You gotta have Art

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2009)

The quality of the film is very well done on several aspects. (1) The story is cemented around the concept that space/time is not relevant. Space/time is fixed from the perspective of the creator and not the created. This explains the scientist's trouble with time travel, and the human mind experiencing issues with traveling. Our perspective is skewed. I think this is part of the appeal of the film. Note how H.G. Wells placed his time travel story, The Time Machine, into a cold and Godless universe. The main character in 12 Monkeys is not alone. He has the psychiatrist and the team of people from 2035. Pitt's character is made interesting because the character plays off of most people assuming that anyone who is passionate about an issue, animals in this case, is mentally unstable and capable of violence. I see the media warp this perspective often. (2) I like all of the architecture and animals. The feel of the film is very correct for the story. (3) Just as Othello is a dark twist to the Book of Esther, this film seems to work work a twist to Joseph's story featured around him keeping the correct perspective as he interacts through events. (4) If you like time travel stories then check out an Outer Limits episode called Tribunal. It is well worth your time.