Film Screening 13th May, 2006

Poster for Aeon Flux

Aeon Flux 

8:00 PM, 13th May, 2006

  • M
  • 93 mins
  • 2005
  • Karyn Kusama
  • Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
  • Charlize Theron, Sophie Okonedo, Frances McDormand, Pete Postlethwaite, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller

Its 400 years in the future and disease has wiped out the majority of the population. There stands a walled city, Bregna, ruled by scientists. Aeon Flux (Theron) is the top operative of the underground 'Monican' rebellion, led by The Handler (McDormand). The Handler sends Aeon on an assassination mission to remove a government leader, but in the process Aeon learns about many secrets that too many want to keep that way.

This movie has been adapted from an original animated series, which I loved for its style, over the top events, action, and storyline. Adapting it to a movie was always going to be a stretch due to its over-the-top effects and incredibly skilled acrobatics. All of these are easy to achieve in a cartoon, but harder to achieve with real people. Unfortunately something is lost in the translation. The good thing is, the look of the film is still fantastic. The sets, costumes and visuals are damn cool. While the storyline and writing aren't deep, there is a lot to look into and try to figure out what's really going on. The gadgets and good effects also add to the film. The film is 'smarter' than a lot of other sci-fi flicks, but it doesn't stand up to a lot of others. It flux-uates a bit, but overall I liked it.

Steven Cain

Poster for Doom

Doom 

10:40 PM, 13th May, 2006

  • MA
  • 100 mins
  • 2005
  • Andrzej Bartkowiak
  • Dave Callaham, Wesley Strick
  • Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, Deobia Oparei, Ben Daniels, The Rock

Uh oh. Video game adaptation movie alert! Warning! Warning!I cant give an opinion of the movie from the perspective of someone who's never played a "Doom" game, but for those that have played: Doom delivers.Sarge (The Rock) leads his group of tough marine types to Mars, where a research facility is having problems with monsters. Cue 40 mins of suspense. And then... an hour of all out bloody action!It's a bit hard to describe what's great about Doom - I don't want to give away the surprise for game fans when they spot one of the very numerous nods to the movie's source material. Let me say that weapons are represented, as are techniques of playing the game, as are some of the monsters (from "Doom 3", I'm told).

Personally satisfying for me was the great turn by The Rock who is obviously relishing the opportunity to play the part of Sarge. So this made Doom very nearly my favourite movie based on a computer game - Resident Evil still beats it (just).I'll give one thing away (consider that a warning): there's a big first-person sequence that, while feeling a little out of place, is a highlight of the film.

Brad Hoff