The
summer is at an end and last weekend I tried to fit in one more movie
viewing. I chose Apollo 18, a horror/sci-fi flick set in the early
seventies about the supposed last lunar mission.
This
movie is filmed in found-footage style, meaning that the
cinematography is similar to grainy, staticy late-sixties video
camera footage, so get used to seeing cameras malfunction and flicker
around and go offline; it happens every five minutes. I can't help
but wonder if that was even necessary. Anyways, don't expect to see a
masterpiece of film here. The plot is very cliched and unoriginal and
somewhat predictable. The film has a noticeably slow start as well as
a few slow moments throughout.
What
did I like about this movie? Well the special effects look great, but
with the grainy, low-res footage, making good looking special effects
on this film couldn't have been that difficult. The acting is better
than average, but the actors' best efforts are inhibited by the
underdeveloped characters. By the end of the film you still won't
really know that much about the three characters.
During
those slow boring parts, you'll find yourself thinking of plotholes
and other weird stuff. Like why did Commander Walker want to be saved
even though five minutes earlier he didn't want to go back to Earth
fearing he'd infect the whole planet? And how come the aliens
attacked on this mission but not the other moon missions? Unless the
producers... And then it hits you: you're watching a hippie movie!
Think about it, the pieces of the puzzle are all there: faked moon
landings, the government being portrayed as evil, indigenous
creatures fighting back (AKA environmentalism/anti-racism),
technology being portrayed as useless, the USSR being depicted in a
sympathetic manner...
Wow.
I've got to go warn people of this. Meanwhile, you should stay away
from this crazy movie unless you really want to kill some brain
cells. (And to think I chose this instead of My Idiot Brother!)
Rating:
Two stars out of five
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