Movie Review: The fourth kind

GoldenRivet · 11-29-09, 08:38 PM

There are several types of Alien Abduction movies out there, for example:

You have the Sci Fi thrillers that are adorned with full on alien abduction scenes (See: Fire in the sky, 1993; Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind 1977)

You have the Multi-Faceted story lines of UFOs, Abductions, and the good bad and ugly of the Aliens. (See: Communion, 1989; Intruders 1992)

and finally you have the open ended documentaries, where some rather fantastic "eye witness accounts" are either recounted verbally or recreated with actors. In this category... the viewer leaves the theater with no more evidence about UFOs and Aliens than when he walked in... The Fourth Kind rests in this category.

The fourth kind tells the supposedly true story of a Nome, Alaska psychologist who has recently lost her husband to what she recalls as a "murder" by an intruder into her home. The death of her husband is still under investigation by local authorities.

While she attempts to put her life back on track with her son and daughter she continues her psychological practice which is quite the normal seeing of patients day in and day out.

One day, a man comes into her office suffering from some sort of sleep disorder. In her attempts to get to the bottom of his sleep disorder, she places him under hypnosis. While under hypnosis, the man recalls that he cannot sleep because a "white owl" is staring at him through his bedroom window.

as she continues to see patients she discovers that they are all having the same sleep disorder experience... lack of sleep because of the visitation of this white owl, which is now finding its way into their homes somehow.

As her investigation into the "psychological causes" of their lack of sleep continues, the hypnosis sessions become more and more frightening... none of her patients actually come out and say "I was abducted by Aliens from Planet Zega Fifteen." but they do suggest that its "not an owl... its them... they have come for me." etc.

As the story progresses onward, the psychologist begins to have a similar experience... one night, while dictating her cases into a tape recorder she falls fast asleep... she captures on tape her own alleged - albeit terrifying abduction experience.

The story unfolds in a way that paints a few possibilities... one is that this psychologist has lost her mind and is somehow responsible for a number of the strange occurrences taking place in the town. Another suggestion is that Alien beings who shaped early human civilization in ancient Sumaria are abducting people in Alaska.

In the end it is up to the viewer to decide which is the case.

If you are looking for a good "put the pieces of the puzzle together for yourself" type of movie... The Fourth Kind is probably worth the $6.50 ticket price, it is thought provoking and there are several good "jump out of your seat" type moments.

If you're going to the theater in hopes of seeing an alien probe some some truck driver's anus on the side of a lonely Alaskan highway... skip it... because the only Anus getting probed will be your own - there is not one single "Alien" depicted in any way shape or form in the entire 98 minutes of the film.

ivank · 11-29-09, 09:25 PM

pretty cools, maybe i see it

EDIT: ONLY $6.50?! On Long Island it is between $10.00 and $11.50.

GoldenRivet · 11-29-09, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivank

pretty cools, maybe i see it

EDIT: ONLY $6.50?! On Long Island it is between $10.00 and $11.50.

Matinee price for one adult.

My wife and i saw the film for $13

if we had made the next showing we would have payed several dollars more.

Blacklight · 11-29-09, 09:38 PM

We never go to movies any more. Even the matinee's cost like $10 here. Everything is rediculously expensive in Connecticut and prices have skyrocketed these past 8 years or so especially. It used to be that we could see a matinee for $8 here.

Torplexed · 11-29-09, 09:39 PM

It sounds better than 2012 which I made the mistake of viewing today. If you enjoy watching aircraft take off while the runway crumbles out from underneath them, than 2012 is the movie for you.

Frankly, as a pilot GR you'd probably find the liberties it takes with aviation amusing.

Not mention what it does with science.

Blacklight · 11-29-09, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Frankly, as a pilot GR you'd probably find the liberties it takes with aviation amusing.

Not mention what it does with science.

I could tell that from the trailor alone !

GoldenRivet · 11-29-09, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

as a pilot GR you'd probably find the liberties it takes with aviation amusing.

Oh i could only imagine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Not mention what it does with science.

what? you mean like that movie "Day after tomorrow" with the global super storms that flash freeze the earth overnight?

Blacklight · 11-30-09, 01:29 AM

Quote:

what? you mean like that movie "Day after tomorrow" with the global super storms that flash freeze the earth overnight?

Don't worry ! If we just outrun the cold as it's advancing down the streets and hallways at us and get behind a door, just like they did in the movie, we'll be JUST fine !

Hey ! How about the science liberties with "Twister" !! We can easily survive an F5 tornado by strapping ourselves to a plumming pipe !

Torplexed · 11-30-09, 04:43 AM

Well, the science in 2012 is pure rubbish too, although the special effects are spectacular. However, at times they overstay their welcome as well. This movie like The Day After Tomorrow and Spielberg's World of the Worlds seems to follow the same tired and cliched plot line of recent years, where the absent or failing father warmly re-bonds with his kids while billions die in the background. Awww.

The funniest part of the movie is when they are bemoaning the incoming tidal wave, "1500 meters" high... and when it does finally arrive, it nearly covers Mt. Everest, which is almost 9000 meters high.

Onkel Neal · 11-30-09, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

It sounds better than 2012 which I made the mistake of viewing today. If you enjoy watching aircraft take off while the runway crumbles out from underneath them, than 2012 is the movie for you.

And cars, and winnebagos!

They repeated that sequence several times, it's kind of awesome and funny. Never ride with John Cusak.

My favorite part: when heading toward a collision, the computer monitor shows the boat and mountain, and a big red triangle that says "Impact" or something.

That was one heck of a computer system.

11-29-09, 08:38 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Movie Review: The fourth kind There are several types of Alien Abduction movies out there, for example: You have the Sci Fi thrillers that are adorned with full on alien abduction scenes (See: Fire in the sky, 1993; Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind 1977) You have the Multi-Faceted story lines of UFOs, Abductions, and the good bad and ugly of the Aliens. (See: Communion, 1989; Intruders 1992) and finally you have the open ended documentaries, where some rather fantastic "eye witness accounts" are either recounted verbally or recreated with actors. In this category... the viewer leaves the theater with no more evidence about UFOs and Aliens than when he walked in... The Fourth Kind rests in this category. The fourth kind tells the supposedly true story of a Nome, Alaska psychologist who has recently lost her husband to what she recalls as a "murder" by an intruder into her home. The death of her husband is still under investigation by local authorities. While she attempts to put her life back on track with her son and daughter she continues her psychological practice which is quite the normal seeing of patients day in and day out. One day, a man comes into her office suffering from some sort of sleep disorder. In her attempts to get to the bottom of his sleep disorder, she places him under hypnosis. While under hypnosis, the man recalls that he cannot sleep because a "white owl" is staring at him through his bedroom window. as she continues to see patients she discovers that they are all having the same sleep disorder experience... lack of sleep because of the visitation of this white owl, which is now finding its way into their homes somehow. As her investigation into the "psychological causes" of their lack of sleep continues, the hypnosis sessions become more and more frightening... none of her patients actually come out and say "I was abducted by Aliens from Planet Zega Fifteen." but they do suggest that its "not an owl... its them... they have come for me." etc. As the story progresses onward, the psychologist begins to have a similar experience... one night, while dictating her cases into a tape recorder she falls fast asleep... she captures on tape her own alleged - albeit terrifying abduction experience. The story unfolds in a way that paints a few possibilities... one is that this psychologist has lost her mind and is somehow responsible for a number of the strange occurrences taking place in the town. Another suggestion is that Alien beings who shaped early human civilization in ancient Sumaria are abducting people in Alaska. In the end it is up to the viewer to decide which is the case. If you are looking for a good "put the pieces of the puzzle together for yourself" type of movie... The Fourth Kind is probably worth the $6.50 ticket price, it is thought provoking and there are several good "jump out of your seat" type moments. If you're going to the theater in hopes of seeing an alien probe some some truck driver's anus on the side of a lonely Alaskan highway... skip it... because the only Anus getting probed will be your own - there is not one single "Alien" depicted in any way shape or form in the entire 98 minutes of the film. __________________ Last edited by GoldenRivet; 11-29-09 at 09:32 PM.

11-29-09, 09:25 PM	#2
ivank The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Huntington, Long Island, New York Posts: 1,426 Downloads: 284 Uploads: 0	pretty cools, maybe i see it EDIT: ONLY $6.50?! On Long Island it is between $10.00 and $11.50. __________________ Head of The Surface Warfare Super-Mod Team Leutnant z. S. David U. Ziegler U-105 IXB On Patrol 1

11-29-09, 09:38 PM	#4
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	We never go to movies any more. Even the matinee's cost like $10 here. Everything is rediculously expensive in Connecticut and prices have skyrocketed these past 8 years or so especially. It used to be that we could see a matinee for $8 here. __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"

11-29-09, 09:39 PM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	It sounds better than 2012 which I made the mistake of viewing today. If you enjoy watching aircraft take off while the runway crumbles out from underneath them, than 2012 is the movie for you. Frankly, as a pilot GR you'd probably find the liberties it takes with aviation amusing. Not mention what it does with science.

11-30-09, 04:43 AM	#9
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Well, the science in 2012 is pure rubbish too, although the special effects are spectacular. However, at times they overstay their welcome as well. This movie like The Day After Tomorrow and Spielberg's World of the Worlds seems to follow the same tired and cliched plot line of recent years, where the absent or failing father warmly re-bonds with his kids while billions die in the background. Awww. The funniest part of the movie is when they are bemoaning the incoming tidal wave, "1500 meters" high... and when it does finally arrive, it nearly covers Mt. Everest, which is almost 9000 meters high.