MovieChat Forums > They Live (1988) Discussion > Why are the two main characters so SLOW ...

Why are the two main characters so SLOW and STUPID?


The main character seems like a simpleton, the way he slowly reacts to things and seems blase about everything he sees, and the way he puts on and removes the glasses around 30 times or more before accepting what he sees was just infuriating. He'd heard the bearded man moan on the TV about "they're controlling us", and saw the hidden group in the church, so why didn't he put two and two together more quickly? Especially when their church and the homeless camp was raided by the cops?

As for the black guy, he's even more retarded in his behaviour. So he's the co-worker to the main character and hears that he's killed several people, and is afraid for his family. Yet all the main character is asking him to do is to put on a pair of sunglasses. I can understand the initial refusal, but he keeps demanding and the black guy just goes nuts and fights him continuously for around ten minutes! All he's asking him to do is put on a pair of frickin' sunglasses!!!

As for the resistance meeting and their subsequent slaughter by the cops, the two escape and are supposed to be on high alert and wary of their surroundings, but the black guy is unrealistically distracted by the watch when the main character sees cops closing in on them! The black guy should be alert to any warnings, but noooo!

Apart from these two annoying factors, this movie was quite good, would see it again.

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"He'd heard the bearded man moan on the TV about "they're controlling us", and saw the hidden group in the church, so why didn't he put two and two together more quickly?"

You must be quite sensitive conspiracy theorist if you believe everything you saw on television...

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I always thought that this would be a great remake with a smarter lead character or characters.

A script rewrite that didn't involve a musclehead making rash moves.

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That would like remaking Alien and have them follow the chain of command to the letter.

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What are you trying to say exactly?

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If they'd followed the chain of command, chief medical officer usually trumps even the captain if it's a medical call. In Alien, it was a medical call.

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chief medical officer = ash
ash wants creature on board
result: same

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Ash was the science officer

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Who was the medical officer in the film? I honestly don't remember.

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They didn't have a specific medical officer. Dallas was captain, Kane executive officer, Ripley warrant officer, Ash science officer, Lamber navigational officer, and Parker and Brett were engineers.

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Well then, that answers that question.

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naDath: yes, because of course it's a given that rules and regulations are the same in the far future, aboard a space ship as they are today. Because as we all know: laws and rules never change over time.

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