Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DVF · 08-06-2002, 10:18 AM

I really enjoyed the movie in spite of the fact that it has a "God is real so don't lose faith" theme. The crop circles weren't really all that important to the plot.

It was a well written, well acted offering with a good blend of humor and suspense. Nothing incredible, but a decent flick. While I don't care for the god nonsense I have less of an objection to works of fiction that are offered as fiction, as opposed to works of fiction offered as reality.

Keith Russell · 08-06-2002, 12:10 PM

DVF:

I'm not sure we saw the same film. I went to a special (free) screening of 'Signs' last Tuesday, and everyone in the theatre thought it was awful.

(Well acted, but dreadful, nonetheless.)

--Spoiler alert--

If the aliens are so alergic to water, why come to a planet that is 2/3 covered in water, to abduct human beings who are 75 percent water? The aliens walk around NAKED in farm fields which are often irrigated.

And it rains on earth, too!

Silly, silly movie, and the 'faith' part was an insult.

'Contact' pushed the 'faith' angle in a far more intelligent, if still somewhat insulting, fashion.

(IMO, of course.)

Keith.

DVF · 08-06-2002, 12:28 PM

Yeah, the water thing was dumb, and the signs from god angle was corny, but it was a campy sci-fi thriller. I certainly wouldn't call it thought provoking or enlightening, and I can't think of anything about it that was vaguely original. But I still thought it was fun.

I enjoyed the fact that it relied on the reactions of the actors and the story to generate suspense rather than flash and special effects.

Seems I'm pretty off topic though, as this doesn't relate to Science, Skepticism or Crop Circles.

Veil of Fire · 08-06-2002, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Is anyone else turned off by the movie "Signs" because it is a movie about a proven hoax?

So I guess the line "A design the size of the one in your field would only take two or three guys one night to make" doesn't matter?

Boy, it's a good thing you're so psychic that you don't have to even see the movie to know everything about it! Maybe you should call Randi and get your million!

ExTheist · 08-06-2002, 02:22 PM

I'll bet that those space aliens making crop circles make the farmers furious.

Marduk · 08-06-2002, 02:57 PM

"Of more concern is the moral of something like the X Files. Sure, it’s fantasy; but over and over the sceptic is shown to be wrong, that all manner of weird shit is possible or even real. Always a supernatural explanation. That is a troubling thing to teach kids, even if only indirectly."

Bah! I love the X Files, no worse than the Twilight Zone of old, (I liked that to!)
Besides, the X Files does teach a very valuable lesson "question authority, and never ever ever trust the government!"

Arrowman · 08-06-2002, 10:49 PM

X-Files? Yes, the underlying "skeptic is always proven wrong" theme is annoying, but I do enjoy it and similar shows. I think Skeptics can be allowed to play "what would it be like if..." games without "crossing over to the dark side".

As for "Signs" - along with others, I have no intention of paying to see this movie (unlike 6th Sense, which I enjoyed) because of its theme. I'm sure it would irritate me. I take on board the comments of those who say "but you haven't even seen it" - granted, but I've seen the promotions and if that film ain't about "awe and wonder at the spooky unknown as evidenced by crop circles" then someone in their marketing department needs to be prosecuted for misleading advertising. I have other movies to see.

phlebas · 08-07-2002, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadowy Man:
<strong>Yes Jamie_L, I am turned off by the movie because it relies on the reality of a proven hoax. I have really enjoyed both of Shamalayan's (sp?) other movies, but will probably not see this one.</strong>

Yes, I much preferred his more realistic, documentary-style previous works dealing with people who talk to the dead or people with super powers

I am sick of fantasy writers playing fast'n'loose with reality!

I'm annoyed that the crop circle nonsense will get a well-undeserved breath of life, but I don't see it having any lasting ill-effects on society. "Blair Witch" had a lot of people believing at first, too.

We should work on stopping the truly evil -- like making sure Disney doesn't make any more damned Dalmation movies.

Marduk · 08-07-2002, 03:20 PM

"We should work on stopping the truly evil -- like making sure Disney doesn't make any more damned Dalmation movies."

NEW From Disney!!

101 Golden Retrievers!!!!!!

Marduk · 08-07-2002, 03:23 PM

and now back to the main thread..

Does anyone remember what came first, a few crop circles or the pranksters Dave & Dave, I mean did they think this whole idea up themselves or were there already crop circle reports?
Anyone remember how this all got started?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-06-2002, 10:18 AM	#21
DVF Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Biloxi MS Posts: 19	I really enjoyed the movie in spite of the fact that it has a "God is real so don't lose faith" theme. The crop circles weren't really all that important to the plot. It was a well written, well acted offering with a good blend of humor and suspense. Nothing incredible, but a decent flick. While I don't care for the god nonsense I have less of an objection to works of fiction that are offered as fiction, as opposed to works of fiction offered as reality.

08-06-2002, 12:10 PM	#22
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	DVF: I'm not sure we saw the same film. I went to a special (free) screening of 'Signs' last Tuesday, and everyone in the theatre thought it was awful. (Well acted, but dreadful, nonetheless.) --Spoiler alert-- If the aliens are so alergic to water, why come to a planet that is 2/3 covered in water, to abduct human beings who are 75 percent water? The aliens walk around NAKED in farm fields which are often irrigated. And it rains on earth, too! Silly, silly movie, and the 'faith' part was an insult. 'Contact' pushed the 'faith' angle in a far more intelligent, if still somewhat insulting, fashion. (IMO, of course.) Keith.

08-06-2002, 12:28 PM	#23
DVF Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Biloxi MS Posts: 19	Yeah, the water thing was dumb, and the signs from god angle was corny, but it was a campy sci-fi thriller. I certainly wouldn't call it thought provoking or enlightening, and I can't think of anything about it that was vaguely original. But I still thought it was fun. I enjoyed the fact that it relied on the reactions of the actors and the story to generate suspense rather than flash and special effects. Seems I'm pretty off topic though, as this doesn't relate to Science, Skepticism or Crop Circles.

08-06-2002, 02:22 PM	#25
ExTheist Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 238	I'll bet that those space aliens making crop circles make the farmers furious.

08-06-2002, 02:57 PM	#26
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	"Of more concern is the moral of something like the X Files. Sure, it’s fantasy; but over and over the sceptic is shown to be wrong, that all manner of weird shit is possible or even real. Always a supernatural explanation. That is a troubling thing to teach kids, even if only indirectly." Bah! I love the X Files, no worse than the Twilight Zone of old, (I liked that to!) Besides, the X Files does teach a very valuable lesson "question authority, and never ever ever trust the government!"

08-06-2002, 10:49 PM	#27
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	X-Files? Yes, the underlying "skeptic is always proven wrong" theme is annoying, but I do enjoy it and similar shows. I think Skeptics can be allowed to play "what would it be like if..." games without "crossing over to the dark side". As for "Signs" - along with others, I have no intention of paying to see this movie (unlike 6th Sense, which I enjoyed) because of its theme. I'm sure it would irritate me. I take on board the comments of those who say "but you haven't even seen it" - granted, but I've seen the promotions and if that film ain't about "awe and wonder at the spooky unknown as evidenced by crop circles" then someone in their marketing department needs to be prosecuted for misleading advertising. I have other movies to see.

08-07-2002, 03:20 PM	#29
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	"We should work on stopping the truly evil -- like making sure Disney doesn't make any more damned Dalmation movies." NEW From Disney!! 101 Golden Retrievers!!!!!!

08-07-2002, 03:23 PM	#30
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	and now back to the main thread.. Does anyone remember what came first, a few crop circles or the pranksters Dave & Dave, I mean did they think this whole idea up themselves or were there already crop circle reports? Anyone remember how this all got started?

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.