Instinct
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Movie Reviews of Instinct
Movie Review: "WHAT HAVE I TAKEN FROM YOU?"
Summary: 5 Stars
INSTINCT has all the components that a great movie should have in my opinion: an early hook, top knotch camera work/direction, a stellar cast, well developed characters and a nicely paced, interesting plot along with plenty of passion and emotion portrayed. INSTINCT gives the viewer bite-sized, puzzle pieces which can be interpreted different ways. The viewer can think and also absorb the information given but can't predict the outcome. INSTINCT ties the story together beautifully with many twists and turns and an interesting, unexpected ending. I personally enjoy a movie which doesn't end sappy but instead, ends with Hope. Kudos to who casted this movie! Dr. Theo Caulder's Desire and Drive so amply played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. is skillfully contrasted with Dr. Ethan Powell's (Hopkins) deep, dark secrets. What a duo they make--they have Chemistry--the magic so rarely seen on the screen. I was thinking near the beginning of the movie that there was no way that Hopkins could top his performance in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS but he did. He's one of my favorite actors of all time. He makes his characters real and him playing Dr. Ethan Powell is no exception. I've never seen a movie with him in it that I didn't like. And what can I say? Cuba Gooding, Jr. nailed his part. I can't think of anyone who was more suitable to play Theo. Casting is so important! Donald Sutherland plays the mentor/boss of Theo (Gooding, Jr.); I'm so impressed with every word he spoke and how he said it--he's a seasoned, polished actor. Maura Tierney, who plays the daughter of Dr. Ethan Powell (Hopkins) portrayed both longing and love as well as strength, patience and acceptance.
BOTTOM LINE: INSTINCT is a tantalizing, thought-provoking film with much to offer the viewer. If you are a fan of Hopkins, Gooding or Sutherland and/or like psychological thrillers with powerful, emotional intensity and a lesson to learn, buy this. I rate this a 9/10.
Watch the movie to get the compelling answer to the question in the title and take many ideas with you to ponder.
Movie Review: Are You Free?
Summary: 5 Stars
Instinct is simply the most under-rated movie of all time. Hopkins and Gooding gave us great performances that were backed up by the talented supporting cast of Maura Tierney, Donald Sutherland, John Ashton, George Dzundza, and Doug Spinuzza. It's too bad that most people who watch Instinct really don't understand the message, because it is one of the most important messages of all time. The message is that humans need to stop acting like we are gods, and give up the delusion that we are the masters of the universe.
How can such an awful film like Fargo gets praised left and right as one of the best, while this incredible masterpiece called Instinct goes unnoticed? Don't know? They are called CRITICS. Critics are generally people who have seen so many films, that they are burnt out, and try to analyze films in ways they never did when they truly enjoyed movies. They tend to develop a distaste for entertaining movies, and a taste for bizarre or boring films. Once some of the top critics blasted Instinct, it didn't have a chance. The domino effect took over, and a movie that I thought was destined to be hailed as one of the best, was very quickly stomped into obscurity.
How can this movie be so often described as derivative by the exact same people who praise one of the most derivative movies of all time, called The Shawshank Redemption? Watch Shawshank right after watching Escape from Alcatraz, and you should see what I mean. Was it King, or was it a writer for Shawshank the movie that stole those ideas and scenes? I don't know.
We all have opinions, and mine aren't any better than yours; but when a movie that has the entertainment, acting, writing, and messages of the caliber that Instinct does, can be successfully portrayed by the so-called experts as a horrible film, then you know something screwy is going on. Just watch this masterpiece, and do it with an open mind. From the words of Ethan Powell, played by Anthony Hopkins: `Are you free?' Not many of us are.
Movie Review: Teacher Seeks Pupil
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people discount this movie, simply because they don't fully understand it. The theory behind the "Takers" and "Leavers" is never fully defined, so it's a small percent who were truly able to grasp the power of this film. The movie was inspired by Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael," which is a wonderfully enlightening, mind-altering novel. If Instinct accomplished nothing else, it showed Ishmael in its opening credits, thereby making it known to more readers. Viewers are better able to appreciate the movie if they have read Quinn's work. While making the movie, I think the producers assumed that viewers would have some idea of Quinn, but this is not the case. I reccomend Quinn's books to anyone, regardless of what they thought of this movie. Quinn aside, this is still an excellent movie. The combination of Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr is fantastic; Hopkins is arguably the best actor of our time and Gooding seems destined for greatness. Some have said that this is one of Hopkins' worst performances, but this isn't so. A major misconception is that the focus of this movie is on Hopkins' Ethan Powell. The story is really that of Gooding's Theo Caulder. Like in Ishmael, there is a teacher and a pupil. Hopkins takes the role of the teacher, and Gooding is in the role of pupil. Both actors perform quite well in these roles. What I wonder is if either actor has read Ishmael. I would hope so, but I also hope that everyone else in the world would too. Ok, this is just my stupid 17 y.o. rant, I know it's too long, and I'll stop now. :)Movie Review: See the Movie - then read some of the fear and ignorance here!
Summary: 5 Stars
HA! Great movie, plot, performances and insights! Gotta see this one, at least once, for experiencing a truly under-rated masterpiece. My main reason for writing is the inane comments here and fear with reality that pervades our society. Those who can't, don't or won't appreciate (at least) the marvelous, insightful messages here are possibly the very ones that assure nothing will ever change much . Scary to shed light on bare essence of humanity's inhumanity and its inability to rise above the systematic base obsessions of power, control and coveting; whether rationalized with all the reasons that endorse continuing to man's lower instincts or from fear of looking beyond the security of ignorance. It is amazing that the natural order of things may be better balanced and have a wisdom beyond anything man may attain, as he seeks to control nature and fellow man while failing miserably at controlling himself, even with all his knowledge and tech, to a point equal or beyond the inherent natural wisdom of (so called)lower species.
Have some fun and enjoy this movie. It is powerful and as perfect as it gets in addressing very intriguing human societal conundrums while offering quality performances from a great cast on numerous levels. As a species, we have come so far and grown so little! This movie will make you (oh-oh) think and feel about subliminal and covert topics o human nature that are rarely put well in words or illustrated in today's world.
Movie Review: Instinct
Summary: 5 Stars
Nearly two years after having gone amiss in Africa, renowned anthropologist Dr. Ethan Powell is caught committing a crime and subsequently imprisoned in a Florida mental institution, where aspiring psychiatrist Dr. Theo Calder takes over his important case. Dr. Powell, who has been with a group of gorillas during all that time, is not talking at all and seems to be living in a dreamworld. Very slowly, Dr. Calder manages to reach Ethan Powell and starts finding out why Ethan killed two of the poachers. Yet Theo's case is not just about why the murders have happened, but also about how Dr. Powell became the being he is in the first place. With Ethan's silence broken, Theo is introduced into a world beyond common human comprehension: The true nature of being. He learns that mankind's control of everything is a mere illusion and that the true values of existence can't be found so easily. Ethan changes Theo's view of things forever. The strengths in this movie are numerous but it starts with the performances. Hopkins is quietly brilliant as the emotionally traumatized and scarred former anthropologist. You can feel his pain even before he tells what it is that is eating away inside of him. Cuba Gooding is great as the doctor that goes on a journey with Ethan Powell. I really enjoyed this movie. It will take away your illusions. Highly recommended.