I've seen this movie like 4 times. It's animated with rotoscoping (they actually film it then artists draw over frames) which creates a trippy effect. There isn't a plot really...it's about a college student walking around listening to people talk about various things: freewill, God, down with corporations and government, personal identity, technological singularity (google it), and the central theme, lucid dreaming. The movie is all about the end. Since lucid dreaming is becoming consciousness whilst dreaming and the prevailing theme in the movie about "true awareness" and identity, at the end he seems to finally discover this awareness and...well I don't wanna ruin the ending. I was thinking about sticking this in the mind fuck forum. Definitely a mind fuck. Watch it, you won't be disappointed.
its definately a fabulous movie. definate mind fuck. i have it around here somewhere... i have no idea where though. in some box...
I'm gonna check it out because it sounds interesting and i love rotoscoping. If you like the art style then you might like the movie a scanner darkly as well.
if existential philosophy is your idea of a mindfuck then I can assure you you needed it. It is necessary for the betterment of your mind. Welcome to contemplating your existence. It is what makes us human. your life is waking. enjoy it.
and BTW the same director released another movie recently called "a scanner darkly" with the same animated effects. it starred keanu reeves, robert downey jr, woody harrelson, winona reider, etc. based on a philip dick novel. (minority report, i robot?,etc) good flick!
I thought the visual aspects were amazing and captivating. The story or lack there of couldn't keep my attention. A Scanner Darkly was ALOT ALOT ALOT better, I recommend anyone who enjoyed Waking Life to see it. Overall, Richard Linklaters best films are Dazed and Confused and Slacker. Totally different styles though.
It's pretty good as an intro to philosophy I would say. I think it would be a good way for a professor to introduce key terms in an intro course and spark some interesting conversations. Nothing to earth shattering covered but the way it was presented was pretty unique.
