Ive never been a big fan of monster movies, particularly those of Japanese origin (e.g., Godzilla); but this movie was such a blockbuster last year that I gave it a chance, making it my last watched live movie on free HBO weekend. Making it more interesting, these monsters evolve with each generation to match and counter the humans’ weaponry and tactics. This, without a doubt, is the most derivative movie Ive ever seen. There are more references to other movies and TV programs than I can recall or recount, no fewer than half a dozen in the first 10—15 minutes (i.e., /Doctor Who/, /Battlestar Galactica/, /Falling Skies/, etc.), going all the way through to a James Bond ending. I expect critics had a field day with this. At one point, the experienced pilot (Charlie Hunnam) tells his newbie co-pilot (Rinko Kikuchi), as they launch into their first mission together, not to follow the rabbit trails that appear in their mind meld (no, not the /Star Trek/ kind, but perhaps the single most interesting new idea herein), but rather to let loose in the drift (i.e., to go with the flow, as we say in the vernacular). Viewers would be well-advised to heed this advice, too, lest they dwell on all those references to other works, imagining the bits and pieces of making the movie, rather than simply becoming immersed in the film itself. Additional observations about the cast: • Apropos the title, this film features a large international cast, from Europe to Japan to North America (but actors don’t always hail from whence one might think) • It took me nearly an hour to recognize /Sons of Anarchy/s Charlie Hunnam without his biker hair and beard, and to get past his resemblance to the late Heath Ledger. (Hunnam’s /Sons of Anarchy/ costar, Ron Perlman, is here, too.) • Max Martini’s Aussie accent comes and goes • I though Idris Elba was a near-perfect actor, until I heard him mispronounce “thermonuclear” Despite its idiosyncrasies and flaws, this nevertheless makes for exciting big screen entertainment.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 17:45:34 +0000
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