ugh...

Rating: 1/10 (5 July 2009)

Wow. I'm definitely in the "give-me-back-my-two-hours" camp on this one. Based on the trailer I already had pretty low expectations for this movie (Cage's recent filmography did't help here either), expecting something on a similar level as "Next". In other words, I expected a movie based on an interesting concept that would be butchered into something gaudy but which I would ultimately accept because I have an active imagination. "Knowing" delivered exactly that for the majority of the film but the ending is what robbed me of enjoying it on even this level.
It becomes clear at the end that this movie is basically a trick. It lures you in with the promise of being a somewhat amusing film to watch on a rainy day, when nothing else is on. But as it turns out, this is all meant to grab your undivided attention so that it can preach to you.
The ending seems to be someone's notion of the reconciliation of science and religion but from a Christian angle. I would be fine with this if that were the subject of the entire film or if some thought provoking ideas were presented. Instead the movie just slaps you in the face with it at the end and says "here you go, this is what you should believe" and then draws the curtains. End of argument. No opportunity to really think about or debate the possibilities, the movie is simply over. The last idea fed into your head (right after attempting to emotionally disarm you with derived sob scenes) is that these alien-angel hybrids--who somehow possess knowledge of the future--are our gods and believing in them will deliver you into salvation.
Ugh... this is like when someone innocently befriends you, asks you to come out to a "get together" one evening which turns out to be a Bible study or sermon. And not even a particularly good sermon. Cheap and deceptive.