Watched Primer for the Second Time Thinking I'd Get It This Time Around...

I watch it every year for March Madness.

Be sure to watch Timecrimes as well. Great time travel film indie film.

Didn't get it my first time. Need to watch again to figure out how the mechanic works. Blue Velvet told me it took him like 7 times (some viewings in instant succession) to get it

Kickass dialogue, though. Gonna watch it again soon

quote:

---

...I didn't.

---

There are charts that describes what is known in science fiction circles (now) as the "Primer" model of time travel. They help me - a little - in understanding what happened in the movie. It is still way muddier than Donnie Darko, but I think I get it enough to enjoy the film now:

SPOILERS:






The last one is a little tough to read, even on the original site, but here is a link:

Dime Angry - Time Travel in Primer

quote:

---

I watch it every year for March Madness.

---

I havne't seen it...what is the connection to basketball?

I just acted real surprised at the end and was like "holy shite, no way". Then told my wife it was too complicated to explain.

quote:

---

First chart hardly helps me

---

Okay - think of the time machine as an alternate timeline creation machine. Ace Prime goes into the machine at 6 pm on the first day (ever) of time travel. This creates universe "1" - he travels back in time 6 hours. Ace 1 "intersects" with universe prime for 6 hours then continues on - right. If he never travels through time again - there are 2 Aces living 2 increasingly divergent lives. (The alternate theory is that Ace Prime destroys universe prime by traveling through time and creates Ace 1 and Universe 1 to replace them).

But if Ace AND Deuce travel together - that doubles the number of universes and intersections created - and if one of them is actively manipulating the other - you get what you had in Primer. It does make my left and right hemispheres wrestle with each other (:nohomo: NTTAWWT).

:mindblown:

quote:

---

that second chart posted makes it look like it wouldn't even be a fun movie to watch.

---

It's a weird paradox - the movie is fun - until it surpasses your ability to comprehend it in a living, breathing, normal 4 dimensional universe. That's going to differ from person to person.

The chart is merely an attempt (that I can't vouch for) to describe in a 2 dimensional chart - what happened in the film, for those seeking something more than a simple shoulder shrug and



I enjoy the movie, even though I don't think it is truly understandable by 4 dimensional beings - I don't even think the writer fully understands what he wrote. Art is like that sometimes.

(And they did this for $7,000, American.)

I understand Primer enough to enjoy it. I've seen it two or three times, and it's honestly one of the best and most realistic interpretations of what time travel would be like if it ever existed (or at least it seems like it's pretty realistic).

I've read tons of shite on it and seen the charts, and that's when I get really confused to be honest. But IMO the movie is easy enough to comprehend when watching and taking things at face value and not delving too deeply into them. But it's interesting to delve into it, and that's when the real confusion sets in IMO.




As for Upsteam Color, that was one weird arse movie. I've only seen it once, and I liked it even though I wasn't sure exactly what was going on (although I think I was up with it for the most part). I've always said I need to go back and watch it again, but haven't found the time to do that yet. Maybe I'll do a Primer/UC rewatch one night and really frick my brain up.