When it comes down to it, "After Earth" isn't a startlingly original nor deep science fiction tale from the mind of director M. Knight Shyamalan. Its plot is fairly straightforward and easily comprehensible. But, it is an entertaining spectacle and a vast improvement over the director's more recent ventures in cinematic storytelling.
It takes place 1000 years in the future when humanity, having abandoned an inhospitable Earth now inhabit the planet of Nova Prime, a world that has been threatened by creatures who weren't so welcoming of the human newcomers, called Ursa. Will Smith plays Cypher, a commander of space missions, who's son Katai (Jaden Smith - Will's son) would love to be a success in the eyes of his father. Unfortunately, Katai didn't earn the recent promotion that would have solidified his reputation in his father's eyes.
That's the setup and we are shown the preparations and eventual launch of a space mission in which Cypher commands the ship and Katai is allowed to come along. They unexpectedly encounter an asteroid storm which damages the ship, forcing it to crash land on the long abandoned planet that we know as Earth. No one but the two main father and son protagonist survives.
It is here that the mission of the film is hammered down because Cypher's leg is broken and now Katai must go on the 100 km journey through the dangerous wilderness of the planet to reach the other half of the ship where an emergency beacon is located. This is their only hope. "Fear is a choice," Cypher instructs his son. And so the movie's main plot is established. Pretty simple, right?
Katai's adventure and struggle through the environment is exciting and the dangers he encounters are well directed by Shyamalan.
It will be of little surprise that the final showdown will be between Katai and one of the awful Ursas that have so troubled his family in the past. (We learn from flashbacks that his sister was killed by one of them). The film's messages and themes are as straightforward as the plot: overcome your fears if you want to succeed and the idea that a son must establish his own path in life even if it means going against the wishes of his father. It is about the transcendence of boyhood into adulthood and the importance of individual liberty and family.
This is not the greatest movie to come out so far in 2013 but it is an entertaining one and exciting at times as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment