Film Review: DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL (2008)

Director: Chuck Patton
Writers (Screenplay): Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Running time: 71 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Animation/Horror/Sci-Fi
USA Release date: 28^th October 2008

Watched on DVD Sunday 8^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is an animated film that was made to fill in the back-story of a video game and as such it does a pretty good job of setting up the scenario that’s played out in the game. For the record, I’ve never played it. Although not very original, the plot did move along at a decent pace with plenty of gore to keep the splatter fans happy. Here’s a brief summary, after which I will give you my thoughts.

In the far-distant future, a mining colony on the planet Aegis VII has unearthed an alien artefact. Before a ship can arrive, most of the inhabitants are dead; infected by a deadly virus that changes them at the genetic level. The ship, the USG Ishimura, has been tasked with returning the artefact to Earth at all costs. It has some significance to a religious organisation, although it’s all a little vague in the film. Unfortunately for the crew, one of the miners manages to crash-land a shuttle on board. This can only mean one thing, and up steps security Chief Alissa Vincent and her team to try and save the day. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (sci-fi division) will be throwing me out of an airlock (again).

The animation has a very retro feel to it and I found that quite disappointing, knowing the quality of in-game animation today, I expected something better. The performances were all ok (I guess), but then the dialogue wasn’t exactly groundbreaking. So honourable mentions go to the voice talents of; Nika Futterman as Alissa Vincent, Keith Szarabajka as Dr. Kyne, Jim Cummings as Captain Mathius/Farum, Kevin Michael Richardson as Samuel Irons/Pendleton/Miner, Kelly Hu as Shen and Bruce Boxleitner as Colin Barrow.

On the minus side; the story was far from original (see Alien and you’ve virtually seen this) and the plot did get a tad confusing in several places. Add to that the way the story was structured made it look like you were playing a game version of the film. What I mean is that a problem area was identified and Vincent and her team were dispatched to sort it out; this happens at least three times. On the plus side, there is plenty of gore splattered about the place and that’s what people want to see… right? Not one I can recommend I’m afraid… Unless you like plenty of gore, that is.

My score: 5.3/10.

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 5,121 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1267379/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: NO SCORE YET (based on 2 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 52/100 (based on 2,451 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead-space-downfall/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Dobbs: There's a lot of blood in this room, but no bodies.
Shen: Sounds like one of your parties.
Dobbs: Or your sex life!

Hansen: This shit's getting weirder by the second!
Dobbs: Sounds like a date with Shen.
Shen: Fuck you, rookie!

Alissa Vincent: This is no time to be a hero, Irons!
Samuel Irons: I'm not a hero, just a man.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://deadspace.ea.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: TRON LEGACY (2010)

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Running time: 125 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 17^th December 2010

Watched on Sky+ Monday 22^nd August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I admit I was a fan of the original 1982 film TRON and, despite many poor reviews I was still intrigued to see the updated version. Well, visually, it’s quite stunning, but to be honest, the writers of those many poor reviews did have a point. I did like the music though, even a reprise of the song from the original film; “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey. Most of the original music was produced by Daft Punk, which seemed to fit the technological mood pretty well. But more of my thoughts later, here’s a brief summary first.

Kevin Flynn became a successful businessman at the end of the first film. He later got married and had a son, Sam. Several years later he mysteriously disappeared without a trace. His son, now grown up is disillusioned and refuses to take control of the company that is rightfully his. One of the directors, and friend of his father, Alan Bradley, comes to him one day saying he’s been paged by Kevin. Strangely though, it has come from Kevin’s old games arcade that hasn’t been running for years. Sam goes there and finds Kevin’s old workshop. Turning devices on, he is digitised and downloaded to ‘The Grid’. Now, ‘The Grid’ is run by a program written by Kevin called Clu, who looks like Kevin did 30 years ago. Clu’s mission is to remove any imperfections on ‘The Grid’. Sam is made to play games or risk being killed. He reluctantly plays, but is rescued by the mysterious Quorra. She takes him off ‘The Grid’ to meet his real father. Sam desperately wants to get his father out of there and it’s a race against time to escape the world of TRON. I won’t say any more as I don’t want the Spoiler Police to de-res me.

As I’ve already said, the visuals are quite stunning in this one, I cannot fault most of the CGI. I saw it in 2D so I cannot comment on the 3D-ness of the picture. Decent performances all round; Jeff Bridges did a good job as both Kevin Flynn and Clu, although he was CGI’d as Clu and that didn’t quite work as well as it might. Garrett Hedlund was ok as Sam Flynn, as was Olivia Wilde as Quorra. It was also nice to see Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley and reprising his original role as TRON.

I think the main problem with this film was that it was too much like the original, as far as the story goes. It’s all about getting from one place to another to escape something bad and get home. Very ‘Wizard of Oz’ if you like. Unfortunately, we’re all too familiar with that story and after a while it becomes boring. Yes, the visuals are quite stunning, but that doesn’t make up for a rather predictable an, sadly, dull plot. The dialogue didn’t help matters much either, it was all far too pedestrian I’m afraid… Sadly, the critics were right in this case… Not recommended.

My Score: 5.3/10.

IMDb Score: 7.0/10 (based on 83,476 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1104001/

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50/100 (based on 221 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011582-TRON_legacy/

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
Quorra: [Quorra is showing Sam the book collection] Just between you and me, Jules Verne is my favourite. Do you know Jules Verne?
Sam Flynn: Sure.
Quorra: What’s he like?

LINKS:
Official Site: http://www.disney.co.uk/tron/index.jsp
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Tron
Official Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/TronLegacy
Trailer:

Film Review: TRON (1982)

Writer/Director: Steven Lisberger
Running time: 92 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

UK Release date: 21st October 1982

Watched on DVD Thursday 25th November 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

In anticipation of the forthcoming Tron Legacy, I thought I’d go a bit retro and take a look at the 1982 original. I remember being blown away by the whole concept when it first came out, but now I’m a tad older and several tads wiser, it’s maybe lost a bit of its awe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a pretty enjoyable film… But more of that later, here’s a short summary before I tell you what I really think (summary haters please wait on the game-grid until the end of the next paragraph).

Kevin Flynn is a programmer who has been swindled by his old boss, Ed Dillinger. In order to find evidence of Dillinger’s con Kevin must break into the system holding the data. He is assisted by his friends, Alan Bradley and Lora. Little do they know a rogue Master Control Program (MCP), written by Dillinger, has taken over the system. Flynn is digitised and sucked into the system, where programs take on the form of their programmers. He is forced to take part in gladiatorial games, at the behest of the MCP, but he escapes with two other programs, Tron and Ram. Now Tron was written by Alan Bradley and is designed to take down the MCP. The trio must make their way to the MCP before it becomes too powerful. They are pursued by the MCP’s most powerful warrior, Sark. Will they make it in time? Well, I guess I’d better leave it there, don’t want to give too much away.

Although it does look fairly dated by today’s standards, I think the effects stand up pretty well. You can tell they spent a lot of time and money getting it to look as good as it does. Unfortunately some of the dialogue is a bit wooden, particularly in the first half hour, and the musical score doesn’t exactly set your toes tapping, but I can forgive that. Performance wise, Jeff Bridges did a decent job as Kevin Flynn / Clu, as did Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley / Tron. Honourable mentions also go to; David Warner as Ed Dillinger / Sark / Master Control Program and Cindy Morgan as Lora / Yori.

I found it a little dull for the first thirty minutes or so, but after Flynn is sucked into the computer it soon grabbed my attention. It brought back so many memories, I used to love playing the light cycles game at the arcade. But enough nostalgia, although is seems a little dated, it’s still perfectly watchable today. I really enjoyed it and I hope the younger generation will also get the chance to see this one… Recommended.

My score: 6.8/10

LINKS:
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0084827/
Official Site: http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/tron.html#4063
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi3405709593/