Post by pharrout on Dec 28, 2016 14:03:10 GMT -5
Although i have expressed my displeasure (in other threads) for Ravager, and will undoubtedly create more controversy (going forward). I believe the alternate universe explanation was a weak argument to cover for plot holes or weak writing in sequel films (primarily Ravager).
For instance, let's say that Reggie was in fact suffering dementia (in an alternate universe) and fighting the Tall Man in another.
Why wasn't Reggie's wife or daughter at his bedside (during his dementia). We only see Mike and Jody. There is no mention or sign of his wife, daughter or any other next of kin. Only buddies Jody (who was to have died anyway in a car wreck) and Mike (the kid brother of Jody) are there.
I truly believe Phantasm was more effective without the alternate universe theory. What I mean is, I believe the alternate universe should only be created by the person's dreams, and not some series of stacked parallel mathematical earths/universe that intersect each other (causing multiple story-lines all at once).
For instance, P1 Mike dreams that Reggie went to Morningside and closed the dimension gate, but Reggie doesn't remember it (in Part 2). Yet, the coolness in the series is that whatever Mike dreams and visions in his mind, either already existed or comes true (present or past), without having to explain it in some technical, scientific alternate universes theory. This is the uniqueness of Phantasm.
I feel that Mike is the center of the Phantasm franchise, and the narrative should have remained based on "his visions" and "his dreams(or phantasms)" and not some scientific alternate universe that can be experienced/understood by the other characters (Reggie, Jody, etc). The only other person that should be able to read Mike's mind should be the Tall Man (in my opinion), which is why he is after Mike (not Reggie).
Ravager tried to take the power of the mind/dreams from Mike, and make it something that everybody (including Reggie) can easily possess. I think this was done for two reasons,
1) They had all this Reggie's Tales footage shot--easier to make a P5 film using that footage/perspective.
2) Could write a script that essentially goes nowhere (P5) because this alternate universe is bigger than "You, I or anybody" so, they don't have to ever explain anything (like why the Tall Man and Mike were connected, why Mike was the one with the visions and dreams P1-P4), instead just make the whole thing one big alternate universe (where the Tall Man, Mike, Reggie, Jody and everybody else run around in it).
I think Phantasm fans fall into 2 categories:
1. Phantasm Fans: By true definition of the word, Phantasm. These are the fans (including myself) of the dreams,visions and phantasms of a young boy (Mike) and how he uses them to resist the Tall Man-- as the series unfolds based on only his visions as the main narrative(explained in P1-P4). Reggie and everyone else are side characters.
2. Alternate Universe Fans: The fans of the big alternate universe theory, where anyone (Mike, Reggie or even Jody) can be the main character (at any given time) and no one character is more important than the other. This leaves no required conclusion or reconciliation of the series (because there are 1,000 tall men and 1,000 alternate universes--where Reggie, Mike, Chunk, Rocky, Jody or anybody can be "the one" to challenge or be seduced by the Tall Man) at any given time.
For instance, let's say that Reggie was in fact suffering dementia (in an alternate universe) and fighting the Tall Man in another.
Why wasn't Reggie's wife or daughter at his bedside (during his dementia). We only see Mike and Jody. There is no mention or sign of his wife, daughter or any other next of kin. Only buddies Jody (who was to have died anyway in a car wreck) and Mike (the kid brother of Jody) are there.
I truly believe Phantasm was more effective without the alternate universe theory. What I mean is, I believe the alternate universe should only be created by the person's dreams, and not some series of stacked parallel mathematical earths/universe that intersect each other (causing multiple story-lines all at once).
For instance, P1 Mike dreams that Reggie went to Morningside and closed the dimension gate, but Reggie doesn't remember it (in Part 2). Yet, the coolness in the series is that whatever Mike dreams and visions in his mind, either already existed or comes true (present or past), without having to explain it in some technical, scientific alternate universes theory. This is the uniqueness of Phantasm.
I feel that Mike is the center of the Phantasm franchise, and the narrative should have remained based on "his visions" and "his dreams(or phantasms)" and not some scientific alternate universe that can be experienced/understood by the other characters (Reggie, Jody, etc). The only other person that should be able to read Mike's mind should be the Tall Man (in my opinion), which is why he is after Mike (not Reggie).
Ravager tried to take the power of the mind/dreams from Mike, and make it something that everybody (including Reggie) can easily possess. I think this was done for two reasons,
1) They had all this Reggie's Tales footage shot--easier to make a P5 film using that footage/perspective.
2) Could write a script that essentially goes nowhere (P5) because this alternate universe is bigger than "You, I or anybody" so, they don't have to ever explain anything (like why the Tall Man and Mike were connected, why Mike was the one with the visions and dreams P1-P4), instead just make the whole thing one big alternate universe (where the Tall Man, Mike, Reggie, Jody and everybody else run around in it).
I think Phantasm fans fall into 2 categories:
1. Phantasm Fans: By true definition of the word, Phantasm. These are the fans (including myself) of the dreams,visions and phantasms of a young boy (Mike) and how he uses them to resist the Tall Man-- as the series unfolds based on only his visions as the main narrative(explained in P1-P4). Reggie and everyone else are side characters.
2. Alternate Universe Fans: The fans of the big alternate universe theory, where anyone (Mike, Reggie or even Jody) can be the main character (at any given time) and no one character is more important than the other. This leaves no required conclusion or reconciliation of the series (because there are 1,000 tall men and 1,000 alternate universes--where Reggie, Mike, Chunk, Rocky, Jody or anybody can be "the one" to challenge or be seduced by the Tall Man) at any given time.