I may have recommended it but I honestly can't remember, I was going to ask what you thought about the plot. I haven't read the book so it's all a bit mysterious to me, I liked it a lot though.
I haven't read the book either. I don't recall all the details of the film, but I remember being satisfied afterward. I appreciated the narrative ambiguity, and I thought the mythology underpinning the story was cool.
Was it you that recommended Annihilation?
Ha, well like you said--I may have.
Although I was ambivalent when it came out, I've since grown to like it more. In this case I have read the book (all three in the trilogy, actually), and the film makes significant changes, not all of which I was happy with at first. I've come to appreciate them more after rewatching it.
It's a visually stunning movie, and certain shots are absolutely gorgeous. I think the acting is also pretty good, although I wasn't a fan of all the dialogue. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes cerebral sci-fi. It aims to be a sibling of Tarkovsky's work (
Stalker and
Solaris both come to mind), but its reach exceeds its grasp. That's not necessarily a fault, as Tarkovsky is a high bar. It's worth a watch at least, I'd say.
I'd also tell anyone who watches to bear in mind that although it's based on the first book of a trilogy, Garland has said he has no plans to direct sequels. So he views it as a standalone film, which likely informs some of the changes he made.
