The most obvious is the film's use of prophecy, which is bolstered by the connection between John Koestler, who tries to warn the planet of the coming apocalypse, and John the Apostle, the author of the Book of Revelation, the final book of the Christian Bible that details the end of the world. [42], Steve Biodrowski of Cinefantastique refers to the film's approach as disappointingly "pseudo-scientific". So it's possible that Lucinda was simply a messenger the aliens hoped that perhaps somebody would figure out what the dates and predictions meant back when Lucinda wrote them. Koestler becomes the Cassandra figure from Greek mythology; like her, no one will believe his prophesies. When can we expect the hologram part. Angels are immortal and the Bible suggests that, as such, they have no need to procreate. The skeptical and hysterical Diana loads Caleb and Abby into her car and flees for the caves. The bigger twist is that this presages a doomsday neither planet nor protagonist can survive. Then, there are also references to other Biblical passages, which suggest a more pick-'n'-mix approach to Christian mythology: John's separation from his son Caleb calls to mind the Matthew verse "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left," and the bringing of the kids to the new, Eden-like planet could be interpreted as a Rapture, following the Revelation-like reception of the beings' whispers. Later its the entire human race. British author Arthur C Clarke wrote a novel Childhood's End (1963) in which aliens enforce peace on Earth so that the children can develop their psychic powers. October 15, 2012 Reply They . [3] Presumably, aliens are born and produce offspring because, you know, biological. Caleb and Abby will probably stay together for awhile, however, just because they knew each other from the previous world. Later in the week, I was blind-sided by the negative reaction. Homeworld . | Review, Both dads struggle to be present for their children as a result, There are advance warnings and messages before the aliens arrive. However, despite their denial, there is still plenty of evidence that is out there that shows that aliens do in fact exist and they have visited our planet, possibly for quite some time . In fact, the plot and its themes are very similar to 2002s Signs: Knowing reflects what grieving is like in an understated, naturalistic way. It seems likely that the character's name was chosen to echo these themes of faith and survival. The story was told from the point of view of a priest or pastor (I believe he was a Lutheran pastor, but I could be mis-remembering) who didn't buy the theory that it was angels who were fighting humanity; they were just aliens, and God still loved humanity. Most of the kids oblige with robots and rockets but one child Lucinda becomes obsessed with writing a creepy number code. By including so much religious allegory, Knowing actually sets up its own ending relatively early on by foreshadowing Nicolas Cage's character death and spiritual redemption. The possible reason for the selection of children is likely a matter of age. Diana pursues them at speed in a stolen SUV, but is killed in a collision with a semi-truck on the date her mother predicted. The site's consensus: "Knowing has some interesting ideas and a couple good scenes, but it's weighted down by its absurd plot and over-seriousness". Quoting: Anonymous Coward 77568230. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Caleb and Abby are taken away to a distant planet, while John and Everyone Else the EE mentioned in the alien code are left to a fiery annihilation. Proyas explained the goal, "I did that specifically to not let the artifice of visual effects and all the cuts and stuff we can do, get in the way of the emotion of the scene. [9], The film is set primarily in the town of Lexington with some scenes set in the nearby cities of Cambridge and Boston. professor John Koestler links a mysterious list of numbers from a time capsule to past and future disasters and sets out to prevent the ultimate catastrophe. The picture Lucinda used to stare at for hours, the one Abby colors the sun in, is a drawing representing the visions of the Prophet Ezekiel from the Hebrew Bible, specifically God's chariot. "[32] Philip French's review in The Observer suggested the premise was "intriguing B-feature apocalypse, determinism versus free will stuff" and that the ending has something for everyone: "A chosen few will apparently be swept away by angels to a better place. Then the alien stuff just came from out of nowhere and just seemed so ridiculous. Diana later died when her vehicle was later broadsided by a truck. Once in space, they appear capable of going at, near, or possibly above lightspeed, denoted by bright flashes of light visible to observers on a planet. The Whisper people are actually aliens who sent the numbers as a message. Diana suggests that she take Caleb and Abby to a set of underground caves as shelter and attempts to do so without telling John. The film was released on March 20, 2009, in the United States. This ambiguity between Christian metaphor and radically secular speculation explains the movie's divisive reputation among Christians, detailed on the website ChristianAnswers.net. Making it into a 14th b'ak'tun was to be considered an additional sign that the universe was "correct", and would be cause for a great celebration, similar to 20th century celebrations of the Millennium. This is where the film also subverts what we expect of science fiction, which is broadly redemptive though through human perseverance rather than divine intervention. Indeed, in her bedroom, John finds a wall covered of newspaper's snippets about a lot of disasters related to the numbers. What we see in the film is a fairly good rendering of Ezekiel's visionwhether one considers the vision to have been of angels or of aliens.It is also worth noting that the children's names are laden with biblical meaning. The films big tension is between science and religion: While Caleb believes his mum died and went to heaven, Koestler doesnt. In the second chapter of the Bible, we are told that God created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. Niall is also a certified boxing coach, which goes hand-in-hand with his encyclopedic knowledge of the Rocky franchise, and considers himself something of an expert on Batman. Or, it may have had a purpose similar to Noah's Ark, with the child refugees of Earth taking with them two animals from various species in order to save and repopulate not just humanity, but the Earth's animal species, as well. The Strangers took Caleb and Abby to the hidden shelter near Lucinda's home with John witnessing as the Strangers shift from their human forms into their true form and take Caleb and Abby into their ship which, along with various other Stranger ships housing human children, took them to a distant planet to continue humanity's existence. [6] Proyas said the aspect that attracted him the most was the "very different script" and the notion of people seeing the future and "how it [shapes] their lives". At night, Stranger ships appear to be black in color, but in daylight, they appear either white or light blue. Here are 10 evidences to prove this theory. Through careful rewatching and a little extrapolation, here are the answers to the biggest questions from the ending of the Knowing movie. Pluck this movie, and it vibrates. Edit, Presumably, they were a separate code of events for the new world. Rich good answer to your extraterrestrial 'inquisition' question! Despite the clear alien technology at the end, the creepy "visitors" might still be thought of as angels (or, better, as aliens that could be mistaken for angels). The Visitors had to be what He named for us as the Angels. No other reviews existed at that time. The powerful and rich and famous of this world give him their allegiance. That repetition is as much as double cross as genre ambiguity and a clue that we should expect exactly the opposite. There is also just a hint of a reality beyond that of which the aliens were guiding the human survivors, which in turn means that the notion of God wasn't entirely disregarded. It may help them process their grief and anxieties better but it may also seal their fate and tell them the day they will die. Despite the sci-fi premise, Knowing's third act wasn't too far from being a Nicolas Cage horror movie, with Koestler attempting to protect his son, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury), from humanity's impending extinction. Answer (1 of 10): I know a kook that seriously believes fallen angels are cruising around the solar system in spaceships. If there ever was a species you would * not* want introduced into an alien eco-system, rabbits would make the top 5 easily. | All the children create visual works except for Lucinda Embry. In 1959, a Lexington, Massachusetts elementary school celebrates its opening with a competition in which students draw what they believe will happen in the future. Knowing was filmed in Docklands Studios Melbourne, Australia, using various locations to represent the film's Boston-area setting. Knowing movie clips: http://j.mp/1BZjFlvBUY THE MOVIE: http://j.mp/1AVwACWDon't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6prCLIP DESCRIPTION:John Koe. But for believers and little children, well, life finds a way. Common ways that angels will appear to humans as a light source include: bursts of small, colored lights across your field of vision; glowing orbs; a constant stream of very bright white light . The problem with believing in aliens is that there is truly no concrete evidence that they have ever existed. . Generally, angels are depicted as beautiful, pale-skinned humans with wings, wearing white robes, carrying a harp, and sporting a halo. He thought Nicolas Cage "borders on ridiculous here, in part because of a script that gives him little to do but freak out or act depressed". Strangers are humanoid energy beings, with mostly transparent bodies showing glowing innards, which resemble a heart in their chests and a brain in their heads. Arthur Koestler and The Roots of Coincidence). Saying "UFOs are angels" is like saying "UFOs are flying ghosts" or "UFO's are magic flying leprechauns". By Chris Murphy. Niall can be found on Twitter @lordofthegray. The project was picked up by the production company Escape Artists, and the script was rewritten by Stiles White and Juliet Snowden. And when he fails to stop the subway train crashing, the crowds of people walking silently through the dust cloud is eerily similar to scenes from the attack on the Twin Towers. It is also possible that the Strangers were leaving to evacuate more aliens from other planets on the brink of destruction, and would return. However, the film seems to leave the decision up to the discretion of the viewer. He would not have let anyone visit earth and interfere with His new creation , without any knowledge and permission on His part. Edit, Not necessarily. He sought to capture a gritty and realistic look to the film, and his approach involved a continuous two-minute scene in which Cage's character sees a plane crash and attempts to rescue passengers. Whether you read "Knowing" as a movie about angels mistaken for aliens or aliens mistaken for angels, one thing is for sure: The movie gets, and incorporates, much of the existential appeal of . Clearly the aliens-angels never heard of the concept of invasive species. An old tradition says that guardian angels are appointed to children at the time of their birth. They might not have figured out the messages from the numbers. Well before the film neared its by turns dismal and ditzy conclusion, I found myself knowingyet hardly able to believewhat was about to happen. Knowing grossed $186.5 million at the worldwide box office, plus $27.7 million with home video sales, against an average production budget of $50 million. . In a recently leaked memo, the FBI has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life, though the claim is now being denied by the bureau. They are also capable of flight, leaving trails of energy that resemble wings as they do. The scenographic rain led to the usage of a new gel for the flames so the fire would not be put out, and semi-permanent make-up to make them last the long shooting hours. If Lucinda could hear the whisper people, why wasn't she saved? He describes four angels, each with four wings, and tells us that their wings fold up along the length of the chariot. I wanted to make the movie credible. Are Abby and Caleb supposed to be the new Adam and Eve? Knowing grossed over $180 million on a budget less than a third of that ($50 million), so it was hardly a flop, but the obviously-tacked-on ending meant that this particular Nicolas Cage movie was cheated out of a lasting legacy. Arthur Koestler and The Roots of Coincidence, scenes from the attack on the Twin Towers, Allegretto from Beethovens Symphony No.7 in A major, Passengers (2016) explained: fairy tales in space, Symbolism in The Birds (1963): story as sexual landscape, Beverly Hills Cop (1984) explained: from zero to hero, Its a Wonderful Life (1946): a very modern malady, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: the knowledge trap, Knock at the Cabin: apocalypse now? Meanwhile, Caleb begins hearing the same whispering voices as Lucinda. Edit, It is never told to us in the movie, therefore we can only speculate. But this look is far from the actual version of angels described in the Bible. Get to know the people first and figure out what they believe and why. Since there were other spaceships leaving the earth, does that mean that the whisper people whispered the same numbers to other people around the world? There's also imagery from Genesis used for the film's ending, with Caleb (Adam) and Abby (Eve) seen living on a paradise-like world (Eden), heading for a large tree (the Tree of Knowledge), as well as the spaceship acting as an Ark. In low moments he doesnt even feel like theres any point to anything. ." But thats me.. In Matthew and Luke's gospel accounts, Zachariah, Mary, and Joseph all have encounters with angels. Angel ([? Status Koestler plays it at two points in the film. However, while Koestler dies, the implication is that he achieves a spiritual salvation. Knowing (stylized as KNOW1NG) is a 2009 American science fiction thriller film directed and co-produced by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage. With Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson. I know that red hair is said to be caused by minerals in the earth but I am not so sure this explains away the number of red-haired giants . They are Fallen Angels therefore and perhaps work for Satan since they work with other Aliens that are also Fallen Angels turned into Demons. not. The lunar module pilot was one of two crew members on-board Apollo 12 . Some are hard to miss, but many are actually surprisingly subtle considering Nic Cage's bad movie reputation. The Bible indicates that angels were created at the same time the earth was formed, even before human life was created. Friendly aliens have lost their way and you are in charge of the rescue mission. A retired special agent who infiltrated the Hells Angels biker gang as part of a two-year undercover operation is exposing the organization's strict sex rules. Lucindas scribbled numbers predicts when and where mass disasters will strike. That, of course, will depend on the viewer. The "morning stars" are angels, whereas "the sons of God" are the leaders of other worlds. Joshua 5: Joshua encounters the "commander of the army of the Lord.". TLDR: Apparently I just hate aliens. See the last few seconds of the trailer. The parallels between "Knowing" and the Old Testament's Book of Ezekiel are rather blatant (via Bible Hub): The book's first chapter speaks of "living creatures" with "the likeness of a man" that come to the prophet enclosed in "a wheel in the middle of a wheel" (via Bible Hub) exactly the shape of the aliens' space arks in "Knowing." (See Revelation 1:20 .) Knowing: Directed by Alex Proyas. The alien planet shown in the last scene of the film is somewhat presented as similar to the Garden of Eden with Caleb and Abby representing Adam and Eve. This reflects Koestlers grief but also parallels Lucindas cabin later on. Created by Is it worth it? . But what ancient man perceived as Gods descending from the heavens were actually aliens who helped teach man to build and evolve into the dominant species on the planet. Caleb is sometimes translated as faithful or loyal, probably because a dog displays these attributes towards its master. The movie had set itself up for an open-ended, intriguing, and possibly unsettling finish. Sometimes theres no comfort or meaning in it. He was chosen by God as the best of all humans, fathered Methuselah, who had a son named Lamech, who fathered Noah. John discovers that Lucinda's numbers are dates, death tolls, and geographical coordinates of major disasters over the past fifty years (including the Oklahoma City bombing, the September 11 attacks, and Hurricane Katrina), and three have yet to happen. This is a striking contrast to hell-like scenes of Earth consumed by fire and brimstone. There's obviously a deeper meaning to it all. 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Rich Scheel sneaky question about liturgical time vs planet rotation time. 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