Mar 21, 2008 04:44 PM
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No surprises here, another high budget blockbuster attempt, with no
name actors, where the special effects are the real stars.
But once again the teaser trailer was quite appealing, and Roland
Emmerich has produced some really nice material such as Independence
Day, 13th floor etc. Not to mention that the chicks not bad either.
But what really convinced me was the fact, that I hadn't seen a movie
in about a month and I really wanted to see one, and I had nothing
better to do.
However I did go with no expectations nevertheless.
The movie had a such a corny opening, that my heart sank immediately I
realised that Good was the maximum rating I was going to get. A FEW
DOZEN DEMOGRAPHICALLY CORRECT(black, white, tribal, asian, latino)
CHANTING AROUND A FIRE AND TALK OF A PROPHECY REALLY SETS THE MOOD
RIGHT.
A few more corny dialogues and narration(Omar sharief wasted), and we
had the best scene of the movie, the mammoth hunt, which unfortunately
was merely good thanks to merely very good special effects at best, THE
MOVIE WENT DOWNHILL FROM THERE AND HIT THE "ORDINARY PLATEAU" AND SAVE
FOR A FEW SMALL BUMPS AND SMALL DEPRESSION IT NEVER REALLY LEFT IT.
The movie has loads of corny dialogues never once crossing into the
decent category.
Acting is decent especially from Cliff Curtis(looks completely Indian
is not), and Affif Badra(again looks Indian probably Arabic), but the
corny script never allows them to shine. Camille looks hot in many
scenes but THERE Wasn't ANY GRATIFYING BUT UNNECESSARY(in terms of the
plot) EXPOSURE FROM HERE.
Plot holes are a major issue and many of us in the theater were having
a hearty laugh in the theater cracking jokes on them especially during
what we call the "WALK ACROSS CONTINENTS".
SPECIAL EFFECTS AND THE BUDGET WERE GIVEN PRIORITY AND THE STORY
Definitely TOOK A BACKSEAT, I'm sure the cost per minute of scenes with
the important creatures like the mammoth and sabre tooth, and shot of
the pyramids were calculated and the plot was worked around how much
screen time was available for these.
Many scenes, characters, makeup, special effects, looked lifted
straight out of other blockbusters such as 300, mummy etc.
WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS MOVIE FALL BELOW THE ACCEPTABLE LINE IS THE
CLIMAX WHICH IS SO POOR that its almost surprising.
My initial feeling at the end was that it wasn't bad, but neither was
it any good, BUT THIS VERDICT HAD A lot TO DO WITH THE REASONS I WENT
FOR THIS MOVIE.
Watch only if you fit into my bracket, and even then cheap prices or
DVD would be better.
-s PLOT HOLES, DIALOGUES, wasted villains, weak script, PATHETIC ENDING.LOTS OF PLAGIARISM.
+/-s plot(would a better script have made this good?).
+s a few good actors, Camille, some good special effects, one or 2
decent scenes.
total 4/10(my feeling was 5 but most people wont see this movie in my
situation and I don't want to raise false hopes that this movie is OK).
