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Director: Don Bluth (An American Tail) & Gary Goldman (Anastasia) Starring: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting) Rating: PG (brief language, violence, mild sensuality) The story is set in the year 3028, when humans have colonized space and galaxy travel is commonplace. As the human race has expanded, a dangerous alien species made of pure energy, has decided humans should be eradicated. With some cheesy dialog, the aliens manage to make Earth explode, but not before a top-of-the-line space ship capable of recreating Earth is hidden. The hero is Cale (Damon), a brash young man who witnessed Earth's demise and whose father died trying to hide the ship. He passed down a ring, however, that produced a map using his son's genetic code to show where the Titan ship is located. He is picked up by Korso (Pullman) and Akimo (Barrymore) to find the ship and save mankind. Yes, the movie is melodramatic, and the sequences with the enemy alien race includes some really lame dialog. Unlike the "professional" reviewers, I did not find the combination of "regular" animation and computer generated background to be jarring. The technology displayed in this film is nothing short of spectacular. It probably is not yet completed, but the promise showed in this theatre makes me look forward to the day when we have the first completely computer-generated movie. The plot is somewhat reminiscent of the Star Wars movies, but it is entertaining for a science fiction flick. A couple of the sequences, like the one involving space angels (don't ask), could have been eliminated. The ending does seem rushed, considering the build up, but if you can suspend disbelief, you will enjoy the visual effects. The initials "A.E." stand for a new way to measure time in the movie, standing for "After Earth". The characters are not complicated, but there is at least one surprise regarding the motives of the characters. While this movie is obviously a vehicle to showcase the latest technology, more energy should have been put into some plot and character development. The bottom line, though, is that this movie is fun to watch. There are moments of excitement and tension, and if you enjoy science fiction, you should enjoy this film. It's well worth the price of a matinee ticket, which is why I am giving it 3.5 stars out of a possible five. |
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(out of five)