Hello, moviegoers! This time I am here to introduce... Escape Room!

Escape Room is one of those movies in which a reduced cast of characters is locked up in an isolated environment, nobody knows what is going on, the
place they are trapped in is killing them all one by one, and the details of the story surface slowly on the go.

At least, that is the theory.

Let's be honest here, but this concept has been done to death already. Cube (1997) already demonstrated that you could build enough of a movie with around half a dozen actors, and a budged barely sufficient to buy a box of chewing gum. There are others who have tried similar formulas and succeeded (like The Exam 2009, in which the room didn't kill anybody, sadly). Is there really room for yet another one of these films?

Let's find out.

In Escape Room, six people who keep no relation to each other receive a mysterious invitation to participate in a newlñy built Escape Room. I could already tell from the initial scenes that this movie was going to be so-so at best. The visuals, production values and such seemed fine, but there was this small thing going on....

Isolation movies usually work well because they keep suspense. They make you care for the characters and then theystart killing them. You are left rooting for some character and suffering every scene, because you don't know if your's is going to live.

The problem with Escape Room is that the characters either actively suck, or have nothing interesting going for them. In addition, you get an accurate idea of who the movie wants you to like from the start, which makes you predict who is the one who is going to survive. This really sets the movie back.

One thing they did right was to try to have an inclusive cast. They ensured everybody but the useless white male is a token minority member. Unfortunately, none of them was a native American, and there were no openly transexual or homosexual characters, so I expect this movie to be boicotted and trashed for these gross mistakes despite the fact they tried. Also I am offended because there was no Spaniard who identifies himself as a horse.

So, what are we left in this sort of movie when we are given no reason to care for the characters? Only two things: the puzzles they have to solve, and the story as to why the characters got locked in.

As soon as the characters enter the Escape Room, it becomes apparent the Escape Room is there to kill them. The first room turns out to be a giant oven which will roast'em alive unless they figure out the puzzle whose solution allows to escape to the next room. In essence, this is the basic mechanic of the movie: move into room, the room presents a threat, the characters solve the puzzle to move on and every now and then somebody dies. None of the puzzles is groundbreaking, but they are serviceable as far as entertaining the audience goes.

The film throws us some flashbacks every now and then in order to let us know who the characters are, but character development is poor. In fact, the movie does not throw many clues as to why the characters were invited to the killer roomor what they have in common. Thankfully, this happens late in the movie.

Why do I say "thankfully?" Because when the underlaying plot is revealed, it ends up being so childish, cliché cringeworthy and stupid that you realize nothing in this movie has any solid justification.

I say this as a guy who thinks a movie in which a villian puts people in trap rooms to make them appreciate their lives more has a solid justification.

The My Little Pony movie had villians with solid reasons for their actions. Heck, there was a My Little Movie episode in which the ponies try to find out who took a bite from a cake, and the gal who took the bite from the cake had a stronger justification than the Escape Room architects had.

It **IS** that cringeworthy.

Worst yet, I had ran out of bourbon when it hit, so I had no more alcohol to swallow the rest of the film with.

At that point the whole film unravels and you end up watching the rest of it by inertia only. If you are brave enough. To add insult to injury, it ends up with a sequel-baiting cliffhanger, suggesting they are going to try to make yet another one.

So:

Socially inclusive cast of forgettable characters gets put in a puzzle building that is bent on killing them, you keep watching because the puzzles are mildly interesting, and the movie limps along until THE BIG REVEAL, at which point you feel robbed of your time.

The onlñy room you must escape from is the room in which anybody dares to play this movie.


--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
￭ Synchronet ￭ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Hello Arelor!

** On Sunday 05.09.21 - 09:33, Arelor wrote to All:

..so I expect this movie to be boicotted and trashed for
these gross mistakes despite the fact they tried. Also I am
offended because there was no Spaniard who identifies
himself as a horse.

[...]

The onlñy room you must escape from is the room in which
anybody dares to play this movie.

Too funny!

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
■ Synchronet ■ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP

Hello Arelor!

** On Sunday 05.09.21 - 09:33, Arelor wrote to All:

Hello, moviegoers! This time I am here to introduce...
Escape Room!

[...]

Let's be honest here, but this concept has been done to
death already.

This talk of escape room movies reminded me of Dogville (2003).
It has an escape room feel, but it's something entirely
different too. I liked it.


--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
■ Synchronet ■ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:50 pm

Too funny!

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

the cube movies are pretty decent.

---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:50 pm

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

The original Cube is a masterpiece of low budget goodness and will receive a review later.

WHatever you do, ensure you watch the original. Skip the sequels. Hypercube was as bad as it gets. If you want Hyper-something, please, go play Hyperrogue instead :-)

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Dogville (2003)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:53 pm

This talk of escape room movies reminded me of Dogville (2003).
It has an escape room feel, but it's something entirely
different too. I liked it.

I might check that one out. I only hope they don't hurt any of the dofs in the ville :-)


--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Arelor to Ogg on Mon Sep 06 2021 06:08 am

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:50 pm

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

The original Cube is a masterpiece of low budget goodness and will receive a review later.

WHatever you do, ensure you watch the original. Skip the sequels. Hypercube was as bad as it gets. If you want Hyper-something, please, go play Hyperrogue instead :-)

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

i liked all the cube movies. could be worse.

---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

This talk of escape room movies reminded me of Dogville (2003).
It has an escape room feel, but it's something entirely
different too. I liked it.

I might check that one out. I only hope they don't hurt any of the dofs in the ville :-)

Be prepared for "something different". Production is more like a play, but the effect works - it keeps you focused on the people, not the potential visual distractions. I believe some reviews call the film avant-garde.

As far as I recall, no real dogs were harmed or depicted to be harmed in the story. But if you think of humans as dogs.. well, then maybe! ;) It's a bit creepy and some characters aren't what they seem.

---
■ Synchronet ■ The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: MRO to Arelor on Mon Sep 06 2021 09:10 am

i liked all the cube movies. could be worse.

I am glad somebody liked the sequels. At least they weren't a total waste of time. :-)

I think the series actually deserve a review. I am going to have to rewatch them. I don't know if I have strength enough to go through the second one, though.



--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: Dogville (2003)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Mon Sep 06 2021 10:52 am

This talk of escape room movies reminded me of Dogville (2003).
It has an escape room feel, but it's something entirely
different too. I liked it.

I might check that one out. I only hope they don't hurt any of the dofs i the ville :-)

Be prepared for "something different". Production is more like a play, but effect works - it keeps you focused on the people, not the potential visual distractions. I believe some reviews call the film avant-garde.

As far as I recall, no real dogs were harmed or depicted to be harmed in the story. But if you think of humans as dogs.. well, then maybe! ;) It's a bit creepy and some characters aren't what they seem.

I am fine if they harm humans. Nobody likes humans. Hell, even todlers are fair game because everybody knows they grow into adult humans if you let them.

It is when they steal a puppy's favourite ball from him when the movie becomes too dramatic and painful to be bearable.

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Hello Arelor!

** On Monday 06.09.21 - 06:08, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:50 pm

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not
so sure about that one either.

The original Cube is a masterpiece of low budget goodness
and will receive a review later.

I just finished watching Cube (1997). I'll post my comments
later.

WHatever you do, ensure you watch the original. Skip the
sequels. Hypercube was as bad as it gets.

I've been reading the wiki's on the others. The criticisms are
enough to convince me to avoid them.

--

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
■ Synchronet ■ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP

Re: Cube (1997)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Tue Sep 07 2021 01:25 am

Hello Arelor!

** On Monday 06.09.21 - 06:08, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Sep 05 2021 05:50 pm

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not
so sure about that one either.

The original Cube is a masterpiece of low budget goodness
and will receive a review later.

I just finished watching Cube (1997). I'll post my comments
later.

WHatever you do, ensure you watch the original. Skip the
sequels. Hypercube was as bad as it gets.

I've been reading the wiki's on the others. The criticisms are
enough to convince me to avoid them.

--

I hope you liked Cube!

One of the friends I watched it with ended up laugthing while rolling on the floor once the identity of the survivor was known.

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

---
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: MRO to Ogg on Mon Sep 06 2021 04:47:34

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

the cube movies are pretty decent.

The original was very good. Part of what made it so good was that it
was so different, though. Cube 2 didn't really add much.

I never saw the Cube prequel, though.

---
■ Synchronet ■ Mutiny BBS - mutinybbs.com - telnet:2332 - ssh:2232

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: Ksource to MRO on Tue Sep 07 2021 01:36 am

Re: Escape Room (2019)
By: MRO to Ogg on Mon Sep 06 2021 04:47:34

I was poised to check out The Cube some day. Now I'm not so
sure about that one either.

the cube movies are pretty decent.

The original was very good. Part of what made it so good was that it
was so different, though. Cube 2 didn't really add much.

I never saw the Cube prequel, though.

cube zero shows you whats going on behind the scenes. the people watching the people in the cube.

---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Hello Arelor!

** On Tuesday 07.09.21 - 05:05, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

I just finished watching Cube (1997). I'll post my comments
later.

I hope you liked Cube!

I did. I really liked the opening sequence and the first
boobytrapped room. I was hoping for more special effects like
that.

I didn't like the acting of the fellow who played the cop/
Quentin. His main ating skill just seemed to be wild-eyed
expressions. It reminded me of the overly dramatic way actors
of the silent-film era performed.

One of the friends I watched it with ended up laugthing
while rolling on the floor once the identity of the
survivor was known.

I had a feeling that there might just be one survivor; I had my
favourites. But I am a bit disappointed that the story killed
off everyone and left one survivor. I mean, the others died
NOT because of the cube, but because of bad human behaviour.

Perhaps the story is meant to be seen as an allegory to life,
society and relationships where we get thrown into
circumstances beyond our control, how we choose to cooperate
with other people and things develop partly because of our
choices, and partially because of other people's choices.

I liked the puzzle aspect of the story. I just wish that had a
greater focus, and the best academic or academics would come
out as winners. The logical side of me was also yearning to
learn WHY the cube was built, who was watching, and what the
goal really was.

Speaking of locked rooms.. howz this for a little nostalgia
from about 95 years ago:

https://kolico.ca/mpg/doors.mp4

Can anyone name the film?

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
■ Synchronet ■ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP

Re: Cube (1997)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Wed Sep 08 2021 09:43 pm

I didn't like the acting of the fellow who played the cop/
Quentin. His main ating skill just seemed to be wild-eyed
expressions. It reminded me of the overly dramatic way actors
of the silent-film era performed.

they were showing that he was going insane from starving and the time shifts.

---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Cube (1997)
By: Ogg to Arelor on Wed Sep 08 2021 09:43 pm

Speaking of locked rooms.. howz this for a little nostalgia
from about 95 years ago:

https://kolico.ca/mpg/doors.mp4

Can anyone name the film?

I can't, but that's a good example of physical acting. Curious to know more about it.
--
digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #47:
The Synchronet Museum is online at http://wiki.synchro.net/history:museum:index Norco, CA WX: 96.1°F, 19.0% humidity, 5 mph NW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Hello Digital Man!

** On Sunday 12.09.21 - 15:38, Digital Man wrote to Ogg:

Speaking of locked rooms.. howz this for a little nostalgia
from about 95 years ago:

https://kolico.ca/mpg/doors.mp4

Can anyone name the film?

I can't, but that's a good example of physical acting.
Curious to know more about it.

It's a clip from Metropolis (1927). In 1984, the film was put
to Georgio Morodor's selection of rock music. The soundtrack
recording is excellent.

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
■ Synchronet ■ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP