ericjbowen Reviews

Infinite Storm (2022)

Great scenery, simple story of heroism and endurance

[6/10 · 28 March 2022]

For those of us returning to cinemas post-pandemic, this was a visual joy: wide-screen snowy mountains, a looming and belting storm, an engaging out-doors woman. Be prepared to suspend disbelief, as this search-and-rescue person shows poor judgement and sets off seemingly ill-equipped into a storm, technically un-proficient in doing a self-rescue from a snow well.

Rather over-done rescue sequence of seemingly suicidal man who at times didn't seem worth saving.

Also a notable gaffe as the action was supposed to take place in November, but the times projected on the screen show sunup at 6AM and still light in the sky at 7:30PM, too long a day for that time of year.

Some pardonable melodrama, but still oddly satisfying in the end.

Range Runners (2019)

Cardboard characters, no credibility

[3/10 · 31 December 2021]

None of the characters exhibited depth of personality -- they were like one- or two-dimensional cut-outs dropped onto the stage. All showed one commonality: unbelievable stupidity in their conduct as the film winds its way to its messy conclusion. Some redemption is found in watching the actress who plays the lead as a young girl in the flashbacks, being pushed mercilessly by her father to become a track star.

The Ghost Writer (2010)

The pain of watching a self-destructive lead character

[4/10 · 6 January 2019]

The early part of Ghost Writer is moderately intriguing, as an air of mystery, enhanced by brooding skies and weather, hints at dark secrets. However, the tense mood becomes depressing as the viewer becomes aware of the Ghost's lack of discretion, then seriously flawed survival instincts, as he presses for answers from powerful, obviously dangerous people who clearly have something to hide, casually disclosing along the way that he knows too much. One final act of supreme, even silly self-sabotage leads to the inevitable playing-out of the film's tragic theme.

After Earth (2013)

Ancient stories retold with CGI

[6/10 · 28 July 2013]

The widespread criticism of this film usually misses the point.

That the film is basically derivative and unoriginal is hardly debatable. The hero-quest theme echoes ancient Greek epics. Asteroid storm? Yeah, we saw all that in Star Trek. And struggling to the top of an active volcano to complete a mission was lifted whole cloth from Lord of the Rings, Part III.

But in the end, there is nothing wrong with this. "After Earth" is a timeless tale, reset in our sci-fi fantasies of the future, updated with beautiful CGI imagery. A boy enters an initiation into manhood. He embarks on a heroic quest, guided by his father, his own wits and initiative, and perhaps with some helpful intervention of luck and the gods. He survives, and saves both himself and those depending on him.

Come sit by a digital fireside, and come away with the pleasure of seeing and hearing a retelling of a timeless tale -- perhaps augmented by seeing the real-life bonding between actor Will Smith and his son, Jayden in creating this entertaining film.