After Earth Quick Review (1 Viewer)

[mattCR]

I will say this now: had I known this was M. Night Shyamalan, I don't know if I would have went. The moment I knew, I had mixed feelings. It may have tainted my experience, but about 3/4 of the way into the film, as I stared at my watch and thought "What is this?" I realized my first instinct was right.

Let me first say this isn't as bad as Lady in the Water, a film I consider his worst. But I have to add that it is probably worse than "The Happening" making this the second worst film of his that I've seen, and considering "The Happening" features plant life that evolves over night Ed Wood style to wipe out humanity, that's saying a lot.

The film is chock full of TERRIBLE dialog, bad acting (Will Smith's son, Jaiden is probably a great kid but should consider another career, maybe in the math/sciences or plumbing, who knows).. but his performance makes Jake Lloyd look like a master thespian.

Once you cross the halfway point, the film becomes difficult to suffer through; the action isn't that great, the preachy nature and stilted delivery are both boring and ridiculous, and long visits to the concession stand seem preferable.

If you were thinking about wasting your hard earned money on this film, I have open advice for you: go clean your gutters or wash your car. You'll have a better time.

F

 

[Citizen87645]

The reviewer on rogerebert.com actually gave it a 3.5/4.

The two other reviews I saw today (James B. and Mahnola Dargis) panned it.

It's telling that M. Night's name wasn't used in the marketing.

 

[mattCR]

He gave it a 3.5??? Four people in my screening WALKED OUT. It is that bad. Worst film I've seen this year, and that says a lot

 

[Citizen87645]

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/after-earth-2013

 

[schan1269]

First time I saw a trailer...

300 + Return to the Planet of the Apes - the apes = After Earth

 

[Chris Will]

Instead of washing my gutters, I'll just go see STID again, I know that will make you happy Matt!The first trailer for AE bored me to death so I've never even considered seeing it. I read somewhere that the original script was set in present day, about a father getting injured on a camping trip and the son having to go through the woods alone for help. Probably not true and I can't remeber where I read it, anyone know?I really wish Will Smith would stop trying to force his kid into an acting career, it's not working.

 

[mattCR]

Instead of washing my gutters, I'll just go see STID again, I know that will make you happy Matt!The first trailer for AE bored me to death so I've never even considered seeing it.I read somewhere that the original script was set in present day, about a father getting injured on a camping trip and the son having to go through the woods alone for help. Probably not true and I can't remeber where I read it, anyone know?I really wish Will Smith would stop trying to force his kid into an acting career, it's not working.

I didn't care for STID because I thought it could be better, but I think I said repeatedly the first half was a fun ride, the effects were good, and it was nice and fast paced.. I just had logic problems with it.
But After Earth is one of the outright dumbest films I've seen. I read through the review at RogerEbert.Com, and I understand the "message" that the reviewer thinks he is getting but that is a ridiculous overreach. It's like me saying "well, The Happening pretty well sucked, but the Eco-message of it made it rewarding enough for me to give it a positive review because of how 'deep' it is"

This movie is NOT deep. In ANY way I can think of. It's just dumb... like, really dumb. The plot comes across like a script for Super Mario Brothers: 2. "Son, go here.." "Son, go there" "Jump!" "Son, do this", as though Jaiden Smith is just responding to the..

Look, I'm not even going to go into it because it's really crap. Let's just say: STID is a masterwork in cinema craft in comparison to After Earth, and Chris, you know my opinions on STID

 

[Michael Elliott]

I decided to go with NOW YOU SEE ME this morning but I'm still dying to see this picture. I'll probably go Monday before work.

With that said, there's a guy I work with who has a crush on Will Smith and thinks he walks on water but when he came in today he said this film was horrible, which makes me want to see it all the more.

It is funny seeing how far M. Night Shyamalan has fallen since his name was no where on the trailer or any of the other promotional items I've seen.

 

[Michael Elliott]

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/after-earth-2013

Not to go too far off topic but I really haven't been impressed with any of the new reviewers. I'm not one expecting them to replace what Roger Ebert was. I know some people are holding them up to Ebert but not me. I just really haven't been impressed with some of the reviews, which seem to be the complete opposite of most. I'm all for people going out on the limb but hopefully they'll impress going forward (and not mistake normal actresses for porn stars).

 

[mattCR]

I decided to go with NOW YOU SEE ME this morning but I'm still dying to see this picture. I'll probably go Monday before work.

With that said, there's a guy I work with who has a crush on Will Smith and thinks he walks on water but when he came in today he said this film was horrible, which makes me want to see it all the more.

It is funny seeing how far M. Night Shyamalan has fallen since his name was no where on the trailer or any of the other promotional items I've seen.

Look, if it had been a more willing audience, this would have been MUCH more fun.. because this film deserves an MST3k'ing

 

[Edwin-S]

I was thinking of seeing it, but now only on BRD.......maybe. It has two strikes against it now.1) Shyamalan.2) Jaden Smith.3) ??????

 

[TravisR]

Based on the trailer, I liked that Will Smith apparently wasn't giving his usual super charismatic Will Smith performance. I still hold out hope that M. Night Shyamalan can turn it around but that hope seems to get dimmer with each movie he makes. Between the reviews and not being a huge sci-fi fan, I'll be skipping this.

 

[PatW]

Being a hugh Sci-fi fan I'll watch this at some point but I'm not too encouraged with what I read. I'll probably wait and stream it when it comes out. I certainly won't blind buy it now without watching first.

 

[Patrick Sun]

It was pretty inert. I'd smack the kid upside his head a few times if I was within smacking distance, though. It was like a really expensive vanity project for Jaden Smith.

I give it 1.75 stars, or a grade of C-.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Good lord, I had NO IDEA that Shyamalan was involved with this until I peeked in this thread just now. That is amazing (in a sad way).

I remember watching The Village and thinking "gee, that was better than I expected." Then I saw Lady in the Water and considered giving up watching movies at all for a while.

The only work of his I've seen since has been a few minutes here and there of The Last Airbender when it's on TV. Aasif Mandvi as a fantasy warlord is amusing.

 

[Richard V]

Yeah, I'll be watching this After Hell Freezes Over.

 

[Michael Elliott]

I watched a 10am screening this morning and I'm going to go out on a limb and say this movie will be much more remembered 50 years from now than some that have gotten Best Picture nominations.

I of course say this because the movie is really, really bad and perhaps one of the worst sci-fi summer blockbusters ever (not quite as bad as BATTLEFIELD EARTH). I'm really not sure where to start on this thing but it's certainly a mess. I will say that I thought the CGI and some of the visuals were good but outside of that this here was a real bomb.

1. Jaden Smith. I've posted over 9400 "notes" on films over at IMDB and I've never really ripped into a child actor. Usually it's their parents throwing them into the limelight so why attack a used child? I overlooked how awful Jaden was in HAPPYNESS, EARTH STOOD STILL and THE KARATE KID but it's quite clear that this kid hasn't got a talented bone in his body. I overlooked the first few films knowing that daddy was pushing him into the business but the fact that he still hasn't gone to acting class has finally pissed me off enough to say he's probably the worst child actor I've ever seen. I'm sure some are calling me an idiot because I am a person who watches films like FRANKENSTEIN'S GREAT AUNT TILLIE and VAMPIRE MEN OF THE LOST PLANET but the difference is that people knew those films were bad and were just acting in them for fun. It's clear that Smith thinks he's all that but he's really something truly awful and it's rather pathetic. I understand famous people getting their kids into the door but this here is just beyond bad. The film require emotions to be shown but the actor can't pull it off.

2. Daddy Smith. I actually liked his more calm, laid back performance but it doesn't work here because he does nothing but sit and talk. I don't care about his religion, his off the screen relationship or anything else but it is sad that he keeps throwing his son out to the wolves and he should be remembered for child abuse.

3. Shyamalan. I keep hoping for a comeback but he just keeps getting worse and worse. I think he needs to take $500,000 and try something for the indie crowd. The direction here is pretty bad but the screenplay is worse because there are just so many moments that make you scratch your head. The story just doesn't grab you but a lot of this is due to the actor being so horrible.

* (out of 4)

 

[Malcolm R]

Hard to believe M. Night Shyamalan, once touted as one of the hottest writer/directors in Hollywood, now seems to occupy the same sphere of ridicule and disdain as Uwe Boll.

 

[Citizen87645]

A roundup of critical insults.

 

[Quentin]

Sorry to thread crap....but, I cracked up when I saw the 'quick review' subject line and instantly thought of the 'quick review' of Spinal Tap's "Shark Sandwich" album...