One thing I learned after watching Melancholia is: Do NOT go look at some shady forums where people talk about their thoughts regarding the movie. And avoid those where they are trying to explain it. No. Don't do it. Stay away from it. In fact, go away from here now ... Also avoid writing your own review, if you can. I can't.
I say: Very good movie.
If approximately 45 Minutes too long for my taste, but I don't regret not fast-forwarding ... and boy was I tempted! Then again, most of the movies I watch I tend to find 30 minutes too long.
I'm a sucker for very calm movies. Melancholia caters to that taste, with it being shot with mainly two actors in one location from the middle onward.
I'll say it again, I liked it. Ok, the music was going on my nerves, but classical music over such a long period of time tends to make my ears bleed.
I appreciated the nature and duration of the sex-scenes. (They were brief, if you must know.)
Bit of a fuck up with the golf cart. Never mind the physics but an electric golf cart that works while all other electrical devices don't is like a Katana on a plane in "Kill Bill" just after 9/11. As usual, the big mistakes are fine, the small ones just throw you off. Or rather: Me. They throw me off.
The attention to detail in photography was beautiful. For once I didn't mind the fact that it seems to be politically incorrect to use a tripod for the camera.
Nice detail with the little contraption built by the boy. It's simple, it works. No big science needed, everybody understands how it works. Well done.
It's amazing just how this movie motivated so many people to speculate about the symbolic content of it. About how much of it has to do with what Lars von Trier does in his spare time. "What's the symbolism behind the bridge that can't be crossed?" For one, it can be crossed. Justine's sister Claire is crossing it all the time, apart from in the end when the golf cart (which shouldn't be working in the first place) dies on her. For another: If it doesn't mean anything to you, it doesn't fucking matter. It's like having a joke explained to you. If you don't find it funny, the explanation won't change that.
The end I absolutely agree with. It was very appropriate and I found it to be very rewarding. My views of the world have been reinforced by this movie.
I even admit to being scared. Not as in horror-movie-scared, but as in "in that situation I would be shitting my pants" kind of scared. Honestly. Usually I rather like the idea of witnessing the world being blown to smithereens. But Melancholia just took me on that "get-emotionally-involved-with-the-characters" trip that made me be extremely aware that I'm not alone in my life and that I am responsible not only for me but also for someone else.
Shit, I've done it. I've gone all in on the "I'm talking about me feelings" bandwagon. Forget what I wrote. Forget what you have read.
If you like "Quiet Earth" and the speed of a Kaurismäki movie, watch Melancholia. If you prefer "Die Hard" or "American Idol" ... don't.
