First time Watching Gattaca!! | Movie Reaction & Commentary

Early Access, Polls & full length reactions on Patreon: / casualnerdreactions
My first time watching Gattaca (1997) What an inventive film! The world was well thought out, the story grabbed my attention and kept me guessing! Great pick! I hope you enjoyed my Gattaca movie reaction & Commentary
Hi, I'm Chris! Welcome to my channel. I react to movies & tv shows hoping to represent what it's really like to experience them for the first time. If you enjoy, you can support me by liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and letting me know your thoughts in the comments.
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Music: Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Original Movie: Gattaca (1997)

[@CasualNerdReactions]

Thanks for Watching! be sure to subscribe for upcoming content like Lethal Weapon 4 (pending copyright) Back to the Future, The Host (2006), The Others (2001), Scream (1-6), and more Battlestar Galactica, and Andor!

[@frugalseverin2282]

"The Others" is great. I recommend another unappreciated SciFi film "Equilibrium" starring Christian Bale.

[@doc0815martens]

Really nice reaction, Chris. If you like space/SiFi movies, I can only recommend 'The Martian'. I really think you'll like the movie.

[@jimtatro6550]

This is a criminally underseen movie, it’s a hidden gem. It’s only gotten better with age.

[@Steve_Blackwood]

I saw this movie by chance, having no idea of the premise, and was stunned. It’s at the same time beautiful, horrifying, uplifting, devastating, prescient, and poignant. It has held up extremely well.

[@513morris]

It's also a dystopian science fiction, inspirational, romance, suspense murder mystery, with some bits of comedy. Such a well rounded film.

[@mudiametokunboh2370]

@@513morrisAmazing film W

[@mudiametokunboh2370]

One of my favorites so powerful

[@Gavin-Hewitt]

Never understood why this film isn’t deemed a classic !

[@eddiepalmer9543]

hits too close to home maybe or political, its my top 10 of all time films

[@capri2673]

It is by me.

[@IamnotJohnFord]

It is. Ask a few sci-fi fans. What makes the general charts is not how you measure a classic.

[@xellestar]

it didn't reach a huge number of people i think

[@philrob1978]

Can only speak from the UK perspective - but it wasn't particularly marketed well, even though it had a wide release. I'm just grateful I caught one of those screenings back in '97. Anyone who cares about decent sci-fi that saw this holds it in very high regard. I'll always recommend it to others where appropriate.

[@gggooding]

Having dinner with a friend in San Rafael I was admiring the view across a lake. A building stood out to me as oddly familiar. "Wait," I suddenly realized. "That's friggin Gattaca!" My friend laughed, "Yep. That is indeed friggin Gattaca." It's the Marin County Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's friggin gorgeous!

[@CasualNerdReactions]

That’s amazing timing!

[@gggooding]

A full basket of Easter Eggs 🐣: The letters in "Gattaca" are the 4 codons in our DNA. Their staircase is a double helix. Vincent's last name is "Freeman" In-Valid is the word "invalid" The symbol for a Valid is infinity...infinite potential? The symbol for an In-Valid is a cross with a dagger. Cross = God child. The dagger = in taxonomy a dagger symbol implies an extinct species. Irene's last name is Cassini...17th century astronomer who discovered a bunch of stuff. NASA voted this (at the time) as the most scientifically accurate sci-fi film. A Titan (the moon Vincent's mission is to) in Greek mythology is a pure child of Heaven and Earth. Jerome's silver medal turns to gold in the fire. 😢 Anyone know any others?

[@E_l_l_i_e]

Love this! In the concert scene, a few notes were added to Schubert's 'Impromptu In G Flat Major to make it unplayable by normal hands. A valid can never play it. Jerome predicted that Vincent will get caught because he's a leftie. Vincent was found out to be an in-valid because he used the wrong hand.

[@gggooding]

@@E_l_l_i_e *Thank* you _so_ much! I always suspected there was _something_ about the piano piece. You rock! Cheers!

[@cmo6055]

​@@E_l_l_i_eI actually think that the pianist was "genetically formed" to have 12 fingers, so in fact was a valid, only to have added an extra finger to each hand. His parents probably were pianist as well and wanted a child who could play this piece.

[@E_l_l_i_e]

@@cmo6055 now that you mention it, I now see the possibly that the pianist was indeed a valid. But, dang that's so inhumane! My initial thought was that parents do away with the most minute unusual trait like lefthandedness; so I never considered that the pianist could be engineered to have polydactyly. I actually thought that the concert scene was inspiring. But actually, it's very distressing.

[@cmo6055]

@@E_l_l_i_e Maybe it was that way. An invalid proofs to be gifted, special, capable of something invalids can not. I always interpreted it like society gone so far that they would engineer certain traits on people, so they are capable of, in this case, play a piano piece that can only be played with 12 fingers (and maybe other things in other cases). But a "god child", born with polydactily, proving to be extraordinary valid (not a valid, but valid) is also a nice way to look at it. The polydactily looked too perfect in the picture imo tho. I work in obstetrics and have seen cases of polydactily. It looked engineered. Then again, this is a movie

[@JackMValentine]

This movie is such perfect Science Fiction. It's major focus is using a speculative future to tell a timeless story about the human condition, about the strength of personal will and determination.

[@Pixelologist]

For my money, Gattaca is up there with Arrival, Ex Machina, Interstellar, The Matrix, etc. as one of the most intellectually satisfying sci-fi films. Good sci-fi should make you think. I like a good space battle as much as the next person but if a film makes me consider deeper issues, as well, it's just so much better.

[@macgroover8165]

The technology isn't really sci-fi. They've been doing this since the 70's.

[@user-bl5yi4uw6j]

One of my all-time favourite films. Such a deep story with great characters and acting amid a beautiful score. And filmed so stylishly. A frightening cautionary tale about scientific discrimination and the indomitable human spirit. It's also very touching how Jerome and Vincent came to love one another. How could they not? Way underappreciated film. A masterwork of cinema.

[@MarceloAlves-xn6bu]

Gattaca is a master peace. Love for Jude, Alan, Uma and Ethan. A great film.

[@513morris]

The tagline for this movie was, "There is no gene for the human spirit," which I always liked.

[@Projeckt]

Heck Yes!!! I love this movie, in my opinion a masterpiece! So happy you're reacting to it.💯 Not only is the film criminally underrated, but so is the amazingly beautiful score by Michael Nyman.

[@lenusniq_9746]

It's CRAZY how chronically underrated / underhyped this movie is. I had never ever heard of it and I found it completely by chance when it was on TV. One of the most original premises ever, and a perfect execution, casting, performances, music score - just amazing. My favourite moment/twist in this movie is that the doctor knew the entire time, and yet didn't say anything so that he and and his son could have hope.

[@philrob1978]

I adore this film. A haunting piece of work - always leaves me feeling a bit... well, it's impossible to describe. Never thought I'd see anyone react to this. I'm glad it was you Chris.

[@Stephen64138]

> '' No, we are closer to the other side''

[@WildMoonLacquer]

This is such a terribly underrated gem of a movie! A masterpiece, dare I say. The score is such a driving force throughout the film, and the storyline is unique and creative. ~Caroline

[@altaclipper]

I love this movie. Jude Law was amazing and they did so much with a fairly small budget. It packs an impact.

[@MaikKellerhals]

Underrated Sci-Fi gems? Yes, this one comes to mind ;)

[@jimmyj1969]

Aesthetacally and stylistically, it'a formidable movie! Art direction, photography, sound design, atmosphere, performances, all top notch!

[@itzelwisteria1819]

Oh wow, I just recently discovered this movie a couple of months ago. I was watching cable late at night with my sister and we stumbled upon this wirh no idea what it was about. Decided to watch it because, well, Ethan Hawke (plus Jude Law and Uma Thurman). We didn't have any expectations but ended up so invested in the chatacters, fascinated by the world-building and engrossed in the psychological aspect of it all. By the end of rhe movie we were crying our eyes out, overwhelmed by all the emotions. I haven't had such a memorable experience with a sci-fi movie before or ever since. I searched but there were no reactions to Gattaca in KZbin so this was a (good) surprise!

[@htim8997]

My favorite sci fi movie. Real good reaction. Not enough reactors doing Gattaca.

[@pattiharvey1787]

The movie where Ethan and Uma met and virtually later married for several years and then eventually divorced. It was a good think piece for me and very different for it's time. It stands out to me because my ex husband (who hated sci-fi) actually LIKED it. Today science is getting so close to the content in this film it's spooky. Thumbs up 👍

[@Javachacin]

Thank you so much for this, not enough people react to this brilliant film. I didn’t see it in the comments, so I’ll give a BIG shout out to the masterful score by Michael Nyman, one of the best, it’s gorgeous with this heart breaking, deep yearning - beautiful.

[@davidmcleod5133]

This was like a Black Mirror episode, made years before Black Mirror ever aired. I wonder if people in the 40’s and 50’s really did see the future as all jetpacks and flying cars, or if they also saw the myriad ways mankind would shaft itself with technology?

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

You chose right to see this. This one is for real. It's all about the human spirit.

[@spddracer]

Never saving anything for the swim back is a life motto to live by.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Man, I love this film..

[@user-cs4fg1rm5k]

An all around great cast as well. Ernest Borgnine, Alan Arkin, Gore Vidal, Tony Shalhoub, Loren Dean, Xander Berkley...

[@lucyk2371]

I love the line...i never left anything for the swim back. Have you noticed that the invalids are the only ones with any passion? Everyone else is kind of boring...no emotion, no hair out of place.....they lack drive...they are used to getting everything because they are "blessed"

[@ScarlettM]

I didn't enjoy this movie, but objectively, I can see why people love it and consider it wonderful.

[@gggooding]

Unusually fair, ScarlettM. You're one of the good Valids - 🤗.

[@ScarlettM]

@@gggooding Thanks for a kind word :)

[@danadrian7349]

silver medal turned gold in the fire. so awesome.

[@TheKonkaman]

Ive always loved this film, happy to see a new fan

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

I haven't seen it in many years. Such a brilliant group of actors.

[@CJ-yf5cr]

I love Gattaca! It's my all time favorite movie. 🙏🙏🙏

[@themourningstar338]

So glad you watched this Chris! I saw Gattaca when it was first released on video, when I was 15 or 16. It definitely had an impact and has stuck with me. It is one of those movies that is timeless and beautiful, and still very relevant 25+ years later (and will continue to be relevant for many more years to come). This is one of those films that has a special place in my in-valid heart.

[@AM-rl6mq]

This is the movie where Ethan Hawke and Uma met and later got married.

[@Stephen64138]

My favorite movie ever. Thank you.

[@altaclipper]

I always get a kick out of the futuristic cars are designs that are at least 50 years old. And timeless.

[@howtocookazombie]

I liked your reaction! :) There are so many details in the movie, that many people miss them. For example at 18:51 he is turning away from the agent to pull his jacket over his fist before punching him. That way he won't leave his genetic evidence on the face of the agent.

[@BigGator5]

"I don't know how to thank you." "No, no. I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body. You lent me your dream." Fun Fact: Was voted by NASA scientists the most accurate science fiction film ever made. Scientific Title Drop Fact: The name "Gattaca" is composed entirely of the letters used to label the nucleotide bases of DNA. The four nitrogen bases of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Concerning Marketing Success Fact: When Gattaca (1997) was first released, as part of a marketing campaign there were adverts for people to call and have their children genetically engineered. Thousands of people called, wanting to have their offspring genetically engineered. Location Location Fact: Many of the "futuristic" buildings in the film are actually quite old. Many of these represent a type of postmodern architecture called "brutalism" which was popular in the 1950s. The two massive arches seen are actually the spillway of the Sepulveda Dam in Los Angeles, which was built in the 1930s. Some interiors and exteriors of the Gattaca building belong, in reality, to the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957. The largest Wright design ever constructed, it was largely built after his death in 1959. The central dome (prominent in the roof-cleaning scene) contains the county library.

[@E_l_l_i_e]

Gattaca is a complex movie with a simple theme at its core: man's pursuit of his dreams and the triumph of the human spirit against all odds. Cut out a couple of scenes and this is the perfect film to show students along with parents and teachers. How often is a child's potential measured based on numbers-their IQ score, aptitude test results or grades. Especially true for kids with disabilities who are often seen for what they can't do instead of what they can do. Thank you for featuring another under-rated scifi gem. Gattaca will probably be living in my noggin the next few days.

[@lucyk2371]

One of my favorites of all time. I was a young teen when Gattaca came out and everything seemed so far away in the future...not so much now... I've heard we have laws on the books already about this type of discrim. ...it has been a very real worry for awhile. Thank goodness....

[@technopirate304]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Whenever I get discouraged on my life I remember what Vincent told his brother Anton "I didn't save anything for the swim back". If you want to be great in this life and live up to your potential you can't think about not going forward. Always remember the human body has many limits, but the human spirit has limitless potential.

[@tonyvelli4324]

Masterpiece

[@LarsVonHired]

Great reaction, I remember when my science teacher brought out Gattaca for the science class to watch and everyone groaned when he explained what the film was about... I loved it

[@seekermel3079]

This is why I was so stoked to see Ethan Hawke show up in Moon Knight! I've loved Gattica since it was released. Enjoyed your reaction!

[@michaeljacyna1973]

Thank you for reacting to one of my personal favorites, a hidden gem. I love your channel and I really appreciate how astute, intelligent, and well thought out all of your reactions/analysis is. I think you're one of the best movie reactors on youtube.

[@SpontaneousAndStructured]

Would love to see a video of Maya Hawke interviewing her parents about this movie.

[@jacksonbelow6882]

Great choice. I like your reactions and the thoughts you share. Thanks for keepin' on.

[@rob5894]

I loved this movie. It is very underrated.

[@ThreadBomb]

This is the movie that made me aware of Jude Law. I'm always surprised to think that he didn't become a bigger star, considering his ability and sheer charisma.

[@donna25871]

Andrew Niccol, who wrote the screenplay and directed the film also wrote the screenplay for The Truman Show. However he didn’t get to direct it because the studio wanted a bigger name, so got Peter Weir to do it.

[@CasualNerdReactions]

What a shame, I’m sure he would have done a great job. Obviously Peter did as well, but still.

[@christinemclaurin2631]

Very underrated, in my opinion. From the moment you said "what if that's Anton", I was thinking "OMG, he's gonna be so happy that he called it" 🤩 Great reaction 😎

[@spoofox]

What a superb film

[@1wwtom]

Really a different SF movie and I like it a lot. First ran across this flick back in the VHS rental days. Now everything I have is on 1Tb Ext drives. Glad I have this one in my library!

[@couch.patati-patata]

I always thought the sunrise scene would be beautiful in colour. I saw the movie on a black and white TV.

[@boomgames_11]

Enjoying watching along with you

[@-Bill.]

It's kinda scary when you think about the possibility of combining AI with genetic information. DNA chips can sequence a genome overnight and given how much of appearance is controlled by DNA (see identical twins) - it is entirely possible to program a deep learning system to generate a probable image from a DNA sample. Law enforcement could easily generate such a database since prisoners have no privacy regarding their DNA sequences or image. A few million combinations could probably generate a good approximation based upon an DNA found at a crime scene. Hell, even a private company like 23 and me could generate a good database by combining their DNA information with photos purchased from a data broker who scrapes them from social media.

[@NoName-yx1ux]

I'm glad you liked it great reaction

[@imdiyu]

One of my favourite films ever. Thank you. Another one of my favourite underrated sci-fi film is "Seconds" made in 1966. It has that Twilight Zone vibe to it. While I am here, let me throw another one for you "The Andromeda Strain" made in 1971

[@gggooding]

If you're inclined, imdiyu, read about *why* Rock Hudson did the flick Seconds. It's interesting. And it's a helluva great "Twilight Zone"...good call!

[@technopirate304]

11:01, in this movie a simple kiss for genetic compatibility was shown to be cold and inhuman as it took the join out of romantic discovery. In the sci-fi show Farscape they had a similar premise. On one episode, the main characters visited an advanced civilization full of genetically perfect people. Their lives were so pre-arranged they even made finding a potential mate down to a science. However, this civilization's kiss for genetic compatibility was given a more sweet twist. Women would approach a potential suitor and dab a drop of a liquid on their tongue, the suitor candidate would do the same. When they begin to deep kiss the greater their genetic compatibility the sweeter the kiss tastes to them both. The lesser the genetic compatibility the more sour or bitter the kiss tastes to them both. So within seconds they know whether or not to pursue marriage and children. There is a wonderfully romantic payoff for this premise between the star crossed primary love interests on the show. They are literally from two different planets but discover they are insanely compatible. Here is the scene kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKrCopZ3l95grKc If you ever get the chance I highly recommend you react to Farscape.

[@sigridmeyer9667]

My favored movie...

[@shep4life]

Beautiful soundtrack

[@kamkelevra]

I'm back to say I couldn't imagine going through the leg procedure, I have to say that's some dedication

[@CasualNerdReactions]

It would be tough, for sure.

[@StarkRG]

This is one of my absolute favourite movies. The story is impeccable, but it doesn't hurt that I'm partly in love with the Marin County Civic Center, the building where the Gattaca space center scenes were shot. It's the only government building Frank Lloyd Wright designed. Every bit of that building I have seen is a delight, from the circular, domed library partly embedded in one of the three hills he incorporated into the design, to the hallways that are open from the skylight to the ground floor bathing everything in natural light, to the arch and sphere motifs you see repeated everywhere. The anxiety of going to traffic court was significantly lessened by having taken place there. He designed the courtrooms to be circular and had the opposing sides angled towards each other so everyone would be able to see everyone else without turning their heads, including the jury, if it's that kind of trial. It was used in one other movie, George Lucas's first theatrical movie, THX 1138, a great, if extraordinarily confusing, film. Thankfully he went back and re-cut it back when he was butchering Star Wars for the Special Editions and, unlike with much of the changes there, the THX 1138 Director's Cut is a significant improvement over the original, clarifying a lot of the plot elements, making it merely quite confusing.

[@gggooding]

*Think* about this...as the movie says at the End... _every_ particle in you...every atom...was born in a star... Like, not a metaphor or poetry or silliness...but *FOR REAL*. You **_*ARE_* made of actual stars; its literally where matter comes from. Your fingers and toes, your brain, your heart, your butt...all the bits of stuff that you are...born in the heart of a star a million million trillion miles away (maybe?) in a galaxy far, far, away... Isn't that *REALLY* cool? I think it is. YOU *ARE* made of stars. ⭐!

[@CasualNerdReactions]

“Oh my God, it’s full of stars.”

[@KrazyKat007]

Props to you for reacting to this gem of a movie. Let this be a lesson to the other reaction channels. There are more interesting and compelling science fiction films than Predator. LOL You’ve gone from being a casual nerd, to a formal nerd. Congratulations!! One day if you want to be a rocking nerd, consider watching the animated science fiction film “Heavy Metal” (1981) This is a notorious all time cult classic! And it’s a highly influential movie as well. It influenced everyone from Luc Besson with his film, The Fifth Element, to Elon Musk

[@gggooding]

I support Heavy Metal! (🤔)

[@pacificareigns]

gattaca is gorgeous. Sławomir Idziak !!!

[@lowserver2]

this movie is so perfect

[@robovike]

Love that you covered this stylish, underrated film. I love the actors but the real surprise for me is author Gore Vidal. I don't think I've ever seen him in a film before but he has such an interesting presence. "You shouldn't listen to talk," one of my favorite lines from this. Also I wonder if Andor didn't get a bit of inspiration from this film, it seems to me that the borrowed ladder slur was similar to Cassian describing how the Imperials just couldn't conceive of a lower caste coming into their zone, walking their halls, etc.

[@rubensalvador9422]

I remember watching this movie in theaters with friends. They were Cal Poly Pomona students, where the pointy building that is in here is from. It was exciting for them to watch that. Unfortunately, it was torn down last year or two.

[@katthor7311]

Everyone: What is your favorite movie of all time? Me: GATTACA

[@CasualNerdReactions]

👏

[@513morris]

Another reactor has now done 2/3 movies on my "underrated movies" list, (with The Hudsucker Proxy being the second). The trifecta would be David Fincher's - The Game.

[@CasualNerdReactions]

Funnily enough I did the hudsucker proxy and the game back to back 😅

[@Mugetsu2021]

God I love this movie, great reaction!

[@michaelanderson5301]

Subtle sound effect that probably cost little to nothing was to make the gas cars sound electric

[@snarkysquirrel]

i love this movie. its so good and i never hear anyone talk about it. so underrated.

[@JMac7395]

FUN FACTS: recently a man name Moses Gibson had two surgeries to become taller. The surgeries are suppose to increase his height by 5 inches. So all of the things Vincent put himself through to be Jerome is not that far fetched.

[@couch.patati-patata]

The most beautiful sci fi movie.

[@margiemolina6943]

stumbled across this movie on late night cable. what a wonderful movie!

[@kschneyer]

This film is very American, in the sense that it imagines that enforced inquality will be defeated by the virtue and cooperation of people of goodwill. Vincent has multiple helpers: Irene, Jerome, the Tony Shalhoub character, Lamar, the janitor, ultimately even Anton. In this world where status and success are determined by genetics, many people who benefit from it are helping one of its victims to overcome it. People are not acting according to their privilege, but to undermine it, because they recognize injustice. This is enormously optimistic, and (I regret to say) probably inaccurate.

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

I find it interesting how heavily Jude Law is being retroactively used to promote this movie when his name virtually didn't appear at all in the initial promotion when it came out. I mean, I know he was still largely unknown at the time, but I don't think I've seen this happen with any other movie to this extent. 🤔

[@extofer]

Another good example of late 90s underrated science fiction is Dark City. It’s one of the most mind blowing sci-fi/horror films of all time and influenced other films like The Matrix and Inception. If you haven’t already seen it, do yourself a favor and watch the Director’s cut of it and go in completely blind. You’ll thank me.

[@CasualNerdReactions]

I actually have a full reaction to the Dark City Director's cut over on Patreon thanks to a top tier Patron. I will be editing it for KZbin, but it's pretty far down the list. Currently scheduled for January.

[@shep4life]

Such a smart movie😊

[@izzonj]

Be honest everyone, who glanced at the thumbnail and thought Chris was dropping second Galactica video this week?

[@CasualNerdReactions]

🤣🤣 they are similarly named. I hope to drop 2 next week actually. I’m just waiting to make sure 7 doesn’t get claimed again like it did Friday. If it doesn’t then I know 8-13 are ready to go so I am gonna make sure we finish season 1 THIS month. 💪

[@theashrook6129]

Yes, very underrated.

[@dawnstone610]

he had to change everythiing but why not the accent and the way they speak?

[@NativeNewMexican]

As much as I love this movie, the "don't judge a book by its cover" concept feels so good to adopt, it's wrong. Sorry, but it's just factually wrong. Descriminating is a heuristic and it's a tool that has its place. Thomas Sowell's commentary on the concept (being that he's black) would be a good place for those who think that "discrimination is evil" to get a start, but he's just the tip of the iceberg.

[@traceyb9443]

This film inspired the music video for Manic Street Preachers Number 1 hit single If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next.

[@youtuber5305]

If Shakespeare had lived in the world of Gattaca, would he have had a chance to accomplish all that he achieved in his own time? The 2023 article "Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies review - in search of the bard" asks: - How did a glover’s son from the sticks, with no more than a grammar school education, acquire such intimate knowledge of court manners and politics, European languages, legal process and Italian geography?

[@youtuber5305]

And concerning this 20th-century glove maker, the article "Who were the Moguls?" says: - During his lifetime, Goldwyn was the most successful independent movie producer in the US.

[@technopirate304]

11:33, what is the point of being genetically perfect and your smoking and drinking like a fiend? It make me wonder is their immunity to nicotine and alcohol also programmed in. Otherwise you are polluting the very perfect body that is your passport a better life.