+No, it's not too "brainy"

Rating: 6/10 (12 March 2018)

This review will contain some book comparisons. I'm sorry for this, but I simply can't help myself.
I read the book upon which this movie is based, and I found it mind provoking and entertaining (unlike its far less interesting sequels). Although I wasn't a big fan of Alex Garland's movie Ex Machina, I was excited to see what he would do with Annihilation. Especially given that some claimed it was too "brainy" for a theatrical release here in Europe. Well, its not brainy. Certainly not if one compares it to the book.
I was aware of Garland's choice not to re-read the book before writing the script, and I was prepared for him to exclude some of the book's strangest and unfilmable sequences from the movie. I was not prepared for him to have changed nearly everything except for some or the basic story. In fact the whitewashing debate seems redundant, since Natalie Portman's character is so far from the one in the books.
Sure, it is a beautiful and poetic movie. But it is not mind provoking (/"brainy"), or especially intriguing. It is a light version of the book that fails to address some of the most fascinating things about Area X and most certainly the characters.
So to conclude: The characters are without depth, the story as well. However, it is shrouded by a poetic and colorful shimmer (see what I did there?) that clearly is meant to divert attention from these flaws.
My recommendation: If you want poetry, beauty, but also(!) interesting characters and "brainy", then read the book!