how is this embody thematic and cinematic qualities from some (three) of the previous sci films we've seen and discussed. You can talk about Things to Come, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Oddessey, Brazil, Blade Runner, and Primer. What does Moon inherit from these films?
Connections to Blade Runner:
Blade Runner and Moon seemed very similar to me-- both stylistically and thematically. There was an element of symbolism that they had throughout the film in the smiley face placed on Gerty and the strange clothing that the main character wears. This reminded me of the strange outfits of the replicants in blade runner. Thematically, the question of the new technology being ethical comes into play in both films. The main character is cloned and the clone realizes they are not real and the memories have been "copied" from the real Sam. This is very similar to the copied memories of the replicant Rachel.
Connections to 2001: a Space Odyssey:
Moon and 2001: a Space Odyssey are both about men who live away from the earth and live in space with robots as helpers. Plot-wise the story is very similar and at the beginning Moon borrows small details from 2001, such as the video chat with the daughter back home, and the classical music in the background during a space journey. The space station is very similar to the one in 2001, and a few of the scenes are similar: such as the one of Sam running on the tredmill.
Connections to Primer:
This film connects to Primer in that the plot gets very complex towards the end. The multiple copies of Sam are similar to the multiple versions of the characters in Primer who have traveled in time. Also reminiscent is the degradation of the main characters despite a sense of stillness in time. In Moon it is very surprising when we hear that 15 years have gone by. Sam however does look older and older towards the end of the film. In Primer, similarly, the characters begin to lose their ability to write and seem to be deteriorating towards the ending for instance when Aaron wears the sweatshirt and sweatpants it's a noticeable difference to the suit he always used to be wearing.
I'm a little confused about the stylistic connections to Blade. What does Sam were that's "strange" (what does that mean anyway?)
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get 15 years? Sounds like you were on another planet when the film was screening.
Its been 15 years because his daughter is 15 years old. As far as the clothing go that I considered strange... In blade runner, the replicants and the eye-doctor wear very futuristic clothing (plastic... silver...) and in this movie there were a few futuristic jumpsuits.
ReplyDeleteI like how you noted on the stylistic elements on the film, such as clothing. Like you I say plenty of connections from Moon to Space Odyssey, and was easy to see that the director had been inspired by Kubrick’s vision of the future.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...The Sam we see has not had 15 years go by. He looks older by the end because the clone DNA begins to break down rapidly after 3 years. Also, be careful. It seems a stretch to say Sam the clone has a daughter. He only thinks he does, right?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Arden. I also think that the people in Moon were pretty different from the other movies that we watched. Even though the technology reminded me a lot of the technology from 2001, the way that the characters not only dressed but acted was a lot more relevant to the present (2013... or 2009)
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