Memento Chronological order (this one)

[tdmesacc]

My player has a memory feature for chapter stops (Pioneer). I guess with the US version, if I wanted I could simply program the chapters backwards and have my player play through the movie backwards, and not even have the jump back to the scene selection, like the Canadian version. Has anyone else thought of this?

[Chest Rockwell]

Somebody mentioned that in another post and I was thinking about it. It would almost work - the problem is, all of the black and white scenes where Leonard is talking to "the cop" on the phone would be backwards.

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"That DNA looks human!"

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

Why the fuck would you want to watch "Memento" in chornological order?! There's a reason it was made the way it was, and it was simply genius. The different naaration style kept the audience on its feet, and very attentive, which is what made the movie so powerful, nobody wanted to miss a thing! To screw with that is just pain astupid, and it would ruin the movie.

Anyway, strange thing about me and "Memento". I kept tryingto see it when it first came out (That was in March) and then finally I RUSHED out to see it in April thinking it'd be out of the art houses at any moment! Boy, I was suprised when it was still in the theatres in August!

Thanx,
Brook

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If you're a film fan in Colorado, be sure not to miss BLOODFEST!, my horror film festival benefiting Bonfils Blood Center. There are great films showing, so you should come! Get all the info here!

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[Flash Ahhh]

Why mess with it?

The movie is filmed in the method the director and writer wanted.

At first as I was watching Memento I was a little bit curious why they didn't just film the movie forward with the narrative as well, it would have worked just fine. As the movie progressed I realized it wouldn't work. First off, there would be obvious spoilers, and second I feel the reverse method is there to help deliberately frustrate the viewer as to help in understanding the character development of Leonard and what frustration he himself was going through.

I think Memento is best well enough left alone.

-Flash

[AirSickMoth]

I believe too that Memento is best left in the original order. Watching the movie twice back-to-back usualy helps with any confusion. I do see how it would help to watch it in a different order. Some things you might pick up on are how Teddy is always trying to get the keys to the Jaguar to get the money.

One thing you could do is start watching it at Chapter 3. It should be the first black and white scene. The chapter stops should be at every time it changes from B&W to Color. Now, after ch 3 is done, skip to ch 5. Then 7 and so on till you reach the end of the film. Then do the same in reverse. Just watch the even chapters. Watch 46 (or whatever it is) then skip back to 44. You might have to press the button 3 or four times to get back that far. Just keep watching the Color (even scenes) scenes in reverse order.

[Porkchop]

Originally posted by AirSickMoth:
I do see how it would help to watch it in a different order. Some things you might pick up on are how Teddy is always trying to get the keys to the Jaguar to get the money.

Holy crap! I've seen it twice now and never realized that's what he was doing! I'm sure there are dozens of things I've never noticed.
Now I gotta watch it again. And again...


[This message has been edited by Porkchop (edited 09-09-2001).]

[lamprey]

my favorite small scene is where Leonard forgets which way to open the door...

the poster above said it correctly though... if you watch the movie "forwards" then the forwards part of the movie would be "backwards". lol, either way you watch it, part of the movie is going a different way

[mp3pir8]

Originally posted by Soggy Bagel's Revenge!:
Why the fuck would you want to watch "Memento" in chornological order?! There's a reason it was made the way it was, and it was simply genius.

My sentiments exactly.

http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...ML/003683.html




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[reeltime]

Originally posted by Soggy Bagel's Revenge!:
Why the fuck would you want to watch "Memento" in chornological order?! There's a reason it was made the way it was, and it was simply genius.

True, but as a WRITER myself, I want to analyze the story from all perspectives. I'm certainly not advocating people watch it this way the first, second, or even third time. I would, however, like to have this option available - technology will allow it, and obviously there's been some interest in it.

Give me a break, we're not asking that YOU be forced to watch this movie out of sequence, eyes pried open a la "A Clockwork Orange"! A few of us just want this option in order to better appreciate the genius of the fragmented storytelling approach.


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Best,

Dave Kramer
http://fromscript2screen.com

[samuelk]

I'd like to see it in chronological order because I love behind the scenes stuff, and this qualifies. Plus, chronological order is how the screenplay was probably written. The film was rearranged in the editing room. It would be like seeing dailies.

[Dehrian]

Fragmented is nothing new. It's been done in films like Citizen Kane and Pulp Fiction. Even almost completely backwards has been done before, I believe. Someone told me that there is a German film that uses such a device.

And the movie does have flaws in the story that don't make sense if you really stop to think about it. (If he hasn't been able to form new memories since the accident, how does he know he has a condition at all?)

[1138]

Originally posted by Dehrian:
And the movie does have flaws in the story that don't make sense if you really stop to think about it. (If he hasn't been able to form new memories since the accident, how does he know he has a condition at all?)

Conditioning. Just like Sammy should have been able to condition himself to not touch the electrified devices (in the test set up by Leonard), Leonard has conditioned himself to know what he needs to get by.

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads--they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

[This message has been edited by 1138 (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Porkchop]

Originally posted by samuelk:
I'd like to see it in chronological order because I love behind the scenes stuff, and this qualifies. Plus, chronological order is how the screenplay was probably written. The film was rearranged in the editing room. It would be like seeing dailies.

I strongly disagree. I can't say for sure, since I'm not the director or the writer, but I think it's clear that this film was structured from day one to be played in reverse. This was NOT some last-minute editing decision.

That being said, I *am* interested in seeing it played chronologically as a method of deconstructing and better appreciating it.

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

I understand that some people might want to view thee film in chronological order for a better understanding of the production of the film, but the sad fact of the matter is that most people wouldn't watch it for that, and there's always the chance that a new viewer might not know aout the film, and watch it chronologically by accident. It;s just better not to include it.

thanx,
Brook

------------------
If you're a film fan in Colorado, be sure not to miss BLOODFEST!, my horror film festival benefiting Bonfils Blood Center. There are great films showing, so you should come! Get all the info here!

Go to the missing title art gallery for fun comics, creative writing, and original short films!
or, visit Cheap Thrills ...or more? for lots of horror cinema fun!
Also, see my ever-so-wonderful DVD collection!

[reeltime]

Originally posted by Soggy Bagel's Revenge!:
I understand that some people might want to view thee film in chronological order for a better understanding of the production of the film, but the sad fact of the matter is that most people wouldn't watch it for that, and there's always the chance that a new viewer might not know aout the film, and watch it chronologically by accident. It;s just better not to include it.

By that logic, we shouldn't include deleted scenes or special effects features with spoilers, because someone might see them without first watching the movie.

Besides, you could - say - pop up a warning. And if someone STILL wanted to watch it in the unintended order, well, that would be a little like reading the book before seeing the movie adaptation. Some people do, and they have a different appreciation for the movie then people who go in "cold."

Frankly, I'd be happy with the Canada solution - which only lets you watch one scene at a time in chrono sequence. It's doubtful anyone would go to that much trouble to watch the movie in order, and they'd know pretty quick that it wasn't the intended theatrical cut.

Another solution would be to make it an Easter Egg (like the third edit in T2), so it's not easily discoverable and you have to go to some effort to find and activate it.


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Best,

Dave Kramer
http://fromscript2screen.com

[lamprey]

Dehrian, if you were really so clever, you'd know that people with anterograde memory dysfunciton can know about their condition.

Open your mind.

[Dehrian]

I didn't say I was a doctor... But it is a legitimate question people who are not doctors should be asking themselves.

Aside from that, after Dodd's been shooting at him, why does he run back to the Jaguar? He shouldn't know he's been driving it. He just stole it, what, the day before? Don't tell me he conditioned himself to remember it's his car since later in the timeline, at the beginning of the film, he had to look at a picture to find which car was his.

There are enough little things like that to make me say it's not as clever as it thinks it is.

[This message has been edited by Dehrian (edited 09-12-2001).]

[Dave McFly]

I liked it, it was much better than CATS. I'm going to see it again, and again.

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[Adjuster]

Originally posted by Dehrian:

Aside from that, after Dodd's been shooting at him, why does he run back to the Jaguar? He shouldn't know he's been driving it. He just stole it, what, the day before? Don't tell me he conditioned himself to remember it's his car since later in the timeline, at the beginning of the film, he had to look at a picture to find which car was his.

There are enough little things like that to make me say it's not as clever as it thinks it is.

He was in the Jag when Dodd started chasing him and shooting him. He leapt out of the car to avoid being shot, then ran back to the car a few moments later. Lenny only forgets things after about 15 minutes, sometimes less when he is scared or under stress. I think it's fair to say that Dodd wasn't chasing him long enough for him to forget which car he was driving.




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[Marq]

Originally posted by Dehrian:
I didn't say I was a doctor... But it is a legitimate question people who are not doctors should be asking themselves.

Aside from that, after Dodd's been shooting at him, why does he run back to the Jaguar? He shouldn't know he's been driving it. He just stole it, what, the day before? Don't tell me he conditioned himself to remember it's his car since later in the timeline, at the beginning of the film, he had to look at a picture to find which car was his.

There are enough little things like that to make me say it's not as clever as it thinks it is.

[This message has been edited by Dehrian (edited 09-12-2001).]

I'm not sure about Leonard's situation, but I know my car keys have a key chain showing the emblem of the make of car on the key and key chain. Lenny would still remember what a Jaguar logo looks like, etc... but like Adjuster said, his memory likely wouldn't have run out just yet.

Also, I'm in Canada and out of curiosity watched the film in it's chronological order (though not via the special feature, rather by programming my player with the adjusted chapter stops.. like any one with the U.S. edition could do too). It was intersting to see and did clear up a couple unanswered questions I had. Although I wouldn't watch it like that again. It's just too darn original in it's "normal" order to avoid.



[This message has been edited by Marq (edited 09-13-2001).]

[1138]

Originally posted by Adjuster:
He was in the Jag when Dodd started chasing him and shooting him. He leapt out of the car to avoid being shot, then ran back to the car a few moments later. Lenny only forgets things after about 15 minutes, sometimes less when he is scared or under stress. I think it's fair to say that Dodd wasn't chasing him long enough for him to forget which car he was driving.

Well except that they show him forgetting whether he's chasing Dod or Dod's chasing him in the middle of it. I think the key chain is the answer. Does he try the "beep-beep" button on it?

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads--they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

[AirSickMoth]

Yes, he runs to the car because the alarm is on, he then uses his key fob to turn off the alarm. Therefore he must have figured that it is his car because he has the keys.

[Dehrian]

His memory starts when Dodd's chasing him. He turns and runs the other way, back towards the car. Jumps the wall, gets the keys out of his pocket, stares at the button, deactivates the alarm, and jumps into the car.

[Porkchop]

Originally posted by Dehrian:
His memory starts when Dodd's chasing him. He turns and runs the other way, back towards the car. Jumps the wall, gets the keys out of his pocket, stares at the button, deactivates the alarm, and jumps into the car.

And the problem with that is.... what, exactly?

He realizes he's being chased. Naturally, changes direction. Obviously the paths through that area are clear. So, again naturally, he arrives at the car. Makes the keychain/alarm connection. Realizes it's his car.

I've heard a lot of people try to point out plot holes in this film, claiming it's not as clever as it's supposed to be, and not one of them has held water yet. The film is pretty damn close to airtight. It's brilliant.

[AirSickMoth]

Damn straight it's a brilliant film.