Sunday 17 May 2009

Battle For Terra (2009)

At a glance:
Derivative, yet worthwhile sci-fi project, re-shot for 3D after interest from the festival circuits as early as 2007. You've seen those X-shaped fighter ships before and there's a toy-like 'help' character that looks like what would've happened if R2-D2 had gaybot sex with Wall-E, not to mention the unimaginative taser gun sounds. However, a subtle Antz-like social commentary underpins this war story, where human beings and aliens both have elders who discourage individuality and questions about the System. The Terrians and their world also get some good design work - they look like meek tadpoles livin in an alternate primitive world of mostly wood and metal. Great non-Disney stuff if you ask me.
Bad news on the doorstep:
Bombed in America for its eventual wide release, openin too close to Star Trek and without any marketin muscle either. "Crashed and burned" were just some of the words I read about the box office. Sigh.
Watch out for:
The skywhale - a simple yet respectable creation. Should've expanded on this, really. A skywhale starship with awesome sonar weaponry or somethin.
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?Three and a half. A solid movie with well defined short story qualities.