My Impression of the Sputnik Film
Sept 29, 2020 19:45:19 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Sept 29, 2020 19:45:19 GMT -5
My Impression of the Sputnik Film
The first thing that caught my attention was how quickly the captions in English were being placed on the screen and removed. Despite being a fast reader, I was forced to rewind the video numerous times in order to read what had been displayed maybe for three seconds. Even when silence following the caption it was quickly removed.
I knew that captions would be needed for non Russian audiences. But I assumed that common sense would prevail with those responsible for the duration of time that captions are left on display. . Obviously the ones in charge either didn't care or else were too lazy to go through the trouble of coordinating things in order to enhance the viewer enjoyment.
After all, rewinding the film weakens the illusion of reality by reminding the viewer constantly that this is merely a film. It also introduces thee emotion of frustration and anger which replaces intense interest or a sense of dramatic foreboding.
The second thing that caught my attention was the contradictions. For example, after vomiting while seeing the creature emerge from the astronaut's mouth, the Lady in charge of the investigation asks to be allowed to enter the creature's compartment with only a flimsy spacesuit for protection. Really? She's that dumb? Then she stupidly reaches out to touch it? Then the creature is shown making a halfhearted attempt to kill her. I say halfhearted because it is later shown quickly decapitating prisoners who were fed to it.
Then suddenly the drama takes a nosedive when the astronaut calmly says that he knows he has a parasite and identifies himself with it during the entire rest of the film. In fact, he calmly expresses appreciation for all that the creature had done for him and claimed that it was keeping him alive and so did not want it removed. Then at the film's end, in complete contrast to his previous accepting attitude, he commits suicide because he claims that he can no longer suffer the creature being in his body?
Yes, the acting was good. The female investigator and the Russian officials all play their parts well. But once the drama of the film is gradually reduced by showing the astronaut in compliance with this creature, the suspension of disbelieving starts to wear off and the film begins to look contrived. Why? Because of the unlikeliness of anyone accepting such a hideous situation as calmly as this astronaut did. After all, if he's happy with the creature, then why should we care or worry about his condition?