Um...WHAT? | Megalopolis Review

[@CPHR]

I got to watch it on the 23rd in Detroit and the Q&A stream worked fine all the way through. You didn't miss much unfortunately. Some of the stories about past films were cool, but it felt like the moderator would ask them a question which they would ignore or briefly touch on and then talk about whatever they preferred to talk about. It seemed like Bob really did not want to be there for the interview.

[@order42show]

Yeah, I’m starting to think they just told us that…it was so irritating! I think Bob is just…like that! 😂

[@KamPatterson69]

The Conversation is my fav film of his. I don’t understand why he couldn’t just throw megaflopolis in the trash and make a focused film like The Conversation with a 20-30 million dollar budget

[@order42show]

He saw this as an “important” movie to make, and if he really has been working on it for decades, seems like a passion project for him. I find all that admirable, I just wish it had a clearer story. (I totally get what you’re saying though. I would’ve loved another movie like that from him using current tech.)

[@matthewmarcinek2419]

Q&A worked in Northern Virginia at Tyson's Corner. Sounds like we lucked out.

[@order42show]

I saw on Twitter that many people had that issue, but now I’m starting to think…maybe the theater people just told us that it was at the source?

[@zac2461]

Q&A only cut out for about 5 seconds at a time in OKC. I really enjoyed the film, visual tone poem is a perfect description and takes us back to the roots of Zoetrope. Francis is toying with ideas he’s had for decades and still playing with sound and visuals in an interesting way. Felt like a fever dream most of the time, really enjoyed it.

[@order42show]

And THAT’S why movies are awesome. We both saw the same thing and have totally different takes. I’m jealous! I wanted to love it, but I just couldn’t connect to it.

[@doublemintvariety]

Wow- my screening was in Times Square, as strange as the q&a was, the fact they couldn’t get the livestream right is quite indicative of the experience… great review pal!

[@order42show]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I just…man, I love FFC, and I just wanted to love this. It does sound like the problem was NOT widespread, and that…kinda makes me mad at the managers at my theater for lying to us.

[@onethree1142]

Just seen it yesterday in Orlando, saw the full q&a no problems. Sorry to hear you guys had issues!

[@order42show]

Eh, I mean…it sucks, but what can I really do about it? Glad you were able to see it though.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

This is why we need to take money away from old men. Think of all the actual good that could be done with over 120 million dollars, how much student debt could get paid off, chemo paid for.....and it went to this waste.

[@order42show]

I hadn’t actually thought about that…when you think of it that way…

[@Jasonleal77]

They laughed In my theater on the Francis part too.

[@order42show]

Awkward, wasn’t it?

[@Pancrasio-it9qd]

¿How it was the scene?

[@order42show]

I don’t want to give it away, but it’s a scene where the name is given importance.

[@socal808]

The Q&A played fine at my screening

[@order42show]

Yeah, the theater manager came in and told us it was widespread. Apparently he was exaggerating. 🤨

[@ACEVegasStudios]

Q&A was just fine at my theater too.

[@order42show]

Thanks!

[@NorySapp]

I just saw this one yesterday and here are my thoughts. Shia Lebouf is definitely the most fleshed out performer out of everybody i felt that he understands what the assignment to his character was. Aubrey Plaza, Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito also did very great with the given scenes and dialogues they have. The problem was everybody else seems very esoteric and kneecaped. Nathalie Emmanuel's performance felt like very normal but not in a good way unfirtunately and the weakest performances are definitely the three oldest actors in cast, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman and definitely Talia Shire (Yes Jason Schwartzman's mother) which i can understand because she hasn't been acted in decades. Overall its a mess of a movie but i can admire Francis' dedication towards this project alone. Maybe i will watch this again next year or so.

[@order42show]

For me, Francis’ dedication to getting it made was never in question, it really just comes down to the story not being there (or not being as important as the message he was trying to convey). It actually felt toward the end that there were some scenes missing. Tonally, it’s a little strange, too. Funny, then weird, super serious…it’s just all over the place. Appreciate your thoughts! You seem to have enjoyed it more than me, although…I do find myself thinking about it, so I might have to watch it again at some point.

[@Jersey-T]

I got free ticket to go see on Saturday. Looking forward to it. Good thing I got free/promo tickets. 😎

[@order42show]

Very nice! I'd love to hear what you think - people seem to be pretty divided on it.

[@diogeneslaertius3365]

Q & A worked in Long Island without any issues. I heard the same from people in NJ and PA. I think your local theater had a problem.

[@order42show]

Yeah, that’s irritating to think that they just told us that! I saw on Twitter/X that others were having that problem so when he said it was widespread I believed it. Those posts didn’t say which theater they were in.

[@AWCMCultMovies]

Just seeing your Stormtrooper mask and Face-Hugger prop, I thought "This movie is not going to be for him." And that's fine. Not every movie has to be for everyone. But let's see Francis explain that to his creditors.

[@order42show]

I mean, you’re not wrong, necessarily, but I love all kinds of movies. This was TOTALLY not for me, but the lack of narrative really did me in.

[@AWCMCultMovies]

@@order42show Since they're both allegories about the Roman Empire, let me invoke "Caligula"... I can see a world in which, 40 years from now, a team of editors gets access to the hundreds of hours of footage which Coppola must have shot and assembles a film which makes more narrative sense. I eagerly await "Megalopolis: The Ultimate Cut."

[@order42show]

That could actually be interesting! I may not live that long though, so…hopefully sooner.

[@brandadse.1741]

Fifth element, modern Romeo Juliet and tommorowland had a baby

[@order42show]

Wow, that’s…oddly accurate! 😂

[@movingvisionmotiongraphics5110]

I went with very lowexpectations because of all the reviews- I was surprised to really enjoy it. It really worked for me. But the only other 2 people in the screening walked out half way through!

[@order42show]

I think it’s pretty polarizing because people watch movies for many different reasons. Some want to be challenged, some want merely to be entertained. The marketing for this was all over the place. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

[@movingvisionmotiongraphics5110]

@@order42show thanks- yeah thats true! Normally arty films leave me a bit bored to be honest but this one did it for me! It weird reading peoples totally different experiences of it

[@billshute61]

The Q&A came through fine in San Antonio...

[@order42show]

Yeah, I think they’d screwed up and just told us that we weren’t alone. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Oh, well.

[@Staggo_L]

Meh. I’ll watch it on streaming. Maybe.

[@order42show]

Yeah, I can understand if a lot of people just go, nope, not for me!

[@lymphomasurvive]

I thought the movie was a long exploration of love on every level and from every side, and it is played on top of a retelling and twisting of an actual historical event. It showed the ugliness and beauty of love. There was grief, jealousy, sex as a weapon on the negative side. Catalina was in the middle of psychosis in the first half of the movie, but he was also an indifferent and uncaring; the visuals in the first half can be seen through the lens of his psychosis. We don’t see how Platinum falls in love with Catalina but we know how that drives her anger and jealousy; which is how Pulcher responds to rejection. It was love that redeemed him and the second half of the movie was how that happened. Beyond the personal love, the movie explores love through the lens of family and civics to the love of humanity and all beings. As love refines Catalina, he starts to care more about other people. The movie as a whole can be seen through the lens of a fable with magical realism. As a fable, it has a clear moral message. The structure was coherent and clear. For the historical events, the scandal with the Vestal virgin happened with the real Catalina being accused of trying to sleep with one, which was a potential death sentence. The Coliseum scene with the virgin also speaks to love misused, her virginity was being put up for sale. I also think the historical Catalina is split into two characters - the cousins portrayed by Driver, who is the superego, and Labeouf, who is the id. But Driver starts off with his id and superego fighting from the grief of the loss of his wife. Coppola subverted both fables and the ending of the real conspiracy. Rome became a dictatorship. And part of the point of the movie is we can't make it on our own. Love is what brought him out of the madness.

[@order42show]

For me, it did not work as a compelling story. A fable should have, at its base, a clear story. Everything that is added in subtext comes to light later, but not at the expense of that story base. All of what you say may be true, but I did not even get to that point because all of the subtext was getting in the way, like a cake that has the measurements out of whack. Again, I say this is MY opinion, which is no more or less valid than yours - I actually admire the thought you put into this comment, and I WISH I saw the movie you’re describing. I’ll also say that as much of a mess as I think this movie is, it was absolutely beautiful on a technical level (most of the time) and deserves to be studied…just not by me. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Kevlinosaurous]

I saw it Monday night as well in NYC. I found myself intrigued by the heightened interactions and vocabulary but it eventually took me out of the film and found myself witnessing choppy yet beautiful scenes.

[@order42show]

Exactly! I think it was about an hour in that I quit trying to find a story and just tried to enjoy the filmmaking. Frustrating because I’ve seen what he’s capable of.

[@Kevlinosaurous]

@@order42show Very true. I did however notice Coppola used the same techniques as Bram Stoker’s Dracula with the closing in circular dark focus shots about two or three times, shadows puppetry and even the gothic title card. The dialogue makes the characters feel like tokens representing ideas rather than being real people. One lady outside said she saw Elon Musk in one of the “characters” while I saw Taylor Swift representing another.

[@order42show]

SO true. And there was actually a point where I was like…am I too dumb to get this? Or do I need to be under the influence or…? But yeah, it’s coming from a place where he seems to be trying to invigorate us into not accepting the way things are society-wise, but (and I said this to my wife) that it’s like the unconnected ramblings of an elderly liberal.

[@Marienbad1895]

The livestream worked fine for me. Sorry yours was a mess but it’s absolutely not true that this was not working “across the country.” I have a number of friends that saw it in multiple states as well and none of them had technical issues like that.

[@order42show]

Yeah, I thought that because I saw some Twitter posts about it and the theater manager came in and said it was “across the country”…so yeah, I think our theater was one of the unlucky ones. 😫

[@rileyisa45]

Q&A in Houston starting for 5 minutes then cut straight to the movie…for like 2 minutes then went back to the Q&A

[@order42show]

Ahhh, ok, so it WASN’T just us! Some of the other comments were saying that it was fine where they were! I would’ve preferred they’d just started the movie in my case…sitting there for 30 minutes was annoying.

[@gabrielcastaneda9700]

I loved the movie saw it last night and is my cup of tea

[@order42show]

That’s the beauty of art, right? I wasn’t a fan, but I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

[@gabrielcastaneda9700]

@@order42show idk I just got into it

[@order42show]

I get it. Thing is, I woke up this morning thinking…I kinda want to see it again! So there’s that! I still don’t think it’s for 95% of people out there, and that it would just frustrate them.

[@gabrielcastaneda9700]

@@order42show I’m like this weekend my local theatre is getting Saturday night Wild robot Megapolis Then on September 30 I’m seeing joker 2 so I might see megapolis on Saturday since Thursday is wild robot and Saturday night

[@order42show]

Very nice! Definitely want to see Saturday Night and Wild Robot, but don’t know when I’ll get the chance to see them! Really want to see The Substance.

[@MartinBarreby]

😬 won't see this in the cinemas as it sounds like.

[@diogeneslaertius3365]

And you will miss on one of the biggest pictures of the decade. Don't listen to normies. Normies suck and their opinions do not matter.

[@order42show]

Yeah, I mean…if you’re looking for a story well-told, that’s not what you get here.

[@order42show]

Interesting that you would say that. Why would other’s opinions not matter? Thats a terrible take.

[@TheNuevafuerza]

NOTE to FANS - CHAT FULL OF TROLLS

[@order42show]

Who’s trolling? Some people didn’t like it, some do…?

[@ChristianAntonioCarvajal]

It’s not for the faint of hearts. 🎭

[@order42show]

…or those looking for a coherent story. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ChristianAntonioCarvajal]

@@order42show By definition, a Fable is of supernatural happenings. A coherent story would make it natural and once it becomes natural… it is no longer supernatural 😁

[@order42show]

Maybe, but I’d argue that the point of a fable is to impart morality in a message that can be understood. While interesting, I don’t know if the message got through.

[@rightcheer5096]

Sounds like the last script I wrote. But there’s still hope for me,whereas for notorious cannabis addict FF Coppola the last grains in hope’s hourglass have finally trickled out. Sucks 2 B U, Frankis.

[@order42show]

Well, I mean…there were moments of brilliance, it just wasn’t…cohesive? But hey, making a movie is difficult. And I honestly think that he wasn’t making it for the masses.

[@JackieMartin1974]

Supposedly he was trying to get Amazon to do an audience participation thing/technology?

[@order42show]

I don’t know what I expected, but it was…strangely flat. I didn’t know about this Amazon thing.

[@zcorpalpha2462]

Took 46 years to make this film 🎞️ 🥃🔥

[@order42show]

😬

[@derrickj925]

Did you see the Penguin?

[@order42show]

I did! I’ll be talking about that tomorrow night!

[@feenyfighter]

It’s an art film. But he’s not an art student, he’s one of the all time masters of cinema. Can’t you tell the difference?

[@order42show]

Well, obviously. I know who FFC is. But that’s also why I said at the end of my review that it’s “not for me”. Movies are absolutely art, but I see them as vehicles for storytelling, and in that, it didn’t connect for me. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@30yearsoldiam1]

I've watched a handful of reviews where they are all saying the same thing. It's like an art student film, the distribution issues. Yeah yeah. I'm convinced KZbin reviewers are just parroting each other. I'm Missing the days where reviewers actually understood movies

[@order42show]

So…to be clear…are you accusing me of this? I didn’t watch a single review before I did my own (I won’t say I never have, but extremely rarely for movies that I already wanted to see). You could also check to see that I put my review up mere hours after the first public screening. Isn’t it more likely that as reviewers, we’re seeing the same movie and because we’ve seen a LOT of them over the years that we are simply coming to similar conclusions? My guess is you’ve never been on my channel before. If you are accusing me of “copying my work” off of someone else, I take that very seriously, because you’re basically making a judgment call, saying I’m not authentic, that I don’t have my own thoughts, that I have no integrity, etc, without ever trying to find out if you’re right. I’d prefer that you find some other channel to harass.

[@lymphomasurvive]

​@30yearsoldiam1 I've only seen one reviewer who gets it. The movie isn't hard to understand and it's coherent and all fits together.

[@order42show]

Curious.

[@diogeneslaertius3365]

Why are you making reviews of movies? You cannot understand even the most basic elements of Art films. Go watch Transformers and super heroes. That is your level.

[@____chris]

This is one of the most pretentious and arrogant things you could comment. Ridiculous gatekeeping. You are a sad person

[@order42show]

Yeah, I’m reviewing movies because I like doing it. There are plenty of people that do that, and if you don’t agree, then you can go somewhere else. Reviews are meant to be the subjective take of one person, not the confirmation of your own views.

[@johne.nobody2946]

So, art isn’t a proper noun; there’s no need to capitalize it. Superheroes is one word. You write at an eighth-grade level. That is your level.

[@GameSack]

@@order42show Well I for one can appreciate art films, so that makes me super intellectual and frankly superior. All others are less than me. Did I get it right? LOL.

[@order42show]

I think you got it! 😂

[@Philip-p5i]

FYI- The 8:30 9/23 IMAX showing at AMC NEW BRUNSWICK 18 in NJ live streaming from NY had NO issues. It streamed the full Q&A with no audio or picture drop-out. Your feelings and review of the film is 100% spot on.👍

[@order42show]

Thanks! I mean, I get that there are people that really connected with the movie, but…MAN it disappointed me. Glad to hear you were able to enjoy the Q&A though. Probably was a better experience!

[@joshanderson7880]

The Toronto showing had no Q&A issues. But I was giggling throughout the movie, and I wasn't the only one in my theater! I think this is going to go down in history as a famously bad movie that gains a small cult following just because of all the crazy dialogue. "Don't let the now destroy the forever." "How do you like my boner?"

[@order42show]

Ok, your comment made me laugh out loud! 😂 Yeah, I mean…it doesn’t leave you feeling nothing, for sure. And what’s weird is, I got home, did my review, and went to sleep. This morning I’m like…I kinda want to see it again!