film criticism by maryann johanson | handcrafted since 1997
The filmmaking craft may be (mostly) astonishing. But the craft must always — always — be in aid of a compelling story populated by compelling characters… and that’s not so much the case here.
I don’t recognize this show anymore.
Someone’s been watching Pirates of the Caribbean… No, wait, someone’s been watching The Abyss…
Sanctum is extreme people in extreme danger in an extreme place. In 3D! The good kind of 3D. And both Ioan Gruffudd and Richard Roxburgh take their shirts off. What, you need Shakespeare, too, on top of all that?
Take a break from work: watch a trailer… I always welcome a new James Cameron movie, and this looks pretty much like, you know, a James Cameron movie: I see flashes of Aliens in this, and The Abyss, and that’s fine. But I simply cannot conceive of the 3D being so mindblowing as to push … more…
You’ll love what someone considers as constituting the “ultimate” collection of science fiction movies: Escape From New York, Mad Max, Rollerball (the original, I’m assuming), The Abyss, Alien, Aliens, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Fantastic Voyage, The Fly (not sure which one), Independence Day, Journey to Center of the Earth, The Neptune Factor, Planet … more…
