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When a transport carrier crash-lands on an alien planet everyone
on board is just glad to be alive. But as darkness falls,
and the planets indigenous life comes to the surface. they
begin to realise that death may have been the preferable option...
This
movie uses every sci-fi cliché under the sun (no pun intended)
and it is a credit to director David Twohy that each one fits
neatly into the plot without really screaming "cliché" at
the audience.
Vin
Diesel plays the part of vicious convict who turns out not
to be such a bad chap when you get to know him. Sure he's
a mean son-of-a-bitch, but compared to the majority of the
crew you can't help but cheer for him. And thankfully, for
everyone concerned, he has the ability to see in the dark.
This
no doubt helped to cut back on the movie's budget - which
wasn't huge. No lavish set pieces here, just lots of rocks
and the occasional crappy old hut. The slight cheapness feel
actually gives it more of an edge and it's pretty obvious
that the director got to do pretty much what he wanted to
with it. No Hollywood gloss here. Nearly all of the characters
are pathetic examples of the human race and there is no wonderfully
happy ending with everyone skipping off into the sunrise.
Real life is crap and this movie shows it to be just that.
The
photography is beautiful - surreal in places - as the stranded
crew wander around under the baking heat of the planets suns
and the total eclipse is breathtaking - a wide screen TV certainly
comes in handy here.
The
only really risible element is the whole eclipse scenario.
Are we really to believe that they crash landed on a planet
the day before a major total solar eclipse? As Harry Hill
would say: "Now what are the chances of that."
I
great film for a Saturday night in. Get a few mates round,
open a few beers and enjoy.
Darren
Rea
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