Opening Day: 2 December 2010

Synopsis:

In the sci-fi thriller "Skyline", strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth.

Movie Review:

There was a time when alien invasion movies were the rage in this reviewer’s teenage years. Who can forget Bill Pullman’s inspiring presidential speech about sovereignty in 1996’s Independence Day? Who didn’t laugh at how the aliens comically exploded whenever they heard the song “Indian Love Call” in 1996’s Mars Attacks!? And which guy didn’t want to be uber cool agents in 1997’s Men in Black? My older fellow movie lovers would mention titles like Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and The War of the Worlds (1953) and The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951), but those classics are of a different league altogether.

Then came the invasion of technology, an era where it seemed that the only right thing to do in moviemaking is to create some grotesque alien creature which oozes slime and are indefinitely invincible (how else would you guarantee a money grubbing sequel?) So here we are, in the 21st century, an age which churns out one alien movie after another.

Here we have the Brothers Strause who has decided to make a science fiction movie about the human race having to face a mysterious extraterrestrial force which descends on Earth. Nothing much is explained here, except that there are occurrences of blue lights drawing people into a flame. What will happen to the human population? What will become of the planet which humans have called home for thousands of years? And most importantly, what will audiences feel once the end credits roll?

Here’s one word that describes what this reviewer felt: Dumb.

So dumb is this movie that this reviewer wonders why any individual would want to be involved in it. So dumb is this movie that this reviewer marvels at the courage of the studio which decided to distribute it worldwide. So dumb is this movie that he begins to lose faith in the once exhilarating genre which once provoked thoughts of liberty and freedom in his mind.

From the get go of this 97 minute disposable flick, there is little to care about for its characters. As if showing no empathy is not bad enough, you may end up loathing the shallowly written personalities who are so one dimensioned and predictable, you feel more satisfaction reading a cookbook. Relatively unknowns headline this unnecessary feature film: From the uncharismatic male protagonists played by Eric Balfour and Donald Faison to the unlikeable female protagonists played by Scottie Thompson and Brittany Daniel, you feel that these are people you want to avoid at parties and social gatherings.

Maybe it is the filmmakers’ idea to have the spotlight on the alien creatures, which may appear colossal and overpowering at first, but eventually leaving no lasting impression. Having worked as special effects artists, brothers Greg and Colin (the duo who gave you the brainless Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) do not have anything else on their agenda except to make some quick bucks with the computer wizardry which has becoming increasingly exploited. You’d walk away numbed by the loud noises and unnecessary gimmicks as the movie ends.

Yes, the movie does end. But not before seizing the opportunity to leave room for another bombastic sequel.

Movie Rating:



(A preposterous mess which puts the alien invasion sci fi genre to shame)

Review by John Li