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Movie Review

Doom (2005)

Director: Andrzel Bartkowiak
Starring: Karl Urban, Dwayne Johnson, Rosamund Pike, Deobia Oparei, Razaaq Adoti, Richard Brake, Al Weaver, Dexter Flectcher, Brian Steele, Ben Daniels, Yao Chin, Robert Russell

On research facility on Mars all communication is lost and a level five quarantine has been put into action. A highly trained military tactical squad are the only ones allowed in and loaded with every weapon they can carry they enter to neutralise the problem

The Military squad lead by Sarge (Dwayne Johnson) includes Destroyer (Deobia Oparei), Duke (Razaaq Adoli), The Kid (Al Weaver), Pinky (Dexter Fletcher), Goat (Ben Daniels), Mac (Yao Chin), Corporal Dean Portman (Richard Brake) and John Grimm (Karl Urban). John has a sister Samantha Grimm (Rosamund Pike) who works at the facility.

Upon entering the facility The squad locates Samantha and has to help get vital research out and locate the missing Docters. Travelling down dark narrow corridors the marines now have to put all the training into effect fighting an enemy they have never encounter before they are trapped on Mars.

Based on the video game Doom this film tries to capture the cramped environment you encounter while playing the game, It does have one gun like cam angle which is just like the game but the rest is very much just your normal creature feature atmosphere. Karl Urban and Dwayne Johnson perform what would expect of wannabe action stars but poor dialogue makes their characters very wooden.

Some of the special effects created are highlights including a nano byte wall and the portal to and from Mars and Earth. I would say it is worth a watch to fans of sci-fi like horror but don’t expect to get too scared and the fans of the game will be disappointed as this is on video game to film poorer performances

My rating a 67%

Categories
Movie Review

Brick (2005)

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas, Noah Fleiss, Matt O’Leary, Emilie de Ravin, Noah Segan, Richard Roundtree, Meagan Good, Brian White.

 This is Rian Johnson’s feature film debut and what a debut it is, winner of ‘The special jury award’ at Sundance.

 Our teen hero is Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) get a mysterious phone call from his ex-girlfriend Emily (Emillie De Ravin) asking for help using unknown slang words ‘Pin’ ‘Tug’ ‘Brick’. using a connection at the school the Brain (Matt O’Leary) they try and work out the words leading them to discover that ‘Pin’ could be the Kingpin.

After a meeting and backing off plea from Emily Brendan finds a symbol. Eventually he learns it is a place around the Town leading him there he finds the body of Emily. With a flashback of what once was he decides to solve her murder himself by hiding the body.

 Brendan now enter the world of drug trafficking meeting Tugger or Tug the muscle of the Pin(Lukas Haas) and the mysterious Laura (Nora Zehetnar). Getting himself involved in the business he discovers the truth of what has happened to Emily.

 The love for Emily from Brendan is so strong with him only wanting the best for her even after seeing all her falls, This is summed up in a Strong Flashback in which Brendon says she is the only thing he cares about.

 Made on an estimated budget of $475,000 this is truly a remarkable piece of film noir full of exceptional performances from every single performer. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers one of his best performances of his young and ever growing career.

 This is one if not my all time favourite movie so of course i will give it a 10/10 but i would also say this isn’t for everyone as it a slow building story which some people may not be in favour off.

 So overall score would be 98%