I just want to get this out of the way:
BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR.
Finally, finally, finally, someone in Hollywood realized that you can create a sci-fi action adventure film without turning your brain off to enjoy anything other than explosions. This film is intelligent, asks you to actually keep your mind working, is humanizing, has character, and you can relate to the aliens. But hey, if you are a Michael Bay "stuff goes boom, yay" fan then just wait until the weapons come out.
Every time I complain about the stupidity of things like Transformers, this film, this thought for story and plot, is what I am talking about being missing. This movie didn't have action sequences put together first and a crappy, plot hole filled story tacked on later. No, they wrote a story first. They put effort into making a good story and then the action was a natural organic progression of the story, meaning that the writing of the story necessitated the action scenes to happen how and when they do. Anyone who has done any kind of serious creative writing understand what I am talking about. Once a proper story is being written or told it progresses naturally on its own. The writer almost becomes a tool of the story. This is how major characters wind up dead, what makes a story feel real, and how action happens without feeling like the action was the reason for the story. The action should always be the effect of the story, not the reason for it.
All that said, if you like your action with a bit of mental exercise, if you do not accept, "There was action, and explosions, and boobs. What did you expect, Citizen Kane? That's not the point. Explosions are," as a valid excuse for the absolute crap that Michael Bay and his ilk put out on a regular basis then this movie is for you. If you think Michael Bay is a brilliant filmmaker (making lots of money is not a sign of a brilliant film, just business savvy) then you may enjoy this film, but turn your brain back on or you might hurt yourself.
Go see this film. Peter Jackson and Neil Blomkamp have done what the rest of the sci-fi action guys have forgotten to do, engage their audience with a quality film. They deserve your support. Hollywood needs to be reminded that these kinds of movies are just as welcome as the action-filled movies that appeared to have accidentally blown their script up during a stunt. And most importantly Blomkamp needs to be welcomed with open arms, because God knows if Michael Bay and the like are able to continue on that we will all be brain dead morons in a couple of generations.
And this means that (I am about to paraphrase Movie Bob from The escapist here) you should not wait for DVD/BD and you should not go to whatever douche bag pirate site you think you can justify using. You should pay to see this movie. And if you want to see it again, pay again. They deserve every single penny they get from this film.
I went to see the film at 1:30 PM on Saturday, hardly geek hours, and the theater was nearly packed, and there were cheers and applause. I expect that on premiere night and midnight sneak peaks, but have never seen it in a midday Saturday showing.
I talked to some of the people I saw it with last night, and on a days worth of thought, they decided they didn't like it at all.
These the same guys you were referring to when you said this about GI Joe?
My friends and I? We were as giddy as 10 year olds coming out of the theater.
All I can say is thank God, or whatever you choose, that the Halo film, guaranteed to be utter crap, was dropped and Peter Jackson chose to not let Neil Blomkamp go, and instead had him turn his independent short film into this feature film.
And as you walk away from this film, remember one thing: Neil Blomkamp had never directed a major film before (think Robert Rodriguez before Desperado) and Sharlto Copley had never acted professionally before (think Bruce Campbell before Evil Dead). Peter Jackson reached out his hands made of pure talent and plucked this duo out of obscurity.
With all luck the universe will remain properly in line to prevent Halo from ever being made. The story was bad (and unoriginal) in the game, and you can't replicate the multiplayer on the silver screen.
