I have no idea about the people who understand any bloody thing from this stuff. Is all about the drug trippy, is this enough to like it? I really don't know what the point is. Someone must show what Russell's true colors actually are.
Kind of a bizarre film, but I've returned to it numerous times over the years and still certainly enjoy it!
Had one or two scenes that were among some of the greatest things ever committed to celluloid (the surrealistic drug trips) but unfortunately there was way too much tech-babble and unconvincing character development to keep me completely engaged. If the film had been 102 minutes of surrealistic images, it would have been a masterpiece, at least to me. Overall: glad I saw it, but wouldn't watch it again.
I saw the preview version of Altered States in 1980 in Pasadena. I recall a character (maybe the Blair Brown character) expressing her relief at not having to take a course in John Milton's poem Paradise Lost. This brief scene is not in the current DVD, I think; the preview version underwent some edits. But, to confirm my memory, does anyone else recall the scene I mention above?
saw this film when i was 18 and it blew me away ,i had never seen this style of movie before.
'2001' meets Lady Gaga - pure sci-fi insanity just interesting enough to warrant your attention. Ridiculous expository dialogue almost kills the script but you can't help but giggle as William Hurt busts a gut soliloquising pseudoscientific theories. The hallucination sequences elevate this above average - unique surrealist mash-ups that grow in intensity, leading to a beautiful, accomplished, extended trip.
If it weren't for the good acting, the movie would have been totally ridiculous. As long as it remains on the experimental side of filmaking it suceeds; but when it demands to be taken seriously on the drama/pshycological thriller side, it fails. Leaves no explanation to what you just saw, and fails to preserve viewer's curiosity. It's like a bad acid trip with a corny ending.
A favorite though perplexing and different scifi film, stellar music. Ken takes a slightly rediculous idea and makes it amazing with its own visual unique visual style much like raimi's unique film style in the Evil dead movies. If your looking for ken russell movies to watch, this is my favorite Russel film. Also my favorite william hurt movie other than dark city.
at times incredible and at times completely retarded. the romantic element was really annoying. i would have liked 1it 9348x more if it weren’t trying to be anything more than drugtalk kitsch.
Ken does Hollywood in an uneven mix of outlandish trip sequences atoning for drab scientific mumbo-jumbo in between. Surprisingly quite a few Russellisms make it through: sexual tension and crucifixes a go-go.
