Having dived back into reading (I’ve read more books this year than in the previous 5) I reckon it’s been a month since I turned on my television. Scanning through what was available on Netflix I felt no urge to get back involved with any of the interminably extended franchises so looked at the films.
First up was
Beyond Skyline – an enjoyable, derivative and all-over-the-place sfnal romp. It
is science fiction you can enjoy just so long as you’re prepared to NOT take it
seriously. It has aliens in there that are like Predator, a bit of, ‘Oh my God
it sucked out his brain!’, plenty of Kung Fu Fighting and is full of enough holes
to drop a space ship through. I would style its attitude as close to Guardians
of the Galaxy, but with more people ending up dead.
Next up, because I did not feel at all tired, did not want to read now and was in sofa sloth mode, was Warcraft. It had caught my attention before whereupon my response was, hmm, that’s going to be some crap fantasy based on a game. I decided I would lose nothing by taking a look at it and, damn, straight in with some of the best fantasy CGI I’ve seen. The orcs were brilliant and, it could be argued, had almost more character than the human actors. But I’m not disparaging the human actors – they were damned good too. It grabbed me and I realised that here was a great story, with characters I cared about, battles and fight scenes that were excellent, interactions that worked. I enjoyed it immensely.
I understand
that this film has been panned and I totally disagree. Recommended.
5 comments:
I was skeptically looking at both of those, will now give then a go I think!
Skyline was bad, but I'll give both a try (once Warcraft is available in the Netherlands... :().
Neal: I'm enjoying the hell out of The Soldier. You continue to be at the top of your game. Quick question, though: what is the date this is set? Apologies if it's been asked and answered, but I couldn't find it. Always surprises me to remember that certain series happen way after other ones. Thanks!
I enjoyed Warcraft as well. Another film that was panned but I got on well with was John Carter which I recommend heartily.
Go for it Polity Bear!
Yes, I too enjoyed John Carter.
Jason, it is set a few hundred years after the end of the Cormac series. If you read the last section of Line War that'll give you the idea.
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