Obscure Movie of the Week #1 -- Memento

[MegaMrfuckyou]

ive jst saw it today, and im mind blown, ive only seen nolans batman an thought they where so good, but this totally over my expectatives

[stolenturtle]

@MegaMrfuckyou It's incredible! I just saw Nolan's newest flick, "Inception". One of the best movies of the year so far. I HIGHLY recommend. Ten times better than Memento if it's even possible.

[MegaMrfuckyou]

ive seen it yesterday, can even think if that was a phsycological thriller, its something just soo different to anything else

[procritic09]

@stolenturtle I saw Memento and Inception but i'm not sure which one i prefer. I think i'm leaning towards Memento, but i'll need to see them both again.

[Skaijo]

I loved this movie, I heard about it randomly on a VHS recap of the decade just before New Years and remembered when I was really young hearing a trailer for the same movie--but I was too young to watch it then. I finally got the chance and it really was a fun ride. My head literally started to hurt half way through in the best of ways.

[kaash83]

Memento is actually a cult classic. It's one of the most popular movie made by Christopher Nolan. As a matter of fact, until Dark Knight came out, it was the most popular movie by Nolan. An absolute masterpiece. Eight years after watching it, it still fascinates me to core, and there are a few questions which I still am unable to answer.

[stolenturtle]

I completely agree. Such an utterly enthralling piece of cinema. Would that I could write like that. I would love to be there some day...

[kaash83]

Watch "Following." It's also by Christopher Nolan. In fact, it was his debut movie, and it was a really low-budget one too. One would say, it was actually a blueprint for his take on Memento, which he made about two years later.

[stolenturtle]

Thanks for the tip! I just put this one in my Netflix queue. =)

[rdub1050]

exactly right, remember he has conditioned himself to "learn through reptition" that sammy killed his own wife.

[eleven38]

try the secret option on dvd to watch it in chronilogical order.

the entire movie plays in reverse, starts with end titles etc

unique way to view it. a must for fans of this movie :)

[stolenturtle]

I'll have to try that out! Thanks!

[pscomics]

Not sure Memento fits in the obscure category. It was a big deal to me. I discovered Chris Nolan's work through that film. Genius.

Same thing goes for Strange Days. One of my favorites.

Here's something for you movie buffs. "The Treasure of Sierra Madre," starring Humphrey Bogart. I've seen several of Bogey's films, and they've all been great.

Another good one is "Last Night," starring Sandra Oh.

[stolenturtle]

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe I'll check them out! =)

[pscomics]

No problem. Actually, I think we're in a pretty good period for both film and television. There are so many good dramas out there ...

[TheLMack]

If you like this movie, it is definitely worth it to buy the special edition. There is an "easter egg" which allows you to watch the movie in chronological order. I just got done watching it forwards, it clears a lot of things up, but it still leaves you with questions. "The best puzzles are the ones missing a couple of pieces."

[stolenturtle]

Oh cool! I didn't know this. I might go pick that version up soon!

[sarasf78]

remember natalie made sure lenny had no pen to take notes after he stomps her .she is evil

[stolenturtle]

Oh, yes she was! Natalie was definitely a user. She preyed on Lenny's weakness for her own gain. As soon as I saw her for what she was, I hoped she'd get her just desserts in the end.

[jarell201]

if you play close attention theres a scene in black and white where it shows sammy in the asylum and someone walks past him and stare at sammy and for a split second sammy will change into leonard

[stolenturtle]

Oh, cool! I'll have to watch for that! Thanks for letting me know!

[ohworldgirl]

**Spoiler***

Memento is just a masterpiece in its own right.I recently saw it again a few months ago and realized for the 1st time that this guy killed his wife's attacker but he purposely allowed himself not 2 remember so that he could keep killing. What does anyone think of that?-let's talk about it b/c I used 2 watch the movie frequently &this time around,that was my impression.-And the hint his wife actually survived?

I also recommend seeing Christopher Nolan's other film called FOLLOWING -

[stolenturtle]

Yes, Memento is more of a "film" that a movie. It is definitely a great work of art. I remember the first time I saw it I was in complete awe. I knew when I saw it at the theater that I was going to buy the DVD. I love it when films are THAT good that I want to own it before it's even available.

This film has quite the cult following now. Anyone who hasn't seen it needs to go out and rent it now!

I'll have to check out C. Nolan's other flick. Thanks for posting!

[kaash83]

Don't mind..this is continued from my previous post. Remember his words almost at the end of the movie "You're a John G, so you can be my John G. Will I lie to myself to make myself happy? In your case Teddy....yes I will." Right there, he knows that "Teddy" didn't rape his wife, but he wants something to live for.Memories are flawed remember.He rememebers what he wants to remember.He ripped out the missing pages from the police report so he doesnt have to live with the guilt of killing his wife

[TheLMack]

How do we know that he killed his wife's attacker? It does seem pretty clear that he thinks he did. But we see that people keep using him to kill people by making him think that he is killing his wife's attacker. I'm not saying you're wrong, just curious why you think that. I have "Following" too very good, and also not in chronological order if I remember right.

[ohworldgirl]

Teddy actually holds up an old picture of Leonard smiling and says that that was the day he killed his wife's attacker. Ultimately - you're right, we don't know for sure, Teddy could have been lying about that picture. HMMM

[kaash83]

Well here's my take on. I've seen it and reviewed it so many times and still can't answer 1 or 2 questions, but Nolan said in his interview that all the answers are there, and if you look closely enough you will find it. This might be a "duh" for you but many people still don't know that Lenny is Sammy. Lenny killed his wife by overdosing her with insulin(accidentally of course) The story of Sam Jankis is his own story. He needs a purpose in life so he kills "John G" to avenge...continued

[bestlife08]

I loved Mememto! I had to watch it several times for it to all come together but yeah, its a great movie.

[stolenturtle]

Oh, yeah. You definitely have to watch it a few times to get it under your skin. I had to watch it two or three times to fully understand what was going on. It's kind of like "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" where every time you watch it, you pick up on something you hadn't noticed before. It's like a treasure trove of surprises. I just LOVE this movie!

[stolenturtle]

Thanks! I'm glad you like the movie reivew idea. I'll be posting a new one sometime next week.

Also, glad you like Memento. It's easily one of my favorite movies of all time. The LOTR triology being at the top of that list...

[KawaiiGaku]

Yes... Memento is a very strange movie. I've watched it a few times, and I'm sure I don't get everything that happened. It too was my first time seeing a movie backwards and before it started I was wondering what would keep me watching. Well, now I know. The characters are interesting, the plot makes you wonder what just happened and the way no one knows exactly whats correct in the movie. Anyway, I'll finish this by saying that your movie review idea is wonderful and continue with it.

[stolenturtle]

So very true about forgetting things and revisiting them later. My friends ask me why I buy tons of books and DVDs. Their thinking is, once I've read them or seen them, I don't need them anymore so why buy them?

It's refreshing to comb over my books and movies a few years later and come across one I haven't read/seen in a while. It's like opening a treasure box of memories. I get to live the adventure all over again. It's one of the few great pleasures in life...

[Pythia333]

Yes, it's definitely an obscure movie. When I first heard about it, I instantly wanted to see it...years passed since then and still - nobody I know has seen it. I liked it then, but having not seen it since...I REALLY forgot how good it was. It was refreshing then, and still is now.

Technically, I got to watch this thing 'for the first time' twice :) [Forgetting things is fun too!]