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-   -   Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/605068-looper-johnson-2012-%97-reviews-thread.html)

Burnt Thru 09-29-12 05:29 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Seemed like a pretty well crafted film, but sadly the central paradox
Spoiler:
generated at the end
was very lazy. Maybe the director doesn't care about sci fi at all and just wanted to have some cool scenes. The Bruce Willis speech in the diner would tend to support this idea.

auto 09-29-12 06:14 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Why So Blu? (Post 11405042)
Then explain Dano's old/young self in the same time period. They're hurting Dano right then and there, so his old self is going through the trauma right then and there. Abe breaks the kid's hand right then and there, so why didn't Abe flinch?

Unless I hear it from Johnson, then there's no way the Kid Blue was Abe.

The things they were doing to young Dano were permanent, not something that would heal over time. I'm not sure I can explain this better but it seems heavily implied that Kid Blue was Abe. They just don't beat you over the head with it. :shrug:

The Bus 09-29-12 06:25 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
I thought so too during the film but there was never anything shown that proved it or disproved it. There's a reason that Kid Blue desperately wants to be appreciated,but we're never told why.

At the same time, it seems pretty stupid for the guy running the entire operation to be sending himself out into dangerous situations.

fumanstan 09-29-12 06:25 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by auto (Post 11405119)
The things they were doing to young Dano were permanent, not something that would heal over time. I'm not sure I can explain this better but it seems heavily implied that Kid Blue was Abe. They just don't beat you over the head with it. :shrug:

I thought it was subtly implied there was some sort of connection, but not heavily implied at all. But I mentioned earlier it definitely seemed like that could have been the idea in an earlier version or possibly some scenes cut regarding those two.

And yeah, it seemed to me like only permanent damage inflicted on the younger versions affects the old. In the case of Dano's older self, I thought it was just shock at seeing what was happening, not necessarily the pain. Willis says later that as things start happening to his younger self, his head hurts because the memories start coming to him. I don't think the physical damage is felt.

Why So Blu? 09-29-12 06:29 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by auto (Post 11405119)
The things they were doing to young Dano were permanent, not something that would heal over time. I'm not sure I can explain this better but it seems heavily implied that Kid Blue was Abe. They just don't beat you over the head with it. :shrug:



Limps don't heal.

auto 09-29-12 06:38 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Are you sure about that...in the future!!??

Why So Blu? 09-29-12 06:42 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by auto (Post 11405157)
Are you sure about that...in the future!!??


Then why is Kid Blue walking with one? If Abe had gotten it fixed, then Blue would not have it. He would definitely not have it in his presence - when they're both in the same room. There are several scenes with them talking and being in the same room and Abe remains normal, while Blue is a mess.

auto 09-29-12 06:52 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Dude, you're killing me.

1. Kid Blue gets limp
2. Kid Blue grows up and has limp fixed - by magic future doctors
3. Kid Blue realizes Kid Blue is a terrible name and reverts back to his given name Abe
4. Abe Blue is sent back in time by evil future mobsters
5. Abe Blue meets Kid Blue and is annoyed at what a dumbass he was
6. Abe Blue tries to teach Kid Blue to be a cool mobster
7. Abe Blue fails at this repeatedly and fucks with Kid Blue BUT...
8. Abe Blue keeps Kid Blue around despite multiple fuckups since they are the same person

auto 09-29-12 06:56 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
To clarify, this movie takes pace between 1 and 2 and 6 and 8.

Groucho 09-29-12 09:12 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
The little boy who played Cid was fucking fantastic. It's a pretty bold move to hinge an entire movie on the performance of a five-year-old.

Also, I guess I spoiler this:

Spoiler:
It was very apparent that Kid Blue was Abe. When Abe dies, he flips his shit and his first course of action is to go after young Joe, somebody he couldn't have given two shits about 10 minutes earlier.


Also, nice touch with the:

Spoiler:
Mention of the mechanical jaw.

Timber 09-29-12 09:27 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Why So Blu? (Post 11405042)
Then explain Dano's old/young self in the same time period. They're hurting Dano right then and there, so his old self is going through the trauma right then and there. Abe breaks the kid's hand right then and there, so why didn't Abe flinch?

Unless I hear it from Johnson, then there's no way the Kid Blue was Abe.

Old Dano wasn't in pain. He was terrified that he was going to simply stop existing but no pain. How else to you explain him driving to the meeting point and crawling to the door. Those injuries to him happened 30 years ago, there was no longer pain associated with them but they were permanent non the less.

Thought Abe and the kid were each other pretty much from the start. I guess I never noticed the limp on the kid. A broken hand will heal, a shattered hand is more of a stretch to heal but the point still stands. There would be no point in flinching from a broken hand you received 30 years ago.

Strevlac 09-29-12 10:45 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Eh. Competent but not particularly imaginative. Not offensively bad but I dunno if I would call it very good either. Twelve Monkeys puts it to shame.

SuckaMC 09-30-12 01:50 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Why So Blu? (Post 11405042)
Then explain Dano's old/young self in the same time period. They're hurting Dano right then and there, so his old self is going through the trauma right then and there. Abe breaks the kid's hand right then and there, so why didn't Abe flinch?

Unless I hear it from Johnson, then there's no way the Kid Blue was Abe.

he wouldn't have flinched.. Even when the were "convincing" the other looper to come to the address, he wasn't screaming in pain, just out of surprise.

The Bus 09-30-12 04:14 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Groucho (Post 11405329)
The little boy who played Cid was fucking fantastic.

I want to see a movie with him and Quvenzhanι Wallis. Let's make dreams happen, Hollywood.


Originally Posted by Groucho (Post 11405329)
Also, nice touch with the:

Spoiler:
Mention of the mechanical jaw.

What's this again?

Timber 09-30-12 07:38 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by The Bus (Post 11405553)



What's this again?

There was a throw away line where Willis(?) said
Spoiler:
there are even rumors of him having a mechanical jaw
or something of that nature. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I just read the post above yours.

dex14 09-30-12 08:53 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by auto (Post 11405177)
Dude, you're killing me.

1. Kid Blue gets limp
2. Kid Blue grows up and has limp fixed - by magic future doctors
3. Kid Blue realizes Kid Blue is a terrible name and reverts back to his given name Abe
4. Abe Blue is sent back in time by evil future mobsters
5. Abe Blue meets Kid Blue and is annoyed at what a dumbass he was
6. Abe Blue tries to teach Kid Blue to be a cool mobster
7. Abe Blue fails at this repeatedly and fucks with Kid Blue BUT...
8. Abe Blue keeps Kid Blue around despite multiple fuckups since they are the same person

LOL reading these posts are hilarious. I don't know how much clearer you can make it. I absolutely agree with this. Me and my girlfriend both thought they were the same.

Dr. DVD 09-30-12 10:00 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Okay, what was
Spoiler:
the mechanical jaw
line supposed hint? I know it could just be a throwaway line, but unanswered questions keep me riveted. :)

Groucho 09-30-12 10:06 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Couple that with another throwaway line:

Spoiler:
About how easily infections happen easily on a farm.


The implication is that:

Spoiler:
In the "original" timeline, Sarah gets killed and Cid's gunshot wound goes untreated.

Timber 09-30-12 10:16 AM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Dr. DVD (Post 11405674)
Okay, what was
Spoiler:
the mechanical jaw
line supposed hint? I know it could just be a throwaway line, but unanswered questions keep me riveted. :)

Spoiler:
Cid was shot in his cheek...


I'm not really how much we're supposed to spoiler tag in here.

bluetoast 09-30-12 04:25 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
What was the meaning of when we saw him shoot Bruce Willis with the hood on (after the actual meeting/knocking out)? Was that him just hoping for a normal "loop closing"?

fumanstan 09-30-12 04:28 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by Groucho (Post 11405677)
Couple that with another throwaway line:

Spoiler:
About how easily infections happen easily on a farm.


The implication is that:

Spoiler:
In the "original" timeline, Sarah gets killed and Cid's gunshot wound goes untreated.


Originally Posted by Timber (Post 11405684)
Spoiler:
Cid was shot in his cheek...


I'm not really how much we're supposed to spoiler tag in here.

I never made that connection, that explains it for me too.

I still wish we could have gotten a glimpse of that future to make the Rainmaker a little more haunting.


Originally Posted by bluetoast (Post 11406305)
What was the meaning of when we saw him shoot Bruce Willis with the hood on (after the actual meeting/knocking out)? Was that him just hoping for a normal "loop closing"?

Wasn't that just to show the original timeline?

Dr. DVD 09-30-12 04:32 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 

Originally Posted by bluetoast (Post 11406305)
What was the meaning of when we saw him shoot Bruce Willis with the hood on (after the actual meeting/knocking out)? Was that him just hoping for a normal "loop closing"?

That was to give you the back-story of Bruce Willis' character, the original timeline so to to say. Which now begs the question:

Spoiler:
If the Rainmaker wanted to eliminate the loopers due to Willis shooting Blunt, then how could that happen in the original timeline, since JGL's John shot Wills' to start? I think being dead would prevent him from killing Blunt.

Timber 09-30-12 04:40 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
There is a reason they said not to think too hard about time travel a couple of times in the movie. It's impossible for it to hold up under even the slightest question.

fumanstan 09-30-12 04:54 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681674/...e-travel-movie

Nice article about the movie with responses from Rian Johnson about some of the time travel stuff.

bluetoast 09-30-12 04:58 PM

Re: Looper (Johnson, 2012) — The Reviews Thread
 
Ah I get it now, didn't realize it was from "old Bruce"'s POV during that scene. Thanks Dr. DVD and Fumanstan.


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