Afternoon double feature part 2: What kind of feeling does Into the Storm leave you with?

[Left: Richard Armitage as Gary Fuller in Into the Storm.]

Musings after viewing 5 this afternoon, after my initial review based on two viewings, and further remarks for next two viewings.

Now that I’m less focused on particular issues that are on my mind — things like the accent, and Armitage’s acting, and the way the characters interact, and the CGI, and the storm, and whether or not the film is good, and so on, I was thinking I should ask myself at least once: what is the general feeling I get from the film?

What’s the “whole picture” impression?

My feeling’s been positive every time, of course, but the question is about the components of that feeling. Like last time, I felt that the audience I saw it with influenced my mood. Tonight the theater was full (they seem to be giving it more, smaller screens than last week), and boy, were those folks having a good time. They laughed through the dialogue, oohed and aahed at the storm, and cursed and gasped at the plot twists and special effects. Someone even clapped when Pete’s viewscreen went dead. And there was loud laughter at Reevis and Donk’s closing scene. People jumped out of their seats at the end.

I don’t know that’s my whole picture impression. I was thinking today that there are three scenes that really mean a lot to me and that I’d like to see again, with time to think. First, the scene where Gary rescues Donnie; second, the scene where Gary gives Trey back his knife; and finally, the scene where all three of them are standing together for a time capsule interview. (This marks me as more of a sentimentalist than I am in real life, I suspect.) So if I look at it from that perspective, I guess it’s a film that gives me mainly positive feelings about the testing and then the repair of the Fuller family’s core relationships. Some of that gets mixed in with the colossal feeling of relief that falls upon me at the end.

Unsurprisingly, I’m relieved, at the end, not only that they learn to communicate, but more simply that they all survive (as are they). The huge “Americans will not lose their faith” sequence of trudging through the ruins notwithstanding (we know that’s not how it works) — and I accept that kind of scene as the price of this being a U.S. film, but get nothing from it emotionally — the realization that the storm is over and I can relax my shoulders is huge. If catharsis is partly physical, I get that element of it in spades from this story. I breathe out in relief and smile because it’s over (in a good way).

So what’s your “big picture” feeling after seeing the film?

And in case you’re asking — when will she stop watching this film? Can there be much more to say? No doubt, but I’m not sure what it is, yet. No worries in any case; this is probably the last time I will have the opportunity to see this movie in the theater.

Servetus’ contribution to Into the Storm gross receipts: $39 for three cheap tickets, two regular price tickets, and two service fees. I will certainly buy the DVD when it appears; it’s currently being listed for $21.98 with no release date scheduled.

~ by Servetus on August 20, 2014.