Project Hail Mary (Spoilers)

[Anonymous]

I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked the movie but it was way too long.

I liked the movie, but left feeling like I wanted to read the book to flush out the plot. I’m not sure they could have shortened it more and still told the story

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

Rocky is essentially a supercomputer—he can process language and has a near perfect memory and facility with languages.

Yes--this is more in the book than in the movie, including that over time, Grace relies less and less on the computer and begins to understand Rocky's tones/language.

You do see that in the movie a bit, but of course, for humor and personality on film, they are not going to have Rocky speaking his language and use subtitles. Esp. since it is very long---look how long it took him to vocalize his mate's name@

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

Because them speaking English is more attractive to viewing Earth public than using Rocky's language of sounds, with subtitles added?

If I remember correctly then in the book Rocky communicates in his language, and Grace uses his computer to help translate it into English. Over time he needs translatation less, as he learns to understand the language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

Did you watch the movie? Grace used the computer to interpret what Rocky was saying. At the end of the movie Grace is walking with Rocky and completely understanding him without a computer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

It was from a human POV because it starts on Earth. Presumably the book is that way too. Would you really want to start on the Erid ship with a rusty looking spider for an hour then have him go WTF is a Ryan Gosling? I would have liked to watch him make all the models though.

[Anonymous]

So many plot holes, but a very enjoyable film. My 14 yo DD loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

I saw it today and had a completely opposite thought on this. I really liked the message of meeting an alien (possible symbol for immigrant) and collaborating and befriending him rather than wanting to annihilate him.

You do have a point regarding learning our language, but really for a movie I don’t see how you could get around that.

I’m so glad so many others on this thread like the movie. People on DCUM tend to be so negative about things. I didn’t read this thread until after I had seen the movie, especially given it saying spoilers in the title.

[Anonymous]

LOVED the ending. I was so worried it would end with tragedy or we would't find out what happened to Rocky & Grace. But I'm a sucker for a happy ending!

[Anonymous]

I didn't catch if this was address in the movie, but were Eridians NOT water-based? Since that was Grace's entire reason for getting kicked out of academia, I was hoping he'd be redeemed by finding out they aren't water-based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't catch if this was address in the movie, but were Eridians NOT water-based? Since that was Grace's entire reason for getting kicked out of academia, I was hoping he'd be redeemed by finding out they aren't water-based.

My guess is they are not. That’s primarily based on the end where there is that ocean that the Eridians created for him and his biosphere. He said at one point that it had been boiling hot and another it was too cold, which made me think they weren’t familiar with water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

You really have TDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

Dummy it was the opposite- Rocky's language was translated for us via Grace's computer. So we heard Grace talking and the translated Rockey back in English. The computer did the language. Nobody learned or tried to vocalize a different species' language. It's covered in the book too. Not really a way for them to organically do that....

In the book you absolutely know that Rocky's civilization is "smart" if not smarter. In the movie they did a pretty good job representing that. Rocky's ship was more advanced. Their capability on their home planet creating an "earth" (remember, this is a species that likes very high heat and ammoniac conditions!) is amazing. They also create organic food for Grace to eat, which is not in the movie! So calm down Patrice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

You really have TDS.

He’s the f-ing POTUS. We are forced to endure the dotard - again - on a daily basis because of a-holes like you.

All of the non cult members wish that he’d go away so we never have to utter his name again.

Me? HAHAHA!!!

I just don’t go around associating everything with MAGA. We were talking about a movie and here you go dragging politics into it. It’s idiots like you who helped elect him!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like the movie but I didn’t like how human-centric it was. Why did the alien have to learn OUR language and way of being? Felt like too similar to how our MAGA-lead culture is now - American-centric and disinterested in those that may be smarter.

Dummy it was the opposite- Rocky's language was translated for us via Grace's computer. So we heard Grace talking and the translated Rockey back in English. The computer did the language. Nobody learned or tried to vocalize a different species' language. It's covered in the book too. Not really a way for them to organically do that....

In the book you absolutely know that Rocky's civilization is "smart" if not smarter. In the movie they did a pretty good job representing that. Rocky's ship was more advanced. Their capability on their home planet creating an "earth" (remember, this is a species that likes very high heat and ammoniac conditions!) is amazing. They also create organic food for Grace to eat, which is not in the movie! So calm down Patrice!

+1
Rocky does most of the work figuring out Grace's ability to sense, what conditions he can live in (temp, pressure, oxygen). The book explains it more, but that initial wall with a tiny window is basically a sampler quilt of all the things Rocky thought an alien might "sense". The "window" was just another substance and of course Grace was drawn to it because we sense optically. There were things on that "quilt" that appeals to other senses. Rocky sees through walls and senses things via acoustics/xrays. Grace does mention that Rocky doesn't have a face!

So maybe it is human-centric in that Rocky kicks off the initial communications but Grace picks it right up and does plenty of stuff to reach out to how Rocky communicates and senses things too. In the book he's also more hands-on when Rocky gets environmental poisoning, and he figures out some things to help Rocky recuperate. Andy Weir is basically an amazing thinker and they did very well in translating that to the movie.