Great interview I love how these two different and brilliant artists inspire each other and even surprise each other with their work. Alex Garland is a natural and top of his class filmmaker. His projects have each improved in storytelling from the last tho they're all already quality films. From Dredd to Ex Machina to now Anihilation which is def my favorite he's directed so far and so excited for what he does next. Had no idea he wrote 28 days later so I've loved his work for a while without realizing. P.s. I know Peter Travers is credited for directing Dredd but it's a widespread theory/belief that Garland who wrote it had a bigger hand in crafting/directing it than Travers who supposedly was locked out of the editing room. Also the quality of Dredd makes me believe he ghost directed it as well.
Also: the way Dredd looks (with all the bright colors and weird lights, especially during the slomo trip sequences) has a lot in common with Annihilation, even though the two movies have different cinematographers. Another indicator of Garland ghost directing?
Watched the movie two times. Liked it better the second time. Reading the book now. Really good so far and he writes so simple, that it simply flows so natural. Looking forward to seeing thec movie again after the reading.
Loved the movie, starting to read the books. In terms of "original" the movie is almost an exact a retelling of "Roadside Picnic" which inspired Stalker. I dont mind since I needed more of that
There is a strange dichotomy here. Garland loved the the book so much that he made a film that barely resembled it? I liked the film but it and the book are two completely different things. It seemed he liked the visual concepts but wanted to write his own story. Which is fine but I can't imagine VanderMeer honestly sees his story in this movie.
I agree. I loved the movie, but I view it kind of like Blade Runner is to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". It's based off of the idea of the book, but not the story itself.
Garland has said that he only read the book once. He viewed his reading experience as kind of like a dream, so he wanted the film to be made in a dreamlike way, also, where the essence of the book would be kept while not including a lot of the same details as the book.
I mean it's not a adaptation as much as it is simply "based off" the book. I think VanderMeer probably appreciates that his story has changed and evolved beyond his novel. 4:57 especially shows this
I haven’t read the book but I believe that Garland focused on the core philosophy and character arc of the film. Because there is only so much of the book you can do.
I just finished reading Annihilation. I don't read anymore as youtube n stuff but I couldn't get enough of movie through movie so I had to read the book. It's above my imaginative capabilities still i was comfortable with it as I have seen all range and types of sci-fi. Frankly the book is way different plotwise and I think movie is my favourite by long shot though I understand these r 2 different mediums and I have very less experience in english fiction books still. I guess what I am trying to say is i love these 2 brains which gave me my absolute favorite sci-fi of the decade probably. What a fucking original idea. I felt this before for matrix 1999. I was so upset when I found out Annihilation isn't releasing in india and still upset as it didn't become the success to encourage sequels. Climax of the film is so fucking satisfying which is surprising as the book tends to take pleasure in tickling ur imagination and leaving u with ur thoughts nit actual answers. I adore Garland's brain so much i wish him health and power to create more and more mind refreshing sci fi films n shows.
I very much liked the film, mostly for its outstanding special effects. And Natalie, of course. One touch I especially liked is that not everything the team encounters in the shimmer is gruesome, e.g. the deer with flowers sprouting out of their antlers. As for the story - it's in essence a re-telling of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Colour out of Space", hence not too original.
Alex garland definitely adapted the idea for this film from the book Roadside Picnic. Tho he never says it, read that book and your understand why he definitely started the idea from that. Check out Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, it’s another adaptation of Roadside picnic. I personally like stalker better but this film is still amazing and very well done
The real heros of a movie are the writers. Producers just don't understand that really. So many movies are boring even if their budget was 300 million dollar and the best CGI. Therefore many movies will fail. Also try to tell the summary of the story to potential audience as if it would have been already filmed and you see if they "buy it" and want to go to cinema and watch the movie. If the story is super boring, just don't invest time and energy into the movie.
Watched it yesterday after reading the trilogy twice. Yeah well, I hated the ending which Ends the whole trilogy. I think though that the second and especially third book are very difficult to adapt to movie. They could have wrapped them up into one film with the light Tower guard Story and so on. But "destroying" area X like that and just DESTROYING it was too off for me. Still a good film from a very good director.
But... it must be said that this trilogy ALSO is a retelling. Read ROADSIDE PICNIC from the Strugatzki Brothers (the STALKER PC games are based on that book a bit) and SOLARIS from Stanislaw Lem (strange unkown inhuman phenomenas, man's reaction to that completly unexplainable stuff).
yes, just imagine what he could do with a bigger budget. I mean, Annihilation is only a 40-50 million dollar film which is quite modest against most of these sci-fi action blockbusters & superhero films that saturate the market today and cost 100s of millions to make... and Ex Machina only cost 15 million & take a look at that film! I can't wait to see what he does next.
Not at all. Actually, he kinda looks pissed, like he knows his version of the book it's 100% better than the book itself, basically he's giving free press and recognition to VanderMeer... now of course I'm just guessing.
yeah not just . stalker or tarkovsky, the movie and the book have both a very strong feeling of both solaris and stalker by tarkovsky (solaris is also a novel by Lem btw...) and Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space
Great Movie, and I do like that it's different from the book, cuz I haven't read it and I like to be surprised too. As for being original : not really : Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space mixed with stalker by Tarkovsky / loosely based on Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, and Tarkovsky's Solaris / loosely based on the novel of the same name by Stanisław Lem
NOTHING is original. All art is made of different previous experiences. Everything is "based" on something, nobody creates from thin air. 2001, Arrival, Solaris, Stalker, Predator. Alien/Aliens, Mimic, Species, The Thing, Body Snatchers, The Fly,The Quatermass experiment, Lovecraft, Event horizon, Evolution, Ghostbuster, Under the skin.... take your pick.
I know but the guy literally pretends we're ignorant enough to not see his own inspiration, or pretentious enough to think we'll believe evrything he creates is just so original. it's good but like you said nothing comes out of nothing.
This guy is so full of himself. Annihilation is a bad copy of Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic. But of course this creatively dead author will never admit that. Of course he wasn't influenced by them. Yeah right.
I don't think that this book is original, there was a russian movie named stalker which had almost the same concept of area X, but I love what they did with annihilation anyways
After years this movie remains one of the if not the most strange / fascinating movies I have ever seen in my entire life.
its so good, Garland is one of the best visual storyteller of our generation. His shit keeps losing money though, I hope he can keep it up.
Agree
Annihilation and Ex Machina was a unique film, I enjoyed both.
This movie definitely did stick with me seeing as I’m watching videos about it a week after watching the film.
I fell asleep in the theatre during the movie but three years later I read the book. Haha
Great interview I love how these two different and brilliant artists inspire each other and even surprise each other with their work. Alex Garland is a natural and top of his class filmmaker. His projects have each improved in storytelling from the last tho they're all already quality films. From Dredd to Ex Machina to now Anihilation which is def my favorite he's directed so far and so excited for what he does next. Had no idea he wrote 28 days later so I've loved his work for a while without realizing.
P.s. I know Peter Travers is credited for directing Dredd but it's a widespread theory/belief that Garland who wrote it had a bigger hand in crafting/directing it than Travers who supposedly was locked out of the editing room. Also the quality of Dredd makes me believe he ghost directed it as well.
Also: the way Dredd looks (with all the bright colors and weird lights, especially during the slomo trip sequences) has a lot in common with Annihilation, even though the two movies have different cinematographers. Another indicator of Garland ghost directing?
Watched the movie two times. Liked it better the second time. Reading the book now. Really good so far and he writes so simple, that it simply flows so natural. Looking forward to seeing thec movie again after the reading.
Loved the movie, starting to read the books. In terms of "original" the movie is almost an exact a retelling of "Roadside Picnic" which inspired Stalker. I dont mind since I needed more of that
Maxim Kozin where do you see the similarities? Just curious
@@crapsack47 Read the book and watch Tarkovsky's Stalker. The similarities are everywhere.
Loved the film, can’t wait to see more from garland
This man would be perfect to write and direct a Black Mirror episode.
Ex Machina is basically a Black Mirror episode as a movie
MachuwReviews
Oh man, he really would be.
Beatness every black mirror episode is a movie
Luckilly, Ex Machina is not as shallow and poorly executed as Black Mirror.
Francesco Birsa Alessandri
You shitting us?
Garland is a true artist
There is a strange dichotomy here. Garland loved the the book so much that he made a film that barely resembled it? I liked the film but it and the book are two completely different things. It seemed he liked the visual concepts but wanted to write his own story. Which is fine but I can't imagine VanderMeer honestly sees his story in this movie.
I agree. I loved the movie, but I view it kind of like Blade Runner is to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". It's based off of the idea of the book, but not the story itself.
Garland has said that he only read the book once. He viewed his reading experience as kind of like a dream, so he wanted the film to be made in a dreamlike way, also, where the essence of the book would be kept while not including a lot of the same details as the book.
i think
I mean it's not a adaptation as much as it is simply "based off" the book. I think VanderMeer probably appreciates that his story has changed and evolved beyond his novel. 4:57 especially shows this
I haven’t read the book but I believe that Garland focused on the core philosophy and character arc of the film. Because there is only so much of the book you can do.
I just finished reading Annihilation. I don't read anymore as youtube n stuff but I couldn't get enough of movie through movie so I had to read the book. It's above my imaginative capabilities still i was comfortable with it as I have seen all range and types of sci-fi. Frankly the book is way different plotwise and I think movie is my favourite by long shot though I understand these r 2 different mediums and I have very less experience in english fiction books still.
I guess what I am trying to say is i love these 2 brains which gave me my absolute favorite sci-fi of the decade probably. What a fucking original idea. I felt this before for matrix 1999. I was so upset when I found out Annihilation isn't releasing in india and still upset as it didn't become the success to encourage sequels.
Climax of the film is so fucking satisfying which is surprising as the book tends to take pleasure in tickling ur imagination and leaving u with ur thoughts nit actual answers.
I adore Garland's brain so much i wish him health and power to create more and more mind refreshing sci fi films n shows.
best film I have seen in a long time, automatically in my top ten.
Just came across it, best film I have seen for a decade.
I very much liked the film, mostly for its outstanding special effects. And Natalie, of course. One touch I especially liked is that not everything the team encounters in the shimmer is gruesome, e.g. the deer with flowers sprouting out of their antlers. As for the story - it's in essence a re-telling of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Colour out of Space", hence not too original.
Alex garland definitely adapted the idea for this film from the book Roadside Picnic. Tho he never says it, read that book and your understand why he definitely started the idea from that. Check out Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, it’s another adaptation of Roadside picnic. I personally like stalker better but this film is still amazing and very well done
I hope I wish this movie and his whole team get oscar's
Truly amazing film !
Mankind hasn't fared well at the end of Alex's first two movies.
I wonder what wonders he will bestow on us next.
Garland comes across as super-serious in all the interviews I've gone through...
Don't really have any judgement around that.. Just an observation..
He's brilliant at what he does, but good grief does he ever seem like a miserable prick.
Now please write and direct a "Dead Space" movie please!
Loved the movie! Never read the book. Now I will have to, to compare.
Where does this interview come from? (promotional material, dvd bonus...?) thank you
the book is so good that it actually gave me psychogenic pains at times!
Why do I always only dream about being late and needing to pee? The writers seem to be having all the good stuff to themselves xD
Jeff is so excited to be there lol Garland on the other hand.... 🤔
what did you do? *rubs noses in it* WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!
The real heros of a movie are the writers. Producers just don't understand that really. So many movies are boring even if their budget was 300 million dollar and the best CGI. Therefore many movies will fail. Also try to tell the summary of the story to potential audience as if it would have been already filmed and you see if they "buy it" and want to go to cinema and watch the movie. If the story is super boring, just don't invest time and energy into the movie.
True Love
Haaahahaha, its basically, The children of time ,without the spiders. I knew I'd experienced the bones of this story before.
Watched it yesterday after reading the trilogy twice. Yeah well, I hated the ending which Ends the whole trilogy. I think though that the second and especially third book are very difficult to adapt to movie. They could have wrapped them up into one film with the light Tower guard Story and so on. But "destroying" area X like that and just DESTROYING it was too off for me. Still a good film from a very good director.
its not for entertainment its history and mystery of earth
Love it
звонили Стругацкие. просили вернуть им книги, когда закончите.
Garland needs to read "Roadside picnic". These ideas have been done before.
come on Tarkovskys movies are so pretentious and boring :- \
It's not the same story despite the similar setup
Also, it's only the film that resembles Roadside Picnic. The books' plot is very different.
YOU OWE THE NINTENDO COMPANY SOME COMPENSATION FOR HARMING A POOR DITTO POPPING OUT OF A POKEBALL
It looks like Alex Garland has Parkinson's disease 4:33 He has constant head shaking.
But... it must be said that this trilogy ALSO is a retelling. Read ROADSIDE PICNIC from the Strugatzki Brothers (the STALKER PC games are based on that book a bit) and SOLARIS from Stanislaw Lem (strange unkown inhuman phenomenas, man's reaction to that completly unexplainable stuff).
Borne would (will?) make a MUCH better film.
y'all guys explain the movie to me now.
that's the thing this movie cant be explained.
The movie is about dealing with change and how we as people are not the same as time goes on.
Jacob Odom one of the best explanation that i have read so far
this movie was a big mind fuck , i think it was worst in terms of fucking with your mind than ex machina
Garland should try something bigger
yes, just imagine what he could do with a bigger budget.
I mean, Annihilation is only a 40-50 million dollar film which is quite modest against
most of these sci-fi action blockbusters & superhero films that saturate the market today
and cost 100s of millions to make... and
Ex Machina only cost 15 million & take a look at that film!
I can't wait to see what he does next.
Chris The Phoenix
Only if they give him full creative freedom
Like he gives a fuck about Star Wars. Seriously...
Totally took a lot scenery/monsters/concepts from the Guild Wars franchise.... whether they tried to or not! Seriously uncanny!
Garland is hard to hear.
Alex Garland looks nervous as hell.
Not at all. Actually, he kinda looks pissed, like he knows his version of the book it's 100% better than the book itself, basically he's giving free press and recognition to VanderMeer... now of course I'm just guessing.
He just looks bored with junkets
Original? I believe this was ether inspired by or just copied from STALKER, a Russian movie by the great Andrei Tarkovsky.
yeah not just . stalker or tarkovsky, the movie and the book have both a very strong feeling of both solaris and stalker by tarkovsky (solaris is also a novel by Lem btw...) and Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. itself was inspired by a book called "Roadside Picnic", written by Arkadi and Boris Strugatski in 1971.
Great Movie,
and I do like that it's different from the book, cuz I haven't read it and I like to be surprised too.
As for being original : not really :
Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space mixed with stalker by Tarkovsky / loosely based on Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, and Tarkovsky's Solaris / loosely based on the novel of the same name by Stanisław Lem
NOTHING is original. All art is made of different previous experiences. Everything is "based" on something, nobody creates from thin air.
2001, Arrival, Solaris, Stalker, Predator. Alien/Aliens, Mimic, Species, The Thing, Body Snatchers, The Fly,The Quatermass experiment, Lovecraft, Event horizon, Evolution, Ghostbuster, Under the skin.... take your pick.
I know but the guy literally pretends we're ignorant enough to not see his own inspiration, or pretentious enough to think we'll believe evrything he creates is just so original. it's good but like you said nothing comes out of nothing.
This guy is so full of himself. Annihilation is a bad copy of Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic.
But of course this creatively dead author will never admit that. Of course he wasn't influenced by them. Yeah right.
Book is original, the movie on the other hand...
I don't think that this book is original, there was a russian movie named stalker which had almost the same concept of area X, but I love what they did with annihilation anyways
Mmm...what a beautiful voice...and sexy man. Not Vandermeer😅
"this was nothing like I had ever read..."
He says that because he has never seen stranger things??
You realize that the book, "Annihilation" came LONG before Stranger Things right?