Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Primer (film)

en.wikipedia.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 93 posts

Re: Primer (film)

#81

Post by Alexo »

dublinclontarf wrote: post #38

I like how this movie has cost $7000 and brought in nearly $500,000.

I just wanted to clarify that it's very misleading to say that this film cost $7000. It cost $7000 and several years of Shane's life, as well as a torrent of favours from his friends, family and others.

Why is this an important distinction? Because you can't calculate or quote business investment and return while discarding the cost of people working for several years on a project for free.

Saying that Primer cost Shane Carruth $7000 to make is like saying that The Harry Potter Book Series cost J K Rowling 19 ink cartridges.

It's important to appreciate what Shane achieved with such few resources though, and it's interesting to note also that he was a software engineer before making his way into filmmaking.

Re: Primer (film)

#82

Post by rbanffy »

mattmanser wrote: post #21
kevinelliott wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't seen Avatar yet. I'm likely one of the 7 who hasn't.

It was totally worth seeing in 3D and on big screen just for the effects. Story's lame though.

I wouldn't call it lame. It's predictable, precisely because it's a fairly standard hero story, the kind we keep telling each other since we have learned to tell stories.

Stories like these are part of what makes us human.

Re: Primer (film)

#83

Post by jamesbritt »

bd wrote: post #10

If you liked Primer, check also Timecrimes: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/

I tried watching Timecrimes, but just couldn't make it through. Found it to be horrible.

Maybe there were some interesting ideas, but it just felt so clunky and amateurish.

Re: Primer (film)

#84

Post by nuncanada »

rick_2047 wrote: post #31

I like to maintain my take on time travel as described by Sheldon in Big Bang theory "Sheldon: It occurs to me that if I ever did invent a time machine, I will just go into the past and give it to myself. Thus eliminating the need to invent it in first place. That really takes the pressure off". I would like to hear what you guys think of time travel, after all it has be one of the favourite subject of speculative sc…

Just not possible... That's not fun.

Let me just clarify a little bit. Traveling to the past is not possible. "Traveling" to the future is already known how to.

At least some fiction make a coherent history for how time travel works, like Primer or Asimov's book 'The End of Eternity'... Unlike for example Donnie Darko, a movie that i love, but the ending....

Re: Primer (film)

#85

Post by staunch »

pingou wrote: post #70
sandaru1 wrote: post #56

speaking of (relatively) low budget films, "The Man from Earth" is awesome (it's low budget relative to Hollywood, not relative to Primer; $200,000) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_from_Earth

I loved Primer. But The man from Earth was just boring, I don't get why so many people liked it. Bad actors, the hero claims are either dull or ridiculous (I laughed a lot when he pretended to be J.), and most important of all, not surprising. I knew what the movie was about before I saw it, and if it can't show me more than I can imagine myself, it just sucks. I'll be happy to get some downvotes so that some of you…

If you liked Star Trek: TOS, or perhaps any Star Trek, you should not listen to this man. Watch the movie at least once. Although heavily flawed and not particularly novel (just like Star Trek) it will strike a chord with some people. It did with me.

Re: Primer (film)

#87

Post by hugothefrog »

artlogic wrote: post #58
hugothefrog wrote: post #39

Another movie similar to this (I think, having not seen the movie, but from reading the discussions) is Momento: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_%28film%29 IMO it stays with you a long time after you've watched it..

I have to say I felt that Memento was only good for a single watching. This may be an oversimplification, but if you reorganized the movie with all the scenes in reverse it would just be a mediocre movie about a guy who can't remember anything and the people he interacts with. I guess I just felt it was gimmicky. Primer, on the other hand doesn't use a single editing gimmick or plot twist, but rather does a deep driv…

Thanks for the comparison :)

I can't say I've watched Momento more than once. I guess that says something in itself.

I'll definitely be getting a copy of Primer now!

Re: Primer (film)

#89

Post by raghus »

jsm386 wrote: post #49
ciaranbradley wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't seen this movie yet, I must order the DVD this weekend, (now that I've been reminded for the umpteenth time). On a side note, my biggest annoyance with Wikipedia is manifest in articles about movies. For some reason, they allow an editorial policy of essentially writing out a scene by scene account of a movie.

It's on Netlfix Streaming if you have an account...Was recommended to me last week by the system - which I'm definitely glad for.

... and it's expiring from Netflix Streaming Sunday midnnight (5/30) so catch it today!

Re: Primer (film)

#90

Post by raghus »

jsm386 wrote: post #49
ciaranbradley wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't seen this movie yet, I must order the DVD this weekend, (now that I've been reminded for the umpteenth time). On a side note, my biggest annoyance with Wikipedia is manifest in articles about movies. For some reason, they allow an editorial policy of essentially writing out a scene by scene account of a movie.

It's on Netlfix Streaming if you have an account...Was recommended to me last week by the system - which I'm definitely glad for.

... and it's expiring from Netflix Streaming Sunday midnight (5/30) so catch it today!
Post reply on HN