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20.03.09 # Review # 92 Comments
The Knowing reviews have been dug out of the ground and deciphered. They don’t bode well.
It’s the end of the world, but don’t worry Nicolas Cage has got his flashlight out.
Oh and look for an impressive two minute continuous take during the plane crash sequence, which took four days to capture.
Here’s what the movie critics are saying -
“…cornball sci-fi thriller…Knowing gooses the thrills with hokey lighting, bombastic music and serious overacting… You get a socko finish that has to be seen to be disbelieved. Hokum is best served straight, not as a New Age cocktail with too many ingredients.”
Variety –
“Although made mostly of spare parts, “Knowing” is a not-bad supernatural-tinged sci-fier that has more on its mind than the run-of-the-mill effects-driven extravaganza. Absorbing and able to be taken seriously most of the way.”
AV Club -
“Proyas remains a skilled director of mood and spectacle, but a striking look and a handful of remarkable setpieces — look out for that plane — can’t elevate what’s ultimately a silly movie with a queasy subtext.”
“What would a Christian Apocalypse movie look like with a big budget?…Like a glum hybrid of the Final Destination movies, an Irwin Allen disaster bash, and the kitschiest parts of Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain.”
Knowing currently holds a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 52 reviews.
Leave your own Knowing reviews in the comments.
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aaaaargh! curse la weekly and all their children for daring to insult the fountain!!!
it seems to me proyas’ reputation is completely unearned…dark city wasn’t THAT good.
Yeah, I saw Dark City in the cinema and I walked out thinking there was stuff that worked and stuff that really didn’t. It showed imagination and creativity but he’s not exactly one of the master filmmakers.
I thought the acting in KNOWING wall corn ball soap opera, and the story line was too obvious. Too much information too quickly thrown at you with the aliens at the end which was totally predictable….also it’s interesting that a preacher Nicholas Cage’s parents can live in such a grand mansion. I don’t even think Billy Graham lives that well.
Best moment…was Nicholas Cage breaking the stick against the tree to scare off the stranger who was near his house. P’leaseeeeezzzz.
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I just came home from the movies and I’m really disappointed. The end to “knowing” was horrible. From watching the movie previews I would have never guessed that it would involve space ships or whatever that was at the end of the movie. It had an awesome story line, the number thing was very interesting but they ended it in a horrible way. It would have been more interesting if John had a chance to save everyone.
Y is everyone saying Knowing is horrible!!??!! I just saw it today and i thought it was sooo good! I can’t stop thinking about it! It did really freak me out in some parts but in the end when everything came together the parts that freaked me out when I first saw them didn’t scare me anymore. The special effects were amazing and the acting was great. The ending was so unexpected but great!
First Of all if you guys say that it was horrible it’s because you don’t know your Christian religion so you didn’t get anything of the movie. The four mysterious guys were the four gospels; matthew mark luke and john. If you payed attention the picture that Diane’s mom always use to look at had the four gospels there but in there symbolic form; lion bull lamb(I think) and bird(I think). then at the end the so called spaceships where just God bringing Calem and Abby to a new place to start over. Abby and Calem where the new Adam and Eve. And that big tree was the tree of knowledge (the one that Adam and Eve couldn’t eat the apple from) And also the other “spaceships” where the animals (that’s why also Calen and Abby both loved animals because they were going to live with them in the future) DUH!!!!!! Anyway so yes if you knew your Christian Religion you wouldve understanded the movie. That will be all =D.
Xavier Jr,
You are awesome dude. You hit it on the head there with your analysis. Glad that there’s at least ONE smart person out there.
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Totally loved it. Expected it to be so-so…but I loved it. The biblical themes (without being preachy), the “aliens-as-helpers-but-possibly-contrained-by-a-higher power” angle was awesome….and you know what I loved the most…the “destruction” scenes!! Finally, a movie that delivers on the destruction/devastation scenes rather than just teasing you (or duping you) in the trailers.
There is no academic pretension in this movie….and that, readers, is why reviewers hate it. (they want everything to be deep and philosophical and in tune with their personal, hyper-humanistic beliefs.
Knowing is just a solid sci-fi, end-of-the-world themed movie where global warming comes in the form of a solar flare. Come to think of it…that’s probably why reviewers hate it so much–because the end of the world does not come from man-made global warming…but rather from the sun’s own power and the fickleness of our unfathomable universe
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Xavier is essentially correct except I wouldn’t say the aliens were mathew, mark etc. This was an old testament reference, more specifically from the book of Ezikiel straight out of the dream of god and the “chariot” he saw. So the four aliens were angels hence the wings they sprouted when rising to the ship. This was a great sci-fi movie with great special effects with a Final Destination feel at times. Critics who think this movie is ridiculous have no imagination and need to stick to watching non-fiction or perhaps some Michael Moore films if they get a wild hair up there butts. Just remember if you’re a die hard Jew or Christian it does try to twist your faith a bit but nevertheless a great film.
Two words for Knowing: Great Movie. Two words for those who don’t know their Word: Left Behind. The best part about this movie was where it went no matter waht our CSI We Can Figure it Out Minds tried to tell us. No we can save the day bull crap ending cause the most powerful line in the flick was “you didn’t hear the call” and there was no we’ll change our minds about it. The plane crash, the subway crash, and the final end of the world sequence were done so well you cannot deny you weren’t shocked. The mom getting wiped out was a relief because her character was deeply annoying. The way she went was a big suprise because you were sick of her but you still had a “damn for real?” moment. Nick sucked as the I got to figure it out but can’t tell anybody about it guy who simply abandoned his MIT class. Come on chief. You live in that big mansion rolling in a Ram-150 and all you had was a baseball bat? It’s clear that some writers in Hollywood never venture into the real world so their characters don’t behave realistically. The best reason to see this movie is the overall ride as it speaks to a deeper issue in our society. Whether you believe in God or not you really don’t want to find out if you are wrong on Judgment Day so patch it up. True Bible readers got a better experience out of this than disaster thrill seekers because they saw a different movie. Great job but next time lose the stupid Hollywood cliches to them Armegeddon folks.
Is that really the ending?
News to the world: that’s the worst ending. Ever.
That’s not Biblical symbolism, that’s schlock, lazy Cliff-Notes style referencing.
I am SO looking forward to this movie, I hope it’s as good as Wicker Man.
FYI: Dark City is exquisite, as is the Crow. I, Robot and Garage Days really sunk his street cred, though. I think it’s another Spielberg case, he’s great as long as the script is good, but he often picks garbage.
thank you john and shawn that is a very good explanation too I think yours make more sense BUT I just thought that it would be the four gospels because if you see the movie again and you see that small picture that abby was coloring the sun on, on the bottom right you saw the symbolisms of the four gospels AND THAT IS WHY I said it was them but yours make much sense cuz they did have wings at the end so it revovles around your idea much better BUT (LOL) the gospels are saints and which are angels so yea but watever you think is the right answer you cud believe it I’m not judging anyone. =D
I agree with Xavier and shawn. I personally thought the mavie was great. The story was good.
wow estos es para la gente que tal ves no entiende ingles la pelicula estuvo excelente el mensaje que tenia la pelicula fue estremadamente buena
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
I am so happy to be reading so many great reviews. I knew I couldn’t be the only one that understood and appreciated this movie. I saw it last night and having been thinking about it ever since. I want to see it again because I think it has a lot of symbology that I probably missed and now that I saw the end I will look for more when I see it again.
I think Xavier nailed it as well. i didn’t think of the 4 Gospels but now that he mentioned it, it does fit. My take on the children was exactly that. They were Adam and Eve, the tree at the end was the tree of knowledge and the animals were on the other crafts. The world was cleansed just as it was with the flood.
The children were on a different frequency and that’s why only they could hear the whispering. Abbey, naturally and Caleb with his hearing aid.
It you understand a bit about The Bible, Sacred Geometry, The Golden Ratio and some New Age Philosophy you will get so much more out of this film.
The diaster scenes were the most riveting I have ever seen. I actually had to look away at one point because it was so realistic.
Xavier I just noticed that your last post was at 3:21pm on 3-21. Today is also the first day of Spring – The Spring Equinox. It’s like a countdown…..to a new beginning.
I think what I loved most about the movie was that the ending albeit bittersweet, was very hopeful and left me with a very peaceful feeling.
With all the doom and gloom about 2012, I welcomed it and felt it was inspiring.