mpb987 Reviews

Sunshine (2007)

Just turns into another horror Sci-fi...

[3/10 · 3 November 2010]

I am increasingly wary of watching sci-fi movies these days. There is a trend that sci-fi movies are just horror movie set in a future time. Sometimes this works well - like Alien and Aliens - but the repetitive nature of this is now wearing thin and shows a lack of imagination by writers.

Sadly this movie falls into this trap, mixed with religious overlay. I was just waiting for the 'horror' part - hoping I would be wrong - and yawn, there it was...in all predictability...a lurking villain...not picked up by sensors (huh? - I would be asking for a refund from the sensor company!). It is an understatement to say that such a predicable storyline development is an insult to viewers. It ruined what was potentially good movie.

The intelligence of the character development shows considerable weakness. Somehow you get the idea that the writer is thinking the characters were just spending a few weeks on a nice Pacific Island - not an tough, long, demanding trip to the sun. Most of the characters would have been eliminated in basic psychology tests. Also the characters youngish ages showed they would not have the maturity expected of such a mission. Both of these points (and others) showed that the writer had a poor understanding of space travel, and sci-fi in general. Hence, one can only conclude that the intent of the writer was to develop a horror film (of sorts) on a loose sci-fi background.

Furthermore, the script showed a poor extrapolation of technology growth. Would really the space walk be done by humans in gold space suits in 2057? Somehow, such a difficult requirement would have been mastered by robot. One can only assume the idea to use humans was to remove a cast member. How original...

So 3 out of 10...simply because the cast tries their best with a poor script and weak storyline.

Human Trafficking (2005)

Well done

[8/10 · 3 January 2010]

Given my line of work, this issue is something that I am very aware of. This film has strong performances and has one surprising twist (which I was not expecting - and I normally see these coming from a mile!). However, the most important point of this film is that it raises the issue - although to show the true deprivation is nigh impossible given this topic. Let's just say hell is would be considered mild. Hence, the topic can only ever be glossed over and be more of a decaffeinated version of reality. (For a slightly more gritty film on this topic, see 'The Jammed', if you can - it's an Australian Film).

It is impossible to truly represent this crime. No one can make a film (legally anyway) that shows girls (and boys) being raped by 20+ men a day for money... Yet that is exactly what happens, day and night. This is no lie. I have seen the effects of this. As you read this, more than a few girls and boys in the world is experiencing that against their wishes. A head in the sand approach does not solve the problem. The only way to solve the problem is to get men to realize that five seconds of their fun should not come at the expense of degrading someone against their will. Are men really that shallow and inadequate? (Oh, yes I am a man!) Men, if you need, just go to the bathroom...

Oh, and finally, to respond to the post by "e_pipersberg". Yawn. I wouldn't rate his post given that his sports predication was so way off as well. Seems he can't critique anything that comes close to being called accurate. Then again, maybe the topic was a little too close to the truth for him...