2012 (2009)

It’s intense, no doubt, but in a discomforting, empty sort of way-feels hard to feel relief at the constant near escapes of our protagonists when 99.9% of the rest of the world is completely annihilated in massive dumps of CGI. On one hand, this numbness as a response to such widespread devastation rings partially true, but on the other, it speaks to a certain blockbuster gloss that leaves the film’s themes of human desperation and end-of-the-world values inconsistent and underdeveloped.

4

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind’s new space defenses be enough? (IMDb)

Nothing wrong with a big, brainless sci-fi (see its predecessor) but it’s got to have at least some dramatic weight, be decently acted, have a character to care about as well as some good one-liners. This film fails on almost all counts: The exposition and pep talks are beyond cheesy, the performances often bad, the characters too numerous and forgettable (save for Drs. Okun and Isaac’s cute couple) and the one-liners in one ear out the other, save for one: “They like to get the landmarks”.

4/10 (Bad)

 

Godzilla (1998)

A giant, reptilian monster surfaces, leaving destruction in its wake. To stop the monster (and its babies), an earthworm scientist, his reporter ex-girlfriend, and other unlikely heroes team up to save their city. (IMDb)

It’s classically captivating pre-monster when you’re wondering with fear and awe along with the science/military team what could’ve caused this destruction; this period doesn’t last long, unfortunately, shifting to a barrage of mostly tiresome action sequences that are overcome in no way by the dumb plot (why didn’t they just blow it up with missiles in the first place?), cringe-worthy character work (Pitillo puts in a poor performance), and bland one-liners (“Running would be a good idea!”).

5.5/10 (Poor)