(ESP-ENG) Bird Box Barcelona - Beware of religious cult!
Hello friends, good vibes to all.
There is a popular belief based on facts and realities that the second parts or sequels of a film do not end up being like the original in terms of quality, I guess this will depend on the tastes of each person but it is something in which many people agree. The first film starring Sandra Bullock more than 5 years ago showed us how life was going to be after a "something" or some kind of energy was installed on the planet and just by watching it you immediately felt the need to take your life in the most creative ways possible. I remember that that film was not one of my favorites, it was something new and very distressing on several occasions, but for me it was nothing spectacular; I was hoping that this "plague" that now came to Europe would hook me but it was not the case either.
I feel that films are about emotions, empathy and above all about knowing and being able to connect both with the story and with the characters themselves. Unfortunately all this in me that was not possible in this opportunity, moreover, I tell you once and for all that I finished watching this film out of obligation, because I had already invested almost an hour of my time in it and the least I could do was to grab will and finish watching the last 50 minutes remaining. It is strange because I have read several people praising the film and saying that it is much better than that of 2018, respectable all opinions of course but the reality is that I did not connect as I would have liked. Definitely between tastes and colors. But well, let's go and talk a little bit about what this new Netflix installment is about.
For those who have not seen the first movie the story is as follows and I do it this way because it is basically the same plot, except for a couple of things. On the planet there is a new threat, some creatures, a force, a mysterious power that makes people commit suicide so the only way to save themselves is to go blind, not having any visual contact with the outside. In this particular section that problem reached European lands and that is where we meet Sebastian (Mario Casas) who along with his daughter Anna (Alejandra Howard) are wandering through the desolate and destroyed streets of Barcelona in search of some kind of shelter or people with whom it is possible to form a kind of group or alliance to survive better.
The change with respect to the first one is that in addition to the danger posed by this inexplicable thing that is all around, air, environment or whatever you want to call it, is that there is a new threat. But it is one that is far from being supernatural since it is formed by people of an apparent religious cult or sect that revolves around the way this evil force acts and the meaning that they wanted to give to everything that this is generating in the world. So, besides going blindly and trying not to look more than we should also beware of these people because logically their intentions are not the best or the healthiest.
As I said before I think that what happened to me with this film is a matter of feeling, I don't want to think that it is as terrible as I perceived it or maybe it is and it is the people who are wrong, but the reality is that at no time I felt an emotional connection with any character even knowing the context and the situation of the story. Whether you like a film or not I feel it depends on how much you can get emotional when watching a certain scene, either with sadness, anger, helplessness, solidarity, all those feelings that usually come to the surface when watching a movie; what happens? - In my case and the best way I can find to describe this is that I watched it on autopilot, it's strange that it happens but it did.
The story itself is interesting, I liked the addition of the religious cult as that is a very interesting topic, it is always curious to see how people behave under the influence of someone or an idea in a blind way, never better said. But at the same time I felt that it lacked depth because while it is true that this cult is not the main reason or the engine of the film, it would have been nice to give a little more context to understand the actions of these people, that watching the film you can deduce a little but still some more content about it would have been more rounded the plot. I think this is what made the film a little more interesting and less bland or boring despite what was said before.
Everything that has to do with the setting, exteriors and scenes must be said that if it is well done, seeing Barcelona plunged into an apocalypse with streets in chaos is one of the things they did best. There is not much to say about special effects except when people were taking their lives that at times could be very crude images but nothing exaggerated, I think they did it well measured without exaggerating too much of the resource. Is it a scary movie? - Not at all, I think it is closer to suspense and uncertainty towards the unknown. If we compare it with the first one, yes, comparisons are odious but necessary sometimes, if I affirm that it fell short in this department. With Sandra Bullock I really got to feel tension in some passages of the film, this was missing here in Barcelona and a lot.
Mario Casas was fine, the performances were not the problem. He is a father who would do anything for his family, even the unthinkable just to be reunited. A bit of drama, touchiness and weakness in character are some of the things that characterize him. Overall an average job. We also have Claire (Georgina Campbell), yes, the star of Barbarian, that top horror movie from last year, who here plays a survivor who injects the most emotional and sincere part of the plot. Her performance is very convincing, one of the best of the film, watching her acting is always a pleasure. The casting people did well to include her, good addition.
In short, a film that at least I was left to owe a little, I was expecting something that would hook me more, that was deeper. It's sad because the story that was set up was for more but it all ended up being very superficial. The movie is not a disaster, you can watch it and as entertainment it is more than acceptable but I never connected, it was not for me. I give it a 6/10 because although it took me to finish it I applaud the attempt to follow the line of the first one, which for me was a little better than this spin-off. It lasts less than two hours and you can find it on Netflix. I leave the trailer below.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos vemos en la próxima!
Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡A hug to everyone, see you next time!
Bueno... vi la primera película porque adoro a Sandra Bullock pero, quedé igual que tú. Es una película con cierto dramatismo y suspenso pero... hasta ahí.
Quise ver la segunda versión y al darme cuenta que es española, desistí. Me cuesta entender los diálogos españoles. Gracias por tu reseña. Saludos.
En lo personal me gustó un poco más la primera que esta segunda. Pero esta se entiende perfectamente, no hay motivos para que no la veas por eso, si me lo preguntas anímate porque es cero complicada de entender, capaz te termina gustando.
Gracias por la visita, saludos!!
Me paso lo mismo, no pude sentir conexión emocional con los personajes. La película me gusto, fue entretenida, tuvo buenas secuencias , pero falto esa conexión con los personajes para que impactara. De todas formas la recomiendo para pasar un rato.
Pero es que cero, con todo y que al final entiendes el por qué de las cosas y de la forma de actuar de algunos pero ni así. Y si, la película no es mala ni mucho menos pero por lo menos cuando no me genera nada las interpretaciones para mi el film es vacío, ese es el verdadero problema de esta Bird Box.