Back in 2000, before Vin Diesel was the big star we know him as today, he starred in a low-budget sci-fi B-movie called Pitch Black. In the film he played Richard B. Riddick, a convict and murderer who was mysterious and unpredictable, not to mention the fact that he was essentially a ninja who could sneak out of everywhere. The film was probably much better than anyone could … [Read more...]
Pitch Black (2000) review by That Film Guy
Before Vin Diesel was known for his super-camp driving exploits in The Fast and the Furious he broke through into the mainstream in the David Twohy-directed science fiction action film Pitch Black. … [Read more...]
Pacific Rim (2013) review by That Film Guy
What child doesn't want to see giant robots fighting giant monsters? In Pacific Rim, director Guillermo Del Toro attempts to bring the wonderfully playfully world of Kaiju cinema to another generation of Western audiences. Kaiju is Japanese for 'strange beast' but was seen its translation turn into 'Giant Monster' and it is from this idea that films like Godzilla evolved. This … [Read more...]
The World’s End (2013) review by That Film Guy
What do you do if you think the world is ending? If you're Edgar Wright, Nick Frost or Simon Pegg, you desperately try to finish an epic pub crawl. The boys are back in town, or in this case, the sleepy British village of Newton Haven. The trio of director Edgar Wright and stars Nick Frost and Simon Pegg return to complete their self-titled Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy with … [Read more...]
After Earth (2013) review by That Film Guy
The potent combination of Hollywood nepotism and a quickly fading directorial star provide the backbone of science fiction action drama After Earth. In the future, the human race had to evacuate Earth and move to other planets, which brought them into contact with a race of alien hunters who can ˜literally smell your fear known as the Ursa. Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) is a young … [Read more...]
Blade Runner (1982) review by That Film Doctor
Blade Runner was a genre-defining film. Made at a time when the world's technological capabilities were increasing quicker than our ability to use them all properly, it tapped into all those futuristic dreams (or anxieties) that characterised societies across world. Even the futuristic-sounding musical score by Vangelis was carefully crafted to add to the fantastical atmosphere … [Read more...]
Review: Third Contact (2012)
When encountering low budget films from unknown film-makers certain allowances have to be made. Without the expensive post-production process these often young newcomers to film have to find ways to become creative in the way in which they construct their films. Those now considered ˜great' in the lexicon of directors all started with small, personally-charged pieces of work … [Read more...]
Another Earth (2011) review by That Film Guy
Timing they say, is everything. Imagine director and co-writer Mike Cahill's reaction when he found out that his bold, low-fi science fiction drama Another Earth was to be released mere weeks after Lars von Trier's similarly themed Melancholia. You wait for a neat, original idea for ages and then the same one appears in two films in two weeks. Even more frustrating for Cahill … [Read more...]
Love (2011) review by That Wry Republic
When I sat down to watch William Eubank's Love last night, I wondered how this film had escaped my notice. I usually keep abreast of these things and, in particular, I am a sucker for lofty existential science fiction. Then again, even as such productions go, Love has an added layer of obscurity to it. Produced by a band (Angels & Airwaves), with a vaguely all-encompassing … [Read more...]
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) review by That Film Guy
When JJ Abrams announced that he was going to reboot the Star Trek franchise, few could have imagined just how spectacularly he would have succeeded. Taking the term 'reboot' seriously, he created an alternative timeline in which the established narrative could be bent, modified and in some cases obliterated. Star Trek Into Darkness builds upon this idea and presents a … [Read more...]