The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: some sequels are content in repeating the story of the original work with minor variations (these generally make for less attractive experiences); others continue (in an organic way) and expand the story and the world where it takes place. This film (at least to those not knowledgeable about the source material) starts as one of the first type, but morphs into the second; the story got richer and more emotionally involving. The discomfort with the […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, sci fi

Elysium: a typically grim tale (for a sci-fi movie) that has enough of both unique and the usual elements to feel fresh but not overwhelming. As it’s often the case with films of this genre, the story also serves as a comment on present times; here, it’s somewhat heavy-handed, regardless of how one feels about what is being said. Acting is somewhat uneven: Matt Damon is dependable and Sharlto Copley creates an interesting villain; Jodie Foster, by the other hand, is […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, sci fi

Pacific Rim: there is nothing subtle in a film about giant robots fighting giant monsters; this is a special effects spectacle, even thought it’s disappointing that most of the fights are hidden by darkness. This is also what is considered a loud movie. (In fact, loudness is not the problem; a sound mix that buries the dialogue is.) Almost in spite of itself, however, the film ends up being a lot of (summer-ish) fun. The visual design of settings, monsters […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, sci fi

Star Trek Into Darkness: fun film that, however, feels somewhat generic. (Not an intellectual property that I know much, it felt that to understand the characters and the universe they were part of, one had to have some previous familiarity.) In spite of the excess of distracting lens flares (a mark of JJ Abrams) and the below-average 3D, the film in general looks slick enough. Benedict Cumberbatch creates a strong villain and is the stand-out of the capable but unremarkable cast.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, sci fi