Why wasn't the "world's most secret and secure prison" just 23-hour solitary confinement? Because then there'd be no film, I guess. Always fascinating when Vinny Jones is the best actor in a film.
For a sequel no-one asked for, this kept me entertained throughout. Starts as sci-fi and then progressively stirrs in martial arts and kaiju battles until it resembles the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.
Solid genre film. Script nothing special, except where the protagonist uses scientific scepticism to progress the story. This was a welcome change as usually sceptics do not fair well in Hollywood films!
Excruciatingly bad dialogue and characters completely devoid of personality. The only good thing was the production design. And Ugh, the "elevator", you'd be in freefall the whole way, not whatever the hell this thing does.
I went in prepared for the whole "10% of the brain" nonsense, hoping that it would be mitigated by the director's sci-fi and action chops (I really enjoyed Lockout). But it's one thing to make up stuff, and it's another to relentlessly hit you in the face with anti-science bullcrap. Maybe someone can make a edit removing Morgan Freeman's lecture scenes that were so wrong it physically hurt.
For all its lovely cinematography, the editing was disappointing: the non-linear timeframe seemed completely pointless, and we are whisked away from some setpieces before we've had chance to appreciate them.
I think it's a problem for this film that Rutger Hauer is a good actor, he brings gravitas to the role. This does not sit will with some of the violence, some of the scenes that are supposed to be nasty (such as the school bus) end up being loathsome instead.
Should have had Brian Downey as the hobo, and Dieter Laser as Drake!
When you see a character climbing through an open window, and he voice-overs that he's climbing through an open window, it's time to go back to script-writing school.
I don't think it's explained why people on Earth are denied the transportable, fast, cure-all medical technology of Elysium. Is it just mumble mumble class divide?
Yet another action film in which it's the female lead's sole function is to fawn all over the male hero (who is predictably called Jack) I did enjoy the production design and action sequences.
The humour was often predictable or flat, but the programming schedule of the station made me laugh. I particularly liked how "World of Phlegm" was a 3 hour show. "Wheel of Fish" and "Fun with Dirt". It was parody at the time, but these shows sound much more entertaining than the drivel we have now 25 years later.
Comments 1 - 25 of 70
Movie comment on In the Earth
Marasmusine
"Trip visuals by CYRIAK"Score by Clint Mansell.
Buckle up.
Movie comment on Doctor Sleep
Marasmusine
I was interested in this depiction of psychic warfare, which we don't see too often.Movie comment on Escape Plan
Marasmusine
Why wasn't the "world's most secret and secure prison" just 23-hour solitary confinement? Because then there'd be no film, I guess. Always fascinating when Vinny Jones is the best actor in a film.Movie comment on Beyond Skyline
Marasmusine
For a sequel no-one asked for, this kept me entertained throughout. Starts as sci-fi and then progressively stirrs in martial arts and kaiju battles until it resembles the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.Movie comment on Spectral
Marasmusine
Solid genre film. Script nothing special, except where the protagonist uses scientific scepticism to progress the story. This was a welcome change as usually sceptics do not fair well in Hollywood films!Movie comment on The Equalizer
Marasmusine
Ably demonstrates why heroes are boring when they don't have a vulnerability. 30 minutes too long.Movie comment on The Hateful Eight
Marasmusine
Well, at least it was a better The Thing remake than the 2011 The Thing remake.Movie comment on Resident Evil: Retribution
Marasmusine
I loved every stupid minute. As far as I'm concerned Anderson and jovovich can continue making these ad infinitum.Movie comment on Total Recall
Marasmusine
Excruciatingly bad dialogue and characters completely devoid of personality. The only good thing was the production design. And Ugh, the "elevator", you'd be in freefall the whole way, not whatever the hell this thing does.Movie comment on A Field in England
Marasmusine
Could've done with more Julian Barratt, was hoping he would reappear near the end.Movie comment on The Mist
Marasmusine
As Mark Kermode put it, after watching this you'll want to watch The Road to cheer yourself up.Movie comment on Lucy
Marasmusine
I went in prepared for the whole "10% of the brain" nonsense, hoping that it would be mitigated by the director's sci-fi and action chops (I really enjoyed Lockout). But it's one thing to make up stuff, and it's another to relentlessly hit you in the face with anti-science bullcrap. Maybe someone can make a edit removing Morgan Freeman's lecture scenes that were so wrong it physically hurt.Movie comment on Il conformista
Marasmusine
For all its lovely cinematography, the editing was disappointing: the non-linear timeframe seemed completely pointless, and we are whisked away from some setpieces before we've had chance to appreciate them.Movie comment on Whiplash
Marasmusine
Now _that_ was my fricking tempo.Movie comment on Hobo with a Shotgun
Marasmusine
I think it's a problem for this film that Rutger Hauer is a good actor, he brings gravitas to the role. This does not sit will with some of the violence, some of the scenes that are supposed to be nasty (such as the school bus) end up being loathsome instead.Should have had Brian Downey as the hobo, and Dieter Laser as Drake!
Movie comment on Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Marasmusine
When you see a character climbing through an open window, and he voice-overs that he's climbing through an open window, it's time to go back to script-writing school.Movie comment on Elysium
Marasmusine
I don't think it's explained why people on Earth are denied the transportable, fast, cure-all medical technology of Elysium. Is it just mumble mumble class divide?Movie comment on Gravity
Marasmusine
Made me feel quite anxious and made me want to play Kerbal Space Program.Movie comment on Blue Ruin
Marasmusine
Interesting to me as it felt like the protagonist was on the autism spectrum.Movie comment on Oblivion
Marasmusine
Yet another action film in which it's the female lead's sole function is to fawn all over the male hero (who is predictably called Jack) I did enjoy the production design and action sequences.Movie comment on Kill Your Darlings
Marasmusine
Hah, you could watch Beat (2000) immediately afterwards for an interesting double bill.This was okay, but the anachronistic music score (to make some scenes more "exciting" I guess) really annoyed me.
Movie comment on Dom Hemingway
Marasmusine
I wish the film was about Richard E Grant's character.Movie comment on The Beast with a Million Eyes
Marasmusine
This is basically 50s propaganda. It even concludes with a patriotic eagle snatching away the dirty communist rat.Movie comment on Pacific Rim
Marasmusine
I wish Rinko Kikuchi had more to do.Movie comment on UHF
Marasmusine
The humour was often predictable or flat, but the programming schedule of the station made me laugh. I particularly liked how "World of Phlegm" was a 3 hour show. "Wheel of Fish" and "Fun with Dirt". It was parody at the time, but these shows sound much more entertaining than the drivel we have now 25 years later.Showing items 1 – 25 of 70