This movie requires a completely open mind to thoroughly enjoy. At no point was I thinking negatively about it or the characters. I actually felt very sad because the two main characters were truly lost souls brought together because an absolutely horribly traumatic experience. I think the movie has a universal message to it as there isn't a human being on Earth who doesnt question what happens when we die. And since none of us really know for sure; in a way, we are all lost souls, even if we're not sure we even have a soul.
You ever wonder how monks light themselves on fire.. burning alive and remaining calm? It's like they were already elsewhere before they even died. What if like our souls are like the Internet and we connect to these biological computer bodies.
Yeah the film almost baits the audience to hate the self-harming junkie decisions of the main characters, then spends a lot of the next two hours showing you the trauma that got them to where they are.
The Domestic Hadouken Haha, I did exactly the same man - the whole film played out in my head as if it was me going through it. During the long shot when he's 'fading out' after being shot by the cops, I had to pause it for a minute as it was too intense haha.
It's an experience more than it is a "film" in the traditional sense. Don't expect to take much from it; there's very little to assess--but you will think about it years down the line.
Yeah I don’t know what to make of this contradictive sentence. I think it’s one of Noe’s most thought provoking films because of the amount of reflection the character has in it
the reason the dmt experience and his astrol projection experience are so similiar in nature is because DMT is supposed to be released in the brain at death causing the experience of astral projection and people say that dmt is the chemical that bridges awareness to individuality/cycle of reincarnation... basically, the director was saying very clearly, by his repeated use of DMT that he thinks dmt is the bridge to the spirit world. pretty intense its aim way to present a potentiality for our existence, with relation to the tibetan book of the dead aswell its linked in to spirituality strongly.. just because you dont understand it dont dismiss it as having no point, its got a clear message.
Yeah so i watched the extended version whilst tripping. Couldn't tell if it was 5 mins or 5 years long. Couldn't tell what was real.. What is real? I just sat in silence for an hour after not saying a word. Not recommended for a "happy" trip.
i think that the lack of a philosophical takeaway that kermode seems frustrated by (around 4:30) is actually intentional on Noe´s part. I think THAT is the void that the title makes reference to.
That's pretty much what happens in all of the director's films. His films are horribly uncomfortable but I just cannot stop watching. It's brutal, but very well directed.
I understand what he means about the film not "adding up to much". It seems to be that way with a lot of his films. You can try to think about it and explore the layers of the film deeper, but I think even Gaspar Noe has mentioned that the entire spirit journey that takes up the majority of the film can be seen as one long trip that Oscar's character is experiencing due to the DMT he takes at the start. That being said, It really is unique and currently my favourite film, the cinematography is brilliant, the opening titles are very impressive, Noe has a tendency for both of these things. I also agree that it blurs the line between exploitation film and art film. But like any work of art it can be interpreted in any way the viewer wishes to understand it. The thing with Gaspar Noe is that he seems to focus a lot more on the journey that the film takes you on rather than having a great plot. Irreversible (another Noe film) is essentially about someone trying to get revenge over a rape that occurs. Not that brilliant, in terms of plot. But because it's very graphic and shot in unique ways (including the fact that the events of the film are shown in reverse chronological order), it's an interesting film. I compare it to Memento or Pulp Fiction. For example, if films such as Irreversible and Pulp Fiction were shown in the chronological, linear order, it would never have been thought of as a great or innovative film. The order of events and the use of touching on controversial subject matter (for example, rape in both Irreversible and Pulp Fiction, or the excess of violence, sex, drugs, etc as seen in both films and Enter the Void) is what made these kind of films get the attention they did, and still do. I want to love Irreversible, but in terms of plot, and the rape scene itself it is difficult to really enjoy it. But it's not meant to be enjoyed. It's meant to create an emotional response, a reaction, and provoke thought, all of which it did to me. It's a great film, but I prefer Enter the Void. Gaspar Noe is an underrated artistic and unique director, but of course everyone has their weak points, and his is plot.This still doesn't change Enter the Void being my favourite film right now. I've never seen another film like it.
I think with irreversible, he just watched memento while on acid, & thought, lets do this same plot, with dicks, gay club, sodomy,voilence, exploitation, along with bombarding audience with visual & auditory overload
this movie it the terible truth of how easy it is for someone to destroy his life without even realising it. it is also shows how bad situations when we are child can affect owr personality and life . for me it was teribly acurate. in this movie i "saw" many people i know.a very shoking movie. not an easy watch.makes you think about life , desicions , morality .
isidboy tz such an eerie film, it is an actual artistic masterpiece but at the same time the plot is very dull and yes it doesn't add up, I would say death is somewhat like the film but you don't get the POV like this movie
+Luvie1980 I know what you mean. I'm a guy and am probably gunna recieve flack for this simply for other's Immaturity and inability to free themselves from judging others. That being said, I saw it and although it did do its part in being erotic, it was actually quite beautiful. It forcefully makes the viewer travel through a Rollercoaster of emotions. Like Enter the Void it is beautifully shot and edited. Although some of the dialog is pretty 'roll your eyes' at times the entire film as a whole imo is more artful than Enter the void. This film takes the human body of both sexes and displays them as art for what should be. The story is pretty interesting to say the least. I doubt I would watch it again but it was definitely worth viewing.
MyNameIsGhost does it have any substance though, my friend? I am going to download and watch it just so I've got the set but I've got to admit my expectations are nowhere near as high as when I saw Enter or I Stand Alone.
I don't understand people who hate this movie. Its not your average Hollywood flick, so you shouldn't judge it with your "family friendly action/ historical drama/superhero movie" glasses on.
this guy deserves commendation for trying, to the point of exasperation, to explain a gaspar noë film. it's a futile but valiant effort tho cos his films are just totally different beasts so it's hard but not useless to compare his work to other directors because it's obvious that while he has their discipline they lack his audacity and fearlessness and (in a way) his sense of awe... loved the film by the way, i shall never forget it... :D
Watched it sober in the cinema and loved it. Got the Blu-ray now, saving it until I can watch it out of my face with a couple of friends. Will probably love it even more after that. Life is a journey.
finally tried dmt for myself. the first thing i saw that absolutely blew my mind....toroidal vortex emanating from EVERYTHING! and i instantly understood how everything is connected. and how everything breathes in and out and experiences time in one direction. everything...is...an expression of this toroidal vortex interacting with itself. this made so much sense during the trip. it was like god finally showed itself....and said "here look at this....this is everything". beautiful substance this dmt is.
Amazing. I have dropped 5 tabs while watching in order The Matrix, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Enter the Void, Waking Life, and The Good The Bad and The Ugly. I highly recommend this LSD playlist
I did not have the same negative empty experience. It’s very very grimy and gross and overwhelming and upsetting but there’s an unbelievable display of beauty as well. And I think the beauty comes from that it’s just about life. Horrible people, pointless violence, degenerate drug use, degenerate sex, abuse, manipulation, I could go on. Thats what being alive is man. You can certainly live by just going to college getting into a nice relationship and getting a job and a family but the gross stuff that we’re supposed to avoid and not talk about or look at are a crucial part of the human experience.
Well one of the things I think you have to consider is maybe some of the stuff you would consider "obvious" such as observing the adverse affects of drugs. When you watch the movie, you get to observe in great detail all of the different kinds of ways drugs influenced many different facets of the characters lives.
Spot on MArk! Well rounded & articulate review. I like how u made sure to point out many (all) of the positive aspects that Noe achieved (I totally agree its visual stunning) etc. thru majority of review. An then gracefully concluded that its overlong, pretentious, and gets ruined by Noe's excessive indulgence/complete lack of purpose. If it had been like 70-90 minutes, it could have totally worked.
I really wish there was a "behind the scenes" of this movie to see how this thing was put together. For instance the crazy fly over shots and transitions. Did they use cranes, drones, etc? I just think if they came out with another 4k/8k version with commentary track(s) and behind the scenes extras they could re-sell this no problem!
It spent like 2 years in post. I think all of the flyovers were done with miniatures, which is insane. I read something that said there was a lot of care taken into the layout of the streets and roads to make it the exact same as where they shot. There's not a lot of info but what there is makes it sound totally crazy.
I just gotta say, if you've watched this movie, and want to show it to other people you think might like it, you need to know this is one of those films that you have to give a little bit of an explanation to make sure their expectations aren't way off. Unfortunately, even if a movie is good, if it varies too much from the audience's expectations, some people might (without realizing it) equate that to the film being bad or them not liking it. You wouldn't have to spoil anything either, I gave my dad some background and didn't even spoil the inciting incident (the gunshot) because when I watched it the first time, it took me completely by surprise and didn't expect that kind of left turn in the first act. Just make sure your friends know that there's essentially no story and that it's more of an experience. That things do happen in a sequential order and, from what I remember, everything still is fairly understandable. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, or rather, sit back and Enter the Void.
Does anyone commenting actually know what the Tibetan Book of the Dead is about? Or used for? It really doesn't seem like it. This movie takes one step by step through the 3 stages of Bardos after death. It does so incredibly well. The book has traditionally been read to souls after death, to help them navigate the Bardos and achieve Liberation and break the cycle of rebirth. Even so far as to say, that when, one fails to achieve Liberation, which Oscar does, one is given the choice of a suitable womb to inhabit, thus leading into the last scene of the movie we see his soul in the hotel/Bothel trying to find his sister, so he can always be with her. Truly amazing film.
how is anyone supposed to know any of that at all?, the film would actually be good and amazing if they had mentioned some of that in the 2.5 hours instead of just giving beautiful cinematography
@moeezS The substance is in the style. The execution of the narrative is unlike anything seen in film. The star of the film is the cinematography, audio/visual sensory experience and the feeling of dread throughout the film. The story itself isn't of much substance...drug dealers life goes wrong. It's more the feeling it evokes from its audience. It's one of those films that isn't seen but 'experienced'.
I just saw it now, and I liked it. I think it's very inventive, psychedelic and disturbing especially towards the end, but it really seemed very overstuffed, repetitive and far too long. In a way, a good film, could have been a lot better.
Enter the Void is a truly great film and it's funny to see any reviewer trying to tie it down. I can't blame Kermode for being flummoxed but over time I suspect he and most critics will reassess the film because I think the impact of Enter the Void will be felt across the whole of cinema. I find much of modern cinema either too dumb or too much like television. Noe is one of the few great artists of the cinema still at his creative peak and I hope that everyone sees this film for themselves.
Elliot Smith I recall being iin the womb, and a voice, I presume the spirit asking me questions like, do u want to be male female or male, u would have to answer quickly otherwise it would be chosen for u, I remember been spoken to right up to the birth.its beatifull in the womb
@RockBottomRiser21 Being entirely visceral doesn't quite cut it. Transformers 2 was entirely visceral and both films take you on a journey where your input or cognition isn't really necessary. Only difference is that Enter the Void makes higher demands on the average viewer's patience (although I'd argue differently)
Noe is a visual artist who makes movies. Too many film buffs think that a great movie needs to intellectually move them and ultimately leads to absurd over analysis. I’m glad that Mark didn’t fall into that trap but still a great movie can be an emotionally intense and provocative experience without a deeper meaning.
I'm not saying that you need to experiment with psychadelics to 'get' Gasper's films, but I will say that having an understand of the frame of mind that the drugs create can help you get a grip of the films a bit more. There's not a lot hidden under the surface of his films - he understands that film is a visual medium.
@RockBottomRiser21 Although, I definitely think it helps if you have an appreciation for electronic music since it has the same kind of non-verbal impact that cuts straight past the cognitive bits in your brain. But the film just felt a little shallow for my tastes. I wish it could have been more Boards of Canada and less forceful drone.
If this film is akin to putting your head into a machine that makes candy floss, it makes a welcome change from watching every single modern Hollywood film that is akin to putting your head into a bulls arse. Brilliant film, still thinking about it days afterwards.
@Simeon Banner , Gaspar Noe is not french, he's Argentinean and grew up in there. And by the way, BladeRunner's art was mostly designed by a french team. And Gaspar Now and Danny Boyle know each other quite well.
Love the visuals and the idea the movie is very hard to watch and casper noe really wants to offend people it seems but nonetheless it bothers me that people just hate on it because its not the kind of movie thats supposed to be just entertaining its more like a trip than movie too be honest and to be frank maybe all the people hating it and being disturbed is exactly what it was supposed to do xD this movie had an effect on people its not just like any other genre film which will be forgotten when the next on drops this movie was original and nobody can say anything against that (well you can but by those standards nothing in our current day culture is original) you may want this movie to be something different but it is what it is and by being itself and different it is way more ART than most other movies
@simonh505 did you watch it on DVD or on a Cinema screen. I saw the first cut in cannes on a huge screen and it really made all the difference. You really need to have the light from the film blinding the room and the sound to be booming through your seat. It's a roller coaster of a movie, so it needs to be seen on a theme park scale.
For me this movie was a brilliant effort to captivate the possibilities of what afterlife could be and to combine this with a truly great work of storytelling was absolutely compelling and truly shows what a great visionary Gaspar Noe is.
For me the movie was lacking in depth, no one will disagree the camera work is remarkable, but it doesn't engage with death in a very interesting way... It takes the basic premise from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and present it as complete truth, it doesn't open up a conversation with the viewer, it simply sits you down and monologues at you. EDIT - Re-reading my comment makes it look like I really dislike it. I didn't, in fact I thoroughly enjoyed it, I just wanted a bit more. At the very least it's nice to see a movie focused on drugs that isn't nihilistic.
people really!, you gasper noe fanboys stop trying to make it seem that this movie is more than a visual fest...it reminds me pretty much of gravity in the sense that the bring up these subject of life and death and spirit, but at the end of the day they are a visual fest
Of course there's a lot of sex scenes, because Enter the Void is about sex. Plain and simple. It makes you think about the motives, emotions, and implications of sex in a way most people hardly ever do.
It's so annoying when I am trying to have a discussion with someone about the meanings of those films (particularly ETV!) and they just reply with "i dunno, i just watch it while i'm high" I have nothing against drug use, but it annoys me how people only appreciate these movies superficially. That "pretentious druggy" attitude is so true
Gasper Noe will be attaching cameras to Mark's hands for his next project
ahahahhahahaha
This movie requires a completely open mind to thoroughly enjoy. At no point was I thinking negatively about it or the characters. I actually felt very sad because the two main characters were truly lost souls brought together because an absolutely horribly traumatic experience. I think the movie has a universal message to it as there isn't a human being on Earth who doesnt question what happens when we die. And since none of us really know for sure; in a way, we are all lost souls, even if we're not sure we even have a soul.
You ever wonder how monks light themselves on fire.. burning alive and remaining calm? It's like they were already elsewhere before they even died. What if like our souls are like the Internet and we connect to these biological computer bodies.
l try to watch again this movie l dont undresend anyging lm searbian lm little bit soeak english
Not really it’s a dope movie
Yeah the film almost baits the audience to hate the self-harming junkie decisions of the main characters, then spends a lot of the next two hours showing you the trauma that got them to where they are.
Iseekknowledge - Yeap, exactly that!
If you watched this film while you were high and you didn't get utterly mindfucked, you were smoking a cabbage mate
Ikr, when I saw this high and started to imagine myself dying and all that, ugg too deep, too dark
The Domestic Hadouken Haha, I did exactly the same man - the whole film played out in my head as if it was me going through it. During the long shot when he's 'fading out' after being shot by the cops, I had to pause it for a minute as it was too intense haha.
I watched this on the come down of two green euros and four cones and I can honestly say I couldn't look at myself the same way
modern masterpiece!!
yo i felt weird when I watched it super high
this guy takes talking with hands to a whole new level
hahahahahahahah....true
Gasper Noe will be attaching cameras to Mark's hands for his next project
It's an experience more than it is a "film" in the traditional sense. Don't expect to take much from it; there's very little to assess--but you will think about it years down the line.
That reads contradictive.
Yeah I don’t know what to make of this contradictive sentence. I think it’s one of Noe’s most thought provoking films because of the amount of reflection the character has in it
This misunderstood film holds far more meaning than some cliched and predictable film about love
ironically this was before noe's 'love', as complete opposite of predictable that it is.
Please enlighten us Sam.
@@AnthonyMonaghanlove the profile pic
what mark is describing is basically every psychedelic experience, after the come down you just go oh okay
the reason the dmt experience and his astrol projection experience are so similiar in nature is because DMT is supposed to be released in the brain at death causing the experience of astral projection and people say that dmt is the chemical that bridges awareness to individuality/cycle of reincarnation...
basically, the director was saying very clearly, by his repeated use of DMT that he thinks dmt is the bridge to the spirit world. pretty intense
its aim way to present a potentiality for our existence, with relation to the tibetan book of the dead aswell its linked in to spirituality strongly.. just because you dont understand it dont dismiss it as having no point, its got a clear message.
this movie really felt like an acid trip
Nah more serious than acid
If you took 2000 tabs
I saw it on acid..and it wa smy first time doing acid...and i was alone...YEA like that like that.
Mushrooms, actually
Yeah so i watched the extended version whilst tripping. Couldn't tell if it was 5 mins or 5 years long. Couldn't tell what was real.. What is real? I just sat in silence for an hour after not saying a word. Not recommended for a "happy" trip.
i think that the lack of a philosophical takeaway that kermode seems frustrated by (around 4:30) is actually intentional on Noe´s part. I think THAT is the void that the title makes reference to.
That's pretty much what happens in all of the director's films. His films are horribly uncomfortable but I just cannot stop watching. It's brutal, but very well directed.
Irreversible is one of my favorite movies but only have seen it twice
I understand what he means about the film not "adding up to much". It seems to be that way with a lot of his films. You can try to think about it and explore the layers of the film deeper, but I think even Gaspar Noe has mentioned that the entire spirit journey that takes up the majority of the film can be seen as one long trip that Oscar's character is experiencing due to the DMT he takes at the start. That being said, It really is unique and currently my favourite film, the cinematography is brilliant, the opening titles are very impressive, Noe has a tendency for both of these things. I also agree that it blurs the line between exploitation film and art film. But like any work of art it can be interpreted in any way the viewer wishes to understand it. The thing with Gaspar Noe is that he seems to focus a lot more on the journey that the film takes you on rather than having a great plot. Irreversible (another Noe film) is essentially about someone trying to get revenge over a rape that occurs. Not that brilliant, in terms of plot. But because it's very graphic and shot in unique ways (including the fact that the events of the film are shown in reverse chronological order), it's an interesting film. I compare it to Memento or Pulp Fiction. For example, if films such as Irreversible and Pulp Fiction were shown in the chronological, linear order, it would never have been thought of as a great or innovative film. The order of events and the use of touching on controversial subject matter (for example, rape in both Irreversible and Pulp Fiction, or the excess of violence, sex, drugs, etc as seen in both films and Enter the Void) is what made these kind of films get the attention they did, and still do.
I want to love Irreversible, but in terms of plot, and the rape scene itself it is difficult to really enjoy it. But it's not meant to be enjoyed. It's meant to create an emotional response, a reaction, and provoke thought, all of which it did to me. It's a great film, but I prefer Enter the Void. Gaspar Noe is an underrated artistic and unique director, but of course everyone has their weak points, and his is plot.This still doesn't change Enter the Void being my favourite film right now. I've never seen another film like it.
nah he just made DMT look bad
I think with irreversible, he just watched memento while on acid, & thought, lets do this same plot, with dicks, gay club, sodomy,voilence, exploitation, along with bombarding audience with visual & auditory overload
Watch, The sweet hereafter, then watch Sling blade, and then The killing of a sacred deer, and then tell me which one is your favorite.
Best movie to watch high ever
this movie it the terible truth of how easy it is for someone to destroy his life without even realising it. it is also shows how bad situations when we are child can affect owr personality and life . for me it was teribly acurate. in this movie i "saw" many people i know.a very shoking movie. not an easy watch.makes you think about life , desicions , morality .
isidboy tz such an eerie film, it is an actual artistic masterpiece but at the same time the plot is very dull and yes it doesn't add up, I would say death is somewhat like the film but you don't get the POV like this movie
Mark is the best movie reviewer on this Earth. End of.
I would love to see how this movie was shot
and alas, the 3d sex movie is here.
Bailey Holden I know. I would like to see it. And I am not a pervert. I admire Gaspar Noe.
+Luvie1980 I know what you mean. I'm a guy and am probably gunna recieve flack for this simply for other's Immaturity and inability to free themselves from judging others. That being said, I saw it and although it did do its part in being erotic, it was actually quite beautiful. It forcefully makes the viewer travel through a Rollercoaster of emotions. Like Enter the Void it is beautifully shot and edited. Although some of the dialog is pretty 'roll your eyes' at times the entire film as a whole imo is more artful than Enter the void. This film takes the human body of both sexes and displays them as art for what should be. The story is pretty interesting to say the least. I doubt I would watch it again but it was definitely worth viewing.
MyNameIsGhost does it have any substance though, my friend? I am going to download and watch it just so I've got the set but I've got to admit my expectations are nowhere near as high as when I saw Enter or I Stand Alone.
I don't understand people who hate this movie. Its not your average Hollywood flick, so you shouldn't judge it with your "family friendly action/ historical drama/superhero movie" glasses on.
Ive seen it 3 times, and every time it rips my insides out. Amazing film
this guy deserves commendation for trying, to the point of exasperation, to explain a gaspar noë film. it's a futile but valiant effort tho cos his films are just totally different beasts so it's hard but not useless to compare his work to other directors because it's obvious that while he has their discipline they lack his audacity and fearlessness and (in a way) his sense of awe... loved the film by the way, i shall never forget it... :D
Watched it sober in the cinema and loved it. Got the Blu-ray now, saving it until I can watch it out of my face with a couple of friends. Will probably love it even more after that.
Life is a journey.
finally tried dmt for myself. the first thing i saw that absolutely blew my mind....toroidal vortex emanating from EVERYTHING! and i instantly understood how everything is connected. and how everything breathes in and out and experiences time in one direction. everything...is...an expression of this toroidal vortex interacting with itself. this made so much sense during the trip. it was like god finally showed itself....and said "here look at this....this is everything". beautiful substance this dmt is.
This is the best description of my memory of this movie I've heard. describes it perfectly.
Watched this on lsd, some experience
how'd it go for you?
Amazing. I have dropped 5 tabs while watching in order The Matrix, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Enter the Void, Waking Life, and The Good The Bad and The Ugly. I highly recommend this LSD playlist
Maroplume No one said they don’t appreciate these films for what they are. People just enjoy watching films on acid. Relax man.
Maroplume it’s a film based on DMT. Also why is it gay?
Maroplume Let people be people. Stop using gay as an insult.
I did not have the same negative empty experience. It’s very very grimy and gross and overwhelming and upsetting but there’s an unbelievable display of beauty as well. And I think the beauty comes from that it’s just about life. Horrible people, pointless violence, degenerate drug use, degenerate sex, abuse, manipulation, I could go on. Thats what being alive is man. You can certainly live by just going to college getting into a nice relationship and getting a job and a family but the gross stuff that we’re supposed to avoid and not talk about or look at are a crucial part of the human experience.
"its like putting your head in a machine that makes candy floss"
thats got to be the best way a non drug user describes a DMT trip
Well one of the things I think you have to consider is maybe some of the stuff you would consider "obvious" such as observing the adverse affects of drugs. When you watch the movie, you get to observe in great detail all of the different kinds of ways drugs influenced many different facets of the characters lives.
Spot on MArk! Well rounded & articulate review. I like how u made sure to point out many (all) of the positive aspects that Noe achieved (I totally agree its visual stunning) etc. thru majority of review. An then gracefully concluded that its overlong, pretentious, and gets ruined by Noe's excessive indulgence/complete lack of purpose. If it had been like 70-90 minutes, it could have totally worked.
I didn't expect most of the scenes, the movie is a whole trip. I loved every sec of this movie, the director did an amazing film.
Some films have the quality of changing life. This one did it for me.
It's a movie you should watch more than once. I have to watch it in chunks...agree it is way too long
I really wish there was a "behind the scenes" of this movie to see how this thing was put together. For instance the crazy fly over shots and transitions. Did they use cranes, drones, etc? I just think if they came out with another 4k/8k version with commentary track(s) and behind the scenes extras they could re-sell this no problem!
It spent like 2 years in post. I think all of the flyovers were done with miniatures, which is insane. I read something that said there was a lot of care taken into the layout of the streets and roads to make it the exact same as where they shot. There's not a lot of info but what there is makes it sound totally crazy.
I just gotta say, if you've watched this movie, and want to show it to other people you think might like it, you need to know this is one of those films that you have to give a little bit of an explanation to make sure their expectations aren't way off. Unfortunately, even if a movie is good, if it varies too much from the audience's expectations, some people might (without realizing it) equate that to the film being bad or them not liking it. You wouldn't have to spoil anything either, I gave my dad some background and didn't even spoil the inciting incident (the gunshot) because when I watched it the first time, it took me completely by surprise and didn't expect that kind of left turn in the first act.
Just make sure your friends know that there's essentially no story and that it's more of an experience. That things do happen in a sequential order and, from what I remember, everything still is fairly understandable. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, or rather, sit back and Enter the Void.
Watch it on good lsd or dxm, it'll be a life changing experience
Wilddoggz i did it lastnight and watched the movie and i see life totally different for some reason.
Max MT same, i honestly wish i had never watched
For real I just watched it on some good lsd and legit mind changed
I'm honestly kinda afraid to do so, how did it go for you guys?
Does anyone commenting actually know what the Tibetan Book of the Dead is about? Or used for? It really doesn't seem like it. This movie takes one step by step through the 3 stages of Bardos after death. It does so incredibly well. The book has traditionally been read to souls after death, to help them navigate the Bardos and achieve Liberation and break the cycle of rebirth. Even so far as to say, that when, one fails to achieve Liberation, which Oscar does, one is given the choice of a suitable womb to inhabit, thus leading into the last scene of the movie we see his soul in the hotel/Bothel trying to find his sister, so he can always be with her. Truly amazing film.
how is anyone supposed to know any of that at all?, the film would actually be good and amazing if they had mentioned some of that in the 2.5 hours instead of just giving beautiful cinematography
@@pokeman3804 I read the book, and if you do so, you will revisit this film with some deeper perspective.
@moeezS The substance is in the style. The execution of the narrative is unlike anything seen in film. The star of the film is the cinematography, audio/visual sensory experience and the feeling of dread throughout the film. The story itself isn't of much substance...drug dealers life goes wrong. It's more the feeling it evokes from its audience. It's one of those films that isn't seen but 'experienced'.
I just saw it now, and I liked it. I think it's very inventive, psychedelic and disturbing especially towards the end, but it really seemed very overstuffed, repetitive and far too long. In a way, a good film, could have been a lot better.
It sounds like life. Need to check it out. Thanks Mark.
Enter the Void is a truly great film and it's funny to see any reviewer trying to tie it down. I can't blame Kermode for being flummoxed but over time I suspect he and most critics will reassess the film because I think the impact of Enter the Void will be felt across the whole of cinema. I find much of modern cinema either too dumb or too much like television. Noe is one of the few great artists of the cinema still at his creative peak and I hope that everyone sees this film for themselves.
"it's a little bit like being art mugged"
I recall this happening to me, I remember my birth , this is exactly what occurs until you find the light.
More detail please?
Elliot Smith I recall being iin the womb, and a voice, I presume the spirit asking me questions like, do u want to be male female or male, u would have to answer quickly otherwise it would be chosen for u, I remember been spoken to right up to the birth.its beatifull in the womb
@@damiendavis1557 whoa
Approaching this on any intellectual level is futile.
It's an entirely emotive and visceral experience. No more, no less.
Exactly my thoughts. The way that he just brushes Buddhism with DMT as some sort of raw material for this unusual plot is quite poor.
@RockBottomRiser21
Being entirely visceral doesn't quite cut it. Transformers 2 was entirely visceral and both films take you on a journey where your input or cognition isn't really necessary. Only difference is that Enter the Void makes higher demands on the average viewer's patience (although I'd argue differently)
Noe is a visual artist who makes movies. Too many film buffs think that a great movie needs to intellectually move them and ultimately leads to absurd over analysis. I’m glad that Mark didn’t fall into that trap but still a great movie can be an emotionally intense and provocative experience without a deeper meaning.
I would have to say it's my favorite of Noé. All of his work seems to be about relationships. And perhaps it's his most philosophical.✔✔✔✔😎
watched it on e , 2cb and lovely bubble hash after clubbing,,looked beautiful.
Right on.
I'm not saying that you need to experiment with psychadelics to 'get' Gasper's films, but I will say that having an understand of the frame of mind that the drugs create can help you get a grip of the films a bit more. There's not a lot hidden under the surface of his films - he understands that film is a visual medium.
@RockBottomRiser21
Although, I definitely think it helps if you have an appreciation for electronic music since it has the same kind of non-verbal impact that cuts straight past the cognitive bits in your brain. But the film just felt a little shallow for my tastes. I wish it could have been more Boards of Canada and less forceful drone.
If this film is akin to putting your head into a machine that makes candy floss, it makes a welcome change from watching every single modern Hollywood film that is akin to putting your head into a bulls arse. Brilliant film, still thinking about it days afterwards.
If the plot was more complicated it wouldn't work.....
I've actually found ppl's comments here useful. Makes the film sound like a must watch. Will watch asap.
i love Mayo's zoned out stare at 3:14 as he tries to imagine a 3D erotic film
great review!
@Simeon Banner , Gaspar Noe is not french, he's Argentinean and grew up in there.
And by the way, BladeRunner's art was mostly designed by a french team.
And Gaspar Now and Danny Boyle know each other quite well.
took acid before the film. i never knew the name until i kept searching for it. good movie imo
emotional and visceral experiences can be communicated intellectually
No. Malick or Thomas Anderson is
Mark Kermode is a very nice film critic
Love the visuals and the idea
the movie is very hard to watch and casper noe really wants to offend people it seems but nonetheless it bothers me that people just hate on it
because its not the kind of movie thats supposed to be just entertaining its more like a trip than movie too be honest
and to be frank maybe all the people hating it and being disturbed is exactly what it was supposed to do xD this movie had an effect on people its not just like any other genre film which will be forgotten when the next on drops this movie was original and nobody can say anything against that (well you can but by those standards nothing in our current day culture is original)
you may want this movie to be something different but it is what it is and by being itself and different it is way more ART than most other movies
Gaspar, not Casper
Gaspar Noé is awesome.
@simonh505 did you watch it on DVD or on a Cinema screen. I saw the first cut in cannes on a huge screen and it really made all the difference. You really need to have the light from the film blinding the room and the sound to be booming through your seat. It's a roller coaster of a movie, so it needs to be seen on a theme park scale.
Mind blowing film
For me this movie was a brilliant effort to captivate the possibilities of what afterlife could be and to combine this with a truly great work of storytelling was absolutely compelling and truly shows what a great visionary Gaspar Noe is.
this movie, you don't watch it. You experience it.
I watched this movie high and I’m like this nigga astral projecting
"...being art-mugged" !
head in candy floss. yep!
Yep agree 100%
incredible movie
For me the movie was lacking in depth, no one will disagree the camera work is remarkable, but it doesn't engage with death in a very interesting way... It takes the basic premise from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and present it as complete truth, it doesn't open up a conversation with the viewer, it simply sits you down and monologues at you.
EDIT - Re-reading my comment makes it look like I really dislike it. I didn't, in fact I thoroughly enjoyed it, I just wanted a bit more. At the very least it's nice to see a movie focused on drugs that isn't nihilistic.
wasnt a bad movie, but will say im disappointed, was expecting a major plot twist...
Gasper is the best director there is right now!
a brilliant film
eat, pray, vomit - respect
Gasper Noe wants to assault your senses and you let him or put your guard up.
Sounds like all style, little substance?
I have to laugh watching this, whilst Gaspar Noes' sex film in 3d is currently showing at Cannes.......'I wouldn't put it past him'.... the foresight
The trippiest movie to date. Watching this straight is really a waste of time.
It really is far too long.
just like a bad trip
That was the point of the movie, to look like a drugtrip wich also can take Very long.
The funny part for me is that the most unrealistic part of the movie is that a Tokyo police officer pulls a gun and shoots him.
You wouldn't put it past him.... would you Mark...
How can you know what it feels like to put your head in a candy machine?
people really!, you gasper noe fanboys stop trying to make it seem that this movie is more than a visual fest...it reminds me pretty much of gravity in the sense that the bring up these subject of life and death and spirit, but at the end of the day they are a visual fest
Watching this on acid is like taking a trip to the moon.
Of course there's a lot of sex scenes, because Enter the Void is about sex. Plain and simple. It makes you think about the motives, emotions, and implications of sex in a way most people hardly ever do.
@CerpinTaxt1983 Noe he isn't.
Bottom line is kermot doesn't get the film. ETV is a masterpiece if you can tune into it's frequency.
Kermot has a bad aerial and terrible jazz hands.
Watching Kermonde trash a good Gaspar Noe film is just as good as watching a good Gaspar Noe film.
a candy floss machine then
I have not seen any of his films but does he really beat Bela Tarr?
I knew kermode wouldn't have a clue regarding psychedelics
@RockBottomRiser21 YES!!
This film is very good on shrooms.
In fact alot of films are very good on shrooms silly statement. Goodbye.
What does he mean by "Cosmic Fantasia" ?
Only he knows.
It's so annoying when I am trying to have a discussion with someone about the meanings of those films (particularly ETV!) and they just reply with "i dunno, i just watch it while i'm high"
I have nothing against drug use, but it annoys me how people only appreciate these movies superficially. That "pretentious druggy" attitude is so true
Dead on
the movies crap but the cinematography is next level
@RockBottomRiser21
Yeah but the script still could easily have been better.
god listening to this guy talk almost makes ME run out of breath!
Void is our generation's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Period.
TheEnnisfan amen
Or... visually