I can really recommend Inception! Anyone have some movies they can recommend, where the plot is not predictable, yet everything in the story can seem believable?

This is a hard one. The prize is ELDEN RING. Hint will be given after a couple of days depending on amount of entries.

HINT:
Magic bytes

EDIT:
Now that the giveaway is over, here's the solution:

Right click and press "Inspect" on this post, and you'll find a hidden link to a GIF on Dropbox.
I chose a GIF of Inception, because I thought it could be perceived as "a GIF inside a GIF", for those who have watched the movie.
GIFs, like most files, have file signatures, aka. magic bytes. If you download the file and check it with a hex editor, you can see that beyond the file signature footer (00 3B) there is more data, which happens to be the header signature of another GIF (47 49 46 38 39 61, or "GIF89a"). Copying this data and saving it into another GIF file will yield an image of a data matrix code. Scanning this with your phone (online readers seem to have a bit of trouble with it) will yield the 5 characters needed for the giveaway URL.

NOTE: Copying the text data (instead of the hex data) through the means of notepad or the like will not work, because it will yield incomplete data. This is because the data contains what would be translated into ASCII's control characters, which are non-printable.

Congratz to the 29(+?) people who completely the puzzle!

EDIT 2:
Sorry guys, the giveaway has been deleted due to a region restriction... The puzzle will remain up for those who want to try. :-)

2 years ago*

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Naked Lunch

2 years ago
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Never heard of this title before. Seems like quite a curious movie... A kind of cult classic?

2 years ago
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I can think of at least two things wrong with that title!

2 years ago
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"yet everything in the story can seem believable?" I have watched Naked Lunch and I don't think it fits to that second part xD.

2 years ago*
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Haha I was just going to write that. "Believable" and surrealist tend not to co-exist in the same universe.

2 years ago
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Proceed from the premise that the pillowcase at the bus station is real and the one full of typewriter parts is not. Then it's all believable.

2 years ago
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Memento
O, Brother, Where Art Thou
The Sixth Sense
Space Jam
Casablanca
Kiss Me Deadly

2 years ago
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Sixth Sense the first time was a draw dropper, for sure!

2 years ago
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Memento looks like an appropriate amount of mind-boggling, I'll add that one to my list!
The rest of the suggested seem like good movies also, but they're probably better to watch with friends rather than alone? 🤔

2 years ago
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I saw most of them in my single days, and so I watched them alone. It's up to you!

2 years ago
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You could drive a truck through the plot holes in the Sixth Sense but it's still pretty good

2 years ago
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Casablanca is a classic!

2 years ago
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I don't really watch a ton of movies but I couldn't predict Spirited Away's plot or ending. Not sure how "believable" it would be however because of it's nature. (Dragons, spirits, curses, etc..)

GL with finding a new movie to watch.

2 years ago
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Personally I feel like dragons and spirits are cool to watch, as long as they obey what we perceive as the laws of physics. For example, all the g-forces super heroes in the Marvel movies experience should have left them all dead by now. But a dragon only having a set amount of fire to breathe like in How To Train Your Dragon makes total sense, and therefore does not break the immersion.

Thanks! I have yet to watch Spirited Away, in fact. I don't really watch a ton of movies myself :-)

2 years ago
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I think I found a bit of the puzzle, but I'm lost from there.
Thank you for the opportunity regardless! Two entries already, two people much smarter than me.

2 years ago
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Keep going! I'm sure you'll figure out of it if you do some research and look hard enough ;-) If you have time to spare to do so, of course.

2 years ago
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Spirited Away is a great movie. It's fantasy, but quite "normal".

2 years ago
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Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels(1998)

2 years ago
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THE BIG LEBOWSKI(1998)

2 years ago
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Ah, this one I have yet to watch! Would you consider it having the status of a classic? ;-)

2 years ago
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It's THE DUDE of course its a classic.

2 years ago*
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Alright, I'll get to it! :-D

2 years ago
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you need to watch it, in my opinion, the funniest movie ever created

2 years ago
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Promising Young Woman

2 years ago
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+1

2 years ago
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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(2005)

2 years ago
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"I'm going to be an actress!" xD

2 years ago
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Such a chaotic comedy. xD

2 years ago
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Butterfly Effect

2 years ago
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I've heard about this one, but it feels very much like a "typical" plot, where he has an unreasonably strong desire to save someone, and it goes wrong in countless ways before there is a happy ending eventually? Or, am I in for a treat..? 🤔

2 years ago
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The ending of the film really depends on which version of the film you watch.
There are 4 or 5 different versions that were filmed and depending on country and distributor different versions were shown.
The DVD had all 4 or 5 endings. I'd say the Director's Cut version is the best one - even about 7 minutes longer (the one I actually saw in the cinema - I was really confused when I watched the movie a year later on DVD with someone new and it had a different ending...).

2 years ago*
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Wait what, really?? That's quite a special thing to do! I've got to make sure I get ahold of the director's cut first then, and give this movie a try!

2 years ago
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Though it's a divisive ending, guess that's why it wasn't shown everywhere (it's always about the test audience) 🙄

2 years ago
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wow, thanks for the tip! now I have to go and source 5 different versions of it :D

2 years ago
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I knew it had different endings, but not this many. I kind of want to see all of them now.

2 years ago
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To be fair. 3 are just variation of the mostly used "theatrical cut" most saw in the cinema.
The directors cut (which also was shown in some cinemas around the world) makes the whole thing something else though....

2 years ago
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I see. Thanks for letting me know.
I think I saw the DC version, not sure though.

2 years ago
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"Sin City" if you haven't seen it.
"El laberinto del fauno" is an amazing foreign movie that's less known.
"The Shawshank Redemption" is something that no one should miss.
"Se7en" is also a really good one that fits your requirements.

2 years ago
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Tried everything I could think of to get to the GA, I can't think of anything else. Good luck to the rest of the people trying to break it ^^

2 years ago
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Judging from the trailer, Sin CIty has a unique style. I like it!
I've actually heard of Pan's Labyrinth, but I've never really been sure about whether it's a movie that is meant to be "mysterious beyond explanation" wrt. all the weird events and creatures introduced, and the origin of them? Or if it's actually got a well-developed universe and characters?
Shawshank Redemption seems like a good movie on a rainy day? Nothing over-the-top, and character you can philosophically relate to?
Se7en seems like the kind of movie I should watch with my mother, as she loves crime like this! :-D

2 years ago
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I'd love to answer your question about Pan's Labyrint, but I can't since I've seen it so long ago I don't remember those details. I just know I loved it.
Shawshank Redemption, however, is an amazing movie. At least for me is one of the best movies ever made. My personal favorite. Although I can see why you'd think that. That's kinda how I went into it as well, and it was well beyond my expectations. It's mostly about the story and the characters.
Also, if you'll enjoy Se7en, you might also like Zodiac (2007).
And something that just came to mind, if you want something unpredictable, that's also with DiCaprio, and chance makes it that it also came out in the same year as Inception, look up Shutter Island.
Maybe Fight Club too? Haven't included it in the first list assuming you've probably saw it though.

2 years ago
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I'll add Pan's Labyrinth to my list, as the mystery indeed intrigues me...
Very coincidentally, my grandmother watched Shawshank Redemption on her TV last night. She was in the middle of it, so I just asked her about her opinion, and she also said it was one of the best movies ever made! So that goes on top of my list now ;-)
Shutter Island I've seen, and I did very much enjoy the mystery aspect of it, and especially the ending. It left me with the same feeling as in Inception; I'm content with not knowing what happens after, even if I can't figure out whether the glass is half empty or half full...
I wonder who hasn't watched Fight Club by now..? :-D

2 years ago
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Well, glad I was able to help ^^ I hope you'll enjoy watching them as much as I enjoyed rewatching Lord of the Rings these past days :D

2 years ago
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I've actually heard of Pan's Labyrinth, but I've never really been sure about whether it's a movie that is meant to be "mysterious beyond explanation" wrt. all the weird events and creatures introduced, and the origin of them? Or if it's actually got a well-developed universe and characters?

I don't want to spoil anything, so I just say that there is no explanation why the fantasy part is like it's shown. However, that explanation isn't needed when figuring out how this fantasy part is tied in.
There is a very famous old book series with several movie and game adaptations, in which the reason for the fantasy is similar and thus doesn't need explanation either.

2 years ago
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Pan's Labyrinth, is, difficult to explain without spoiling it. The fantasy aspects are not that important, and there' are multiple ways to interpret it. The story was predictable foe me, but it was a nice watch nonetheless.

2 years ago
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2 years ago
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Woah, this is an extensive comment, I appreciate it! Let's jump right into it:
I'm definitely more into sci-fi than anything else. Looper, Limitless, and Source Code I've already seen, and mostly enjoyed. The ending of Source Code is definitely something I wish more of; this kind of content melancholy?
You have mentioned a lot of titles, so I'll have to get back to you again tomorrow,
I've also watched The Prestige, which was a well made movie, but there was something that didn't quite appeal to me for some reason. I wonder if it's something about the motivation behind their actions, and the commitment that turned into blindness. Not unrealistic, just, unrelating, in a way? 🤔

2 years ago
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2 years ago
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Unfortunately I don't have much time for movie watching, so It'll be at most one movie a day :-) I'm keeping a list of movies, and thanks to this thread, that list is getting quite long! A lot of great recommendations here, and I will eventually get through it all!

2 years ago
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2 years ago
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Interesting less known movie... Could you tell me (without spoiling) what you like about its plot and ending? And what makes it stand out?

2 years ago
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To put it bluntly I'm a sucker for Korean movies and the classics from Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.

From the Wikipedia article: "The film was released in South Korean cinemas on October 3, 2017.[8] It topped the box office on its opening day with 444,527 viewers. According to the film's distributor CJ Entertainment, by the second day of its release, the film had accumulated more than one million admissions, the fastest film released during the Chuseok holidays to surpass the mark.[9][10]

The Fortress was sold to 28 countries worldwide including U.S.A, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore. It was the opening film at the 2nd London East Asia Film Festival. In South Korea, the film attracted a total of 3.8 million moviegoers.[11] "

The link I provided doesn't work. Reason could be wiki2org is powered by Yandex.

2 years ago
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well if you enjoy some mind f***ery, predestination. it has its own internal logic and sticks to it pretty well

2 years ago
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It's a great movie and a mind f*ck as you said, but I doubt it would be considered believable.

2 years ago
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Hmm, that's an interesting one... But a big thing about movies that include time travel always seem to miss, is the logical (non-dramatic) way of dealing with things. It might be unethical, sure, but what keeps them from travelling far enough back and just, you know, poison the baby? No one will know you were there, the person who were going to do the crime (so big that time travel is used on them) is dead, and there's no need for the Hollywood explosions and shootouts. Or is this movie different..?

2 years ago
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I really don't watch movies much (aka- barely at all and only if something happens to be running on the TV, my mom's watching it and I don't have anything better to do) so I'm not really an expert on what makes them unpredictable... ^_^'

Does Interstellar count? It's usually the one I think of when people ask for movie recommendations because It has some neat astrophysics going for it.

2 years ago
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I do love good (and accurate) physics! It's all the unnecessary drama and heroism I'm not that big fan of honestly, and I get the feeling that this does have some of that..?

2 years ago
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Hmmm, I... don't know. Not really sure at what point things become unnecessary (and "drama" is a very vague and wide-reaching word).

When I think extra critically, there is a scene at the start which is kinda unnecessarily risky (Protag and his family almost drive off a cliff while trying to chase some old drone to remote control it and make it land.) and there's some really dumb "Love" (related to family) messaging to explain out a thing towards the end which meshes with the rest of the movie about as well as lead with water; but other than those it keeps everything else very straight and realistic (at least from my nerdy astrophysics-liking perspective, obviously a lot of those concepts are theoretical in nature). Characters are sad when it makes sense for them to be sad and do "heroic" stuff when not attempting those would lead to everyone dying... Honestly, I'm not sure if I fully understand the question... ^_^'

2 years ago
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Shutter Island
Memento
The Prestige
These are all very famous films. But for a snack, I will add an incredibly famous film - Fight Club.

2 years ago
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All are fantastic and OP should watch them all.

2 years ago
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Shutter Island I have watched, and it was a great movie! I wish I could re-watch it again with fresh eyes!
Memento does look intriguing, and has already been mentioned here by someone else, so looks like that will make it into the movie night!
The Prestige also has me curious at this point. Based on the trailer and synopsis, there's not much special here really, but it might surprise me?
Fight Club has been watched, and is a good snack film indeed!

2 years ago
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The Prestige - this movie is a puzzle. You will be led through the story by the hand, but you will not see the essence until it is shown to you.
By the way, there is David Bowie, who is hard to recognize.

2 years ago
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Upgrade
Thoroughbreds
Fight Club
Ex Machina
Shutter Island
Enemy
American Psycho
Interstellar
Last Night in Soho
Prisoners
Atonement
Arrival
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Get Out

2 years ago
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That's a lot! If you could pick one of these movies, that you feel like really pulls you in (immersion), doesn't contain fallacious logics, and doesn't contain as much love drama as the trailer suggests, which one would that be?

2 years ago
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Well, that's quite hard because 1) The closest any of those to what you'd call love drama is only one (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and it's still worth watching imo 2) They all have solid stories that are plausible in real life. But if you still want a shorter a list, I'd say both American Psycho and Fight Club, since they're now classic masterpieces imo.

2 years ago
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Jacob's Ladder (1990)

2 years ago
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Interesting suggestion... Will keep it in mind, as I do like exploration and interpretations of psychological illnesses.

2 years ago
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It's one of my favorite movies, give it a try! I hope you like it! :D

2 years ago
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The Usual Suspects
Lucky Number Slevin

2 years ago
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+1 to both of these movies, though probably a +2 for Lucky Number Slevin :D
Trailer

2 years ago
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Good taste.
"Slevin's Girlfriend : [after Slevin walks in on her cheating on him] This is an accident. Slevin : What, like... He tripped, you fell?"

2 years ago
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Lucky Number Slevin looks like a cool one! I'll make a note :-)

2 years ago
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Rashomon (1950)
Vertigo (1958)
Yojimbo (1961)
High and Low (1963)
Primer (2004)
Black Swan (2010)
Coherence (2013)
Gone Girl (2014)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Good Time (2017)
The Outfit (2022)

2 years ago
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A lot of dramas here, and I don't really see anything that catches my eye at first glance from trailers. Do you have a favorite among these? One that has great immersion, and doesn't contain much fallacious logics?

2 years ago
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Hmmm.. i like all of them. But Coherence and Primer are the two most wtf-movies on the list.

2 years ago
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Shutter Island is the first one that comes to mind.
Dream House

2 years ago*
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Shutter Island is a great movie, and it has been seen. Is Dream House kind of like it? Judging from the trailer, slightly more thriller/jump-scares?

2 years ago
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It has some similarities. But not on the same level. Thriller just a bit with no jump scares.

2 years ago
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Time Crimes (2007) A great Spanish Flick. Try to resist looking anything up about it. It's very satisfying. Give it a shot!

2 years ago
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I had to just check the synopsis and half a trailer to get the vibe of the movie, and it looks like a pretty good one! This goes high on the list :-)

2 years ago
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The Game (1997)

2 years ago
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Looks pretty fun! Will consider this one :-)

2 years ago
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My favorite movie is Dark City.
It touches on intersting philosophical questions such as what makes us, us, where does our identity lie?
The plot revolves around a character trying to make sense of a situation and when you get the explanation it's super interesting, I wouldn't say mind-blowing, but I definitely didn't see it coming. Wouldn't call it a twist but rather really good plot development.
The movie as a whole is great. It's my go-to answer for any movie recommandation question.

I have seen someone else mention Interstellar and Arrival - great choices too.

2 years ago
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Brilliant underrated movie. The similarities with the Matrix are mind blowing but both movies do a great stab at the same philosophical themes like identity, fate and what makes us human.

2 years ago
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For real, I barely ever see it mentioned, I'm always the only one brining it up haha.

Funilly enough I never really thought of comparing it to The Matrix! But now that you mention it, there are indeed similarities! I don't really like The Matrix that much to be honest. Not that I dislike it either, it just didn't leave much of an impession on me (to be fully transparent, I did see the trilogy something like 10 years after it came out, so the innovative aspect was not there for me). I think the treatment of those themes didn't resonate with me as much as they did with Dark City.

2 years ago
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The Matrix is a more techno action version of the same story really but a lot of the techno and action are distracting from the story.
Dark City always resonated more deeply on a human level for me as well. It has a dark poetic quality to its narrative that is completely missing from the Matrix, which operate more on a... I dunno... purely intellectual level I guess.
Even visually really. Matrix is all reflections, slick surfaces, big contrast and sharp angles.
Dark City is all darkness, grainy textures, spirals and circles. It's like looking inside the human soul.

And yeah it's massively unknown and underrated. But it's ok, we'll always have Shell Beach ;)

2 years ago
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Fully agree with this analysis!

2 years ago
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This looks quite interesting! The trailer left me with no particular emotion (like most trailers), but I did indeed see the parallels with The Matrix. I do prefer more intellectual movies, so based on this, I think I'll go ahead and put it on my list ;-)

2 years ago
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armageddon (1998)

2 years ago
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I kind of have hopes it will have the same ending as in Don't Look Up (2021) (except for the recolonization part), but I also get the feeling that this is a very "American" movie with heroism prevailing and creating a happy ending thanks to their actions?

2 years ago
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There's several Christopher Nolan movies that are easily recommended, but that seems a bit like cheating, so I'm going to recommend

The Jacket (2005) - Starring Adrien Brody and Kiera Knightley
True Detectives Season 1 - Pretty much a long movie, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson
Minority Report (2002) - Starring Tom Cruise

2 years ago
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Minority Report I've been meaning to watch! I just haven't ever gotten around to it.
The Jacket looks intriguing, I'll add that to the list as well.
True Detective I feel like something I have to pay attention to and study over several hours worth of footage. It might be something I put on if I'm having a long movie night with some friends, but doubtfully alone.
Great recommendations! :-)

2 years ago
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2 years ago
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An interesting one... I'll add it to the list, thanks!

2 years ago
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Half of the story of Mulholland Drive is a dream of a dying alcoholic woman, I don't think it fits to a definition of believebale.

2 years ago
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