viewers.
The very start is LITERALLY backwards, as it winds back from him oputting the bullet into the guy;s brain. After that, each scene is the one BEOFRE the on you just sawm, and shows how he reached that point. The scenes co-incide with every thime his memory resets, and he forgets everything that just happebned. SLowly, you see what led him to that point- and begin to uncover what is heavilty hinted at at the start of the film- that somehwere along the way, he has made a terrible mistake...
The film is stunning in just about every way, and the acting is phenomenal. But to give away more of it is like giving away aprt of The Usual Suspects or the Sixth Sense.
It is THAT good, I assure you, and with a VERY memorable last line... if you get the chance to see it, do it!
A definite five-star movie.
__________________
"We've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers and not one of you buds has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
"You've never had any TINY bit of sex, have you?"
BtVS
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Apr 25th, 2001 08:10 PM |
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Raz
Meister
 Gender: Male
Location: UK Admin |
Can't find any cinemas that are showing it. Whens it coming out on Video/DVD?
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Apr 26th, 2001 02:06 PM |
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Ushgarak
Paladin
Gender: Male
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK Co-Admin |
No, it's all done in the UK... actually, it was showing in London last month...
Anyhow, should be out any day now on DVD.
__________________
"We've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers and not one of you buds has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
"You've never had any TINY bit of sex, have you?"
BtVS
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Apr 27th, 2001 12:07 AM |
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Ratcat
Senior Member
Gender: Unspecified
Location: |
SO, Video or DVD it is then. Will probably make it to Sky MovieMax too I guess.
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May 7th, 2001 07:17 PM |
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Zed
Senior Member
 Gender: Male
Location: Manchester, England |
Just saw 'Memento' last night on DVD, and have to say what a brilliant movie. It has got to be one of the most original movies I have seen in a long time.
I would have to agree with Ushgarak it is definetly a must see movie. 8.0/10
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-- Zed
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May 9th, 2001 02:55 PM |
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Ushgarak
Paladin
Gender: Male
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK Co-Admin |
Cheers, Zed. See, everybody? Check it out!
I assume you now see what I mean, Zed, when I said it was a BAD idea to give away the plot...
__________________
"We've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers and not one of you buds has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
"You've never had any TINY bit of sex, have you?"
BtVS
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May 9th, 2001 11:49 PM |
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Zed
Senior Member
Gender: Male
Location: Manchester, England |
Now that we have given enough time for the rest of the people to watch it, it time to discuss the movie.
There are many questions to be asked after watching this movie, the first and one of the most significant is that does the main guy actually have the syndrome or is it all in his head??
Also if you have any comments on 'Memento', they can now be asked.
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-- Zed
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May 15th, 2001 06:55 PM |
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Ratcat
Senior Member
Gender: Unspecified
Location: |
Apparently this is now up for an extended re-release in UK cinemas, so I heard the other day... Anyone else come across this?
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May 19th, 2001 02:02 AM |
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Ushgarak
Paladin
Gender: Male
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK Co-Admin |
I haven't heard... but if it is true then we'd better lay off plot speculation. It would also be incredibly good news.
__________________
"We've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers and not one of you buds has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
"You've never had any TINY bit of sex, have you?"
BtVS
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May 19th, 2001 02:15 AM |
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Ratcat
Senior Member
Gender: Unspecified
Location: |
I downloaded the trailer today, haven't watched it yet.
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May 19th, 2001 02:43 AM |
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ToMacco
Mr. Orange
 Gender: Male
Location: A bar in Minnesota |
The movie Memento was certainly a good idea, and was a very perplexing tale; but the film could have been better. If there has ever been a movie you want to watch twice, here it is.
A couple of things really bothered me about this movie, though. If he has no short term memory, then why did he know that he needed to look at his labeled photographs?
And for someone with no recolection of what's going on, his character was unbeleivable in his cockness and sly attitude. You think he would be more sympathetic to his surroundings, and more questionable. He wouldn't accept that he has met everyone and knows what's happening, just because it's written down.
Despite the TERRIBLE characters, the idea is good, and it is fun to watch. This movie will no doubt be a cult classic for many people. For me, though, I'm moving on.
(** out of four)
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4 8 15 16 23 42
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Dec 14th, 2001 05:54 AM |
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BackFire
Blood. It's nature's lube
 Gender: Male
Location: Huntington Beach, CA Moderator |
i agree whoe heartedly with tommaco, great idea, wrong presentation.
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Dec 14th, 2001 05:58 AM |
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ToMacco
Mr. Orange
Gender: Male
Location: A bar in Minnesota |
wow, Backfire! We agree AGAIN!!!! Scary  
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Dec 14th, 2001 06:02 AM |
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BackFire
Blood. It's nature's lube
Gender: Male
Location: Huntington Beach, CA Moderator |
yeah i know, im scared too.
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Dec 14th, 2001 07:40 AM |
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Machine
Open Your Eyes
 Gender: Unspecified
Location: Irvine , California |
oh noo .... i agree with both you im going to sleep in my mommies room tonight
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Dec 14th, 2001 08:50 AM |
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BackFire
Blood. It's nature's lube
Gender: Male
Location: Huntington Beach, CA Moderator |
kobe go on aim.
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Dec 14th, 2001 08:51 AM |
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Ushgarak
Paladin
Gender: Male
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK Co-Admin |
To answer your points, To- and remember, this is a real-lifer condition, and the book was based on research:
As the movie explains, you can still condition yourself to learn things even with no short-term memory, as it is a completely different part of the brain. Leonard has conditioned himself to look for a photograph EVERY time he meets someone who he talks to.
Likewise, as was also clearly explained, the ONLY way he can live is to 'trust his handwriting' NOTHING else matters to him, at all. As he explains, when he has the facts, EVERYTHING else is irrrelevant.
The weakness of his system, plus the idea that Leonard is rather mental, is clearly shown in the film.
Well, it was the most critically acclaimed film of 2000, which made me happy enough. It is definitely one of my absolue favourites.
__________________
"We've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers and not one of you buds has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
"You've never had any TINY bit of sex, have you?"
BtVS
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Dec 14th, 2001 06:07 PM |
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BackFire
Blood. It's nature's lube
Gender: Male
Location: Huntington Beach, CA Moderator |
requiem for a dream was better in 2000
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Dec 15th, 2001 07:16 AM |
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Machine
Open Your Eyes
Gender: Unspecified
Location: Irvine , California |
backfire is right best film in 2000 is requirm for a a dream not momento
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Dec 15th, 2001 07:37 AM |
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ToMacco
Mr. Orange
Gender: Male
Location: A bar in Minnesota |
Ush, I agree, and even accept that this condition actually exsists. But his COMPLETELY COCKY attitude was unbeleivable. It was a horribly acted film.
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4 8 15 16 23 42
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Dec 18th, 2001 06:49 AM |
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