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DOOMSDAY Review

post #1 of 5
3/14/08 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
I know many of the movies that reside in director Neil Marshall's DVD collection. The Descent, his last feature, brought him a measure of (deserved) success. And thus, Neil made a film packing in his love for about twenty different films all at once.

But he brought nothing new to the table, really. And the Frankenstein he stitched together isn't terribly homogenous. It's not that he ripped films off...he's very open about his influences. It's that he doesn't direct the scenes as well as those who did it before (though he does do them his own way - credit for that). And he brings nothing new. He's a decent director. But this film never gels. It's got some good sequences, and it's heavy on the action, but very light on subtlety and depth.

Rhona Mitra looks great, and the film has solid energy throughout. But it's primarily a collection of cliches and homages. I knew I was seeing a B-action movie, but I had hoped for a bit more. Not terrible, but not really worth a trip to the theater. I did dig some of the kills.

6.5/10,
Chuck
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post #2 of 5
3/15/08 at 5:27pm

Re: DOOMSDAY Review

If you go into this film with the notion of seeing the 3rd installment of the recently revival attempt of Grindhouse films, Doomsday kinda works with such a sensibility. We are treated to a mishmash of action-thrillers from the past 40 years or so (fans will have fun identifying them all on DVD later, I suspect), and the narrative scope doesn't pretend to be anything more than it seems on the surface. There are duty-bound protagonists, and over-the-top insane characters for antagonists, with very little shades of grey in between them. Rhona Mitra is game for a B-movie heroine, and her supporting cast is sufficient (though Bob Hoskins' appearance was a surprise, and he provided a bit of grit and gravitas in spots). The guy who played Saul cracked me up, loved his unbridled lack of filters when reacting to situations gone awry.

Director Neil Marshall throws in all sorts of homages, some work, some don't, but the film itself is so tonally awkward as it goes from one set piece to the next set piece in an attempt to carry forward the plot. But even with such deficiencies in the screenplay, there is quite a bit of fun with all the carnage, violence and action throughout the film. The pacing is actually not too bad, and the 3rd act had me rolling in spots, just good ol' fashion fun action sequences (a la Road Warrior) during the big chase scene.

I give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.
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post #3 of 5
3/17/08 at 10:45am

Re: DOOMSDAY Review

I like that, Patrick - the 3rd part of Grindhouse! Unfortunately, it pales so radically in comparison to Planet Terror as a Carpenter homage that it hurts the film. Planet Terror is a lesson in how to honor Carpenter and make it your own. Doomsday is a lesson in how to NOT do it.
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post #4 of 5
11/30/09 at 2:18pm
I know this is an old thread and I apologize for dredging it up, but I just watched Doomsday this morning and had to ask if anyone else thought the music at the end sounded way too much like the music on 28 Days Later and 28 weeks later?
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post #5 of 5
12/19/09 at 3:20pm
Yes, there is definitely a moment of 29 Days music in there.

Funny this thread came back up because I just watched it again.  I just think this is a fun flick.  I don't quite understand why people slam it.  It is what it is, and it is fun.  No, I don't think it is quite as good as Planet Terror, but I think it beats the hell out of Death Proof. 
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