Doomsday (link to amazon)
Written and Directed by Neil Marshall
Viewed on 07-30-08
Just released on video this week, the Flannel Cape Movie Club reviews Doomsday. Unfortunately we had all seen this movie before, because it was basically just clips from 20 different movies we had already seen crammed into one movie. An elite group of sci-fi specialists (Aliens) work to prevent a disaster (Outbreak) from threatening the future of the human race (Terminator). In this post apocalyptic thriller (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome) the hot female lead character (Tomb Raider, Underworld) is quested (Lord of the Rings) or is actually assigned a mission for the British government, complete with a headquarters full of sci-fi gadgets (James Bond) into the underbelly of a quarantined society, isolated to Scotland by walls and guns, that has reverted back to a more primal period in time (a Braveheart/Gladiator clan, and a 'smokers' clan from Waterworld ) to retrieve a possible virus antidote (I am legend). It was action packed, and the use of gore was not so much gratuitous as it was graphically realistic (Resident Evil) which we respected (we screened the "unrated" option). The music completely lacked original content resorting to typical drum beats and tympani and other cliche attempts at elevating emotion, and with ancient one-hit songs void of inspiration. The overall storyline was confusing and required quite a stretch of the imagination to be remotely plausible. The saving grace for this movie was the lead character Eden Sinclair played by Emma Cleasby. With a hotness factor of 10 Cleasby was perfectly typecast for this type of genre. Movie has a future cult following potential.
We gave this movie a B- and would suggest you spend no more than $5 when it turns up used or in the bargain bin display section at your local retail outlet, or a 99 cent rental.
Showing posts with label scifi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scifi. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I, Robot (2004)
I, Robot (link to Amazon)
Directed by Alex Proyas
Viewed on 07-11-08
This sci-fi epic was set in the year 2035 as a techno-phobic police officer (Will Smith) investigates a crime that may have been committed by a robot, which leads to a potentially larger threat to humanity. Right off the bat we can tell that this movie was probably damn expensive to make, which probably led to the numerous blatant product placement advertisements that were peppered throughout the film and were occasionally distracting. The CGI effects were plentiful and in virtually every scene, not to mention Sonny, the robotic supporting character (voiced by Alan Tudyk who's probably best known as Steve the pirate in the movie Dodgeball). Aside from the numerous shirtless and sometimes nude scenes by Smith (which we even suspected was a body double), his character portrayal was very typical for the actor and I suppose above adequate for this genre of film.
Overall we gave this movie a B- rating and would suggest the best viewing for this film would be at the dollar theatre, but worth the price of an additional tub of overpriced popcorn and maybe even a soda.
Directed by Alex Proyas
Viewed on 07-11-08
This sci-fi epic was set in the year 2035 as a techno-phobic police officer (Will Smith) investigates a crime that may have been committed by a robot, which leads to a potentially larger threat to humanity. Right off the bat we can tell that this movie was probably damn expensive to make, which probably led to the numerous blatant product placement advertisements that were peppered throughout the film and were occasionally distracting. The CGI effects were plentiful and in virtually every scene, not to mention Sonny, the robotic supporting character (voiced by Alan Tudyk who's probably best known as Steve the pirate in the movie Dodgeball). Aside from the numerous shirtless and sometimes nude scenes by Smith (which we even suspected was a body double), his character portrayal was very typical for the actor and I suppose above adequate for this genre of film.
Overall we gave this movie a B- rating and would suggest the best viewing for this film would be at the dollar theatre, but worth the price of an additional tub of overpriced popcorn and maybe even a soda.
10,000 BC (2008)
10,000 BC (link to Amazon)
Directed By Roland Emmerich
Viewed on 07-01-08
Set in the prehistoric era, 10,000 BC follows the transitional life of a tribe of mammoth hunters who become captive by a band of more highly evolved humans who set out to enslave them. The film was shot in mostly dark tones and the use of CGI was impressive in spurts, but the overall flow of the movie was hard to accept. It was set in the decline of the ice-age which unfortunately kept the female characters covered head to toe in animal pelts. The half feathered giant killer birds and elephant sized saber-toothed tigers were also incredibly unrealistic. The fluorescent war face paint and perfectly manicured counting crows hair that everyone adorned (although very cool looking) took away from the millennia it was trying to portray. Very little gore, sex and bad language bored our testosterone side, with occasional subtitles that took away from what little visual experience there was. There was an old shaman lady that just wouldn't die who was also confusing, and they wussed out on the romantic tragedy ending. The jungle music and various CGI scenes were occasionally stimulating but overall this movie came up very short to it's potential.
Overall we gave this movie a C+ and would advise that you see this film as a cheap rental on an above average television.
Directed By Roland Emmerich
Viewed on 07-01-08
Set in the prehistoric era, 10,000 BC follows the transitional life of a tribe of mammoth hunters who become captive by a band of more highly evolved humans who set out to enslave them. The film was shot in mostly dark tones and the use of CGI was impressive in spurts, but the overall flow of the movie was hard to accept. It was set in the decline of the ice-age which unfortunately kept the female characters covered head to toe in animal pelts. The half feathered giant killer birds and elephant sized saber-toothed tigers were also incredibly unrealistic. The fluorescent war face paint and perfectly manicured counting crows hair that everyone adorned (although very cool looking) took away from the millennia it was trying to portray. Very little gore, sex and bad language bored our testosterone side, with occasional subtitles that took away from what little visual experience there was. There was an old shaman lady that just wouldn't die who was also confusing, and they wussed out on the romantic tragedy ending. The jungle music and various CGI scenes were occasionally stimulating but overall this movie came up very short to it's potential.
Overall we gave this movie a C+ and would advise that you see this film as a cheap rental on an above average television.
Sin City (2005)
Sin City (link to Amazon)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Viewed on 06-22-08
Sin City is a cinematic graphic novel adapted from Frank Miller's popular comics. It explores the dark and miserable town of Basin City and tells the story of three different people all caught up in the violent corruption of the city. Shot in high contrast black and white with added color accents unique to each character, Sin City was definitely created to be a visual experience. Although the Gore and Bad-Ass factor was at the high level we expected, there was a little too much unnecessary dialogue for character development. We felt that the narration scenes were much more effective and less distracting than the blatant filler person to person comic book styled dialogue that slowed the pace of the movie down. Cutting unnecessary dialogue and kissing scenes would have made for a better viewing experience, it was just a little too long. Along with the gruesome demise of the bad guys, another positive was the gratuitous bootie scenes played by Carla Gugino and Jessica Alba, but as always there could have been more.
Overall we gave it a B+ and would recommend that you see this film at your local dollar movie theater or above average home theater system.
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Viewed on 06-22-08
Sin City is a cinematic graphic novel adapted from Frank Miller's popular comics. It explores the dark and miserable town of Basin City and tells the story of three different people all caught up in the violent corruption of the city. Shot in high contrast black and white with added color accents unique to each character, Sin City was definitely created to be a visual experience. Although the Gore and Bad-Ass factor was at the high level we expected, there was a little too much unnecessary dialogue for character development. We felt that the narration scenes were much more effective and less distracting than the blatant filler person to person comic book styled dialogue that slowed the pace of the movie down. Cutting unnecessary dialogue and kissing scenes would have made for a better viewing experience, it was just a little too long. Along with the gruesome demise of the bad guys, another positive was the gratuitous bootie scenes played by Carla Gugino and Jessica Alba, but as always there could have been more.
Overall we gave it a B+ and would recommend that you see this film at your local dollar movie theater or above average home theater system.
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