[Films] After Earth

One of the things that I'm really enjoying about being back at Warwick is the student cinema. They have a showing everyday of the week except Wednesday, and two on a Saturday and Sunday. There's a different film every day (usually), and they're very good at getting recent releases and mixing them in with older films. Tickets are £3.50 for staff, which is an absolute bargain, and it's held in the biggest lecture theatre on campus; it's even got a proper cinema sized screen. The only real downside are the seats, which being lecture seats aren't particularly comfortable, particularly for taller individuals like myself! (Seriously, how did I sit through lectures in there?).

(Credit: filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk)

There were a lot of films this year that I didn't catch at the cinema when they were released. Fortunately the student cinema has come to the rescue! The first of many films that I've managed to catch up on this term was After Earth, the father-son vehicle for Will and Jaden Smith, who play the main father-son characters (I see what they did there). But was it any good?

One of several different designs for the After Earth poster. I quite like the graphic design on this one. (Credit: dpstream.tv)

Errrr, no. No it is not. Now I wasn't entirely surprised by this fact. I was quite interested when I originally saw the trailers, but I'd heard rumblings that it was pretty poor. So I didn't try too hard to go to a real cinema to see it. But the student cinema gave me a good, cheap opportunity to see it on the big screen. 

Despite the equal billing that Will Smith and his son get, this is really a Jaden Smith film. Will is very much the supporting character here, as he spends a lot of time off screen with a presence via his voice. Unfortunately that drags the film down somewhat; I liked Jaden Smith in the remake of the Karate Kid, but here he is less successful. Without a strong opposite lead (like Jackie Chan), he's essentially asked to carry the film himself and falls a little short. It doesn't help that he seems to be trying to do an impression of his Dad at several points in the film, and the manic energy and exaggerated emotions don't work quite so well for him.

Not only is Will Smith off screen a lot, denying that counterpoint that would have made the film better, but his character doesn't suit him at all. In my opinion he's at his best when his character is a laid back sort of guy, with some good wisecracks and some emotional development. Here the script gives him an almost completely emotionless character to work with, and it just doesn't really work. He just doesn't have the face for it, if you know what I mean.

Jaden Smith has a slightly better character than his dad, but almost tries too hard to carry

the film on his own shoulders. It doesn't really work (Credit: ksl.com)

There are some odd continuity moments too, like when Jaden's character suddenly leaves his father's weapon behind in one of his rest stops. At least that's what I assume happens, as it's never mentioned. The cinematography makes a seemingly big deal about showing us where it should be on his back, but nothing comes of it, and he just acquires a new one when he reaches the crash site!

For 99 percent of the film the CGI is stunning, and you can't really tell that it's not a real place. It's incredibly impressive. Which makes a couple of shots in the opening sequence, where the CGI is painfully obvious, even more bewildering. It looks like a late 90s computer game, and is completely at odds with the quality of the rest of the film. In fact the whole opening just seems stilted, almost as if it was an afterthought when they realised that they had to explain the back story to the film. Also, what on Earth do they make their spaceships out of? It looks like string, rope, nets, and those plastic rings you get holding six-packs of soft drinks together!

Most of the visuals in this film are stunning. Which makes the story all the more disappointing. (Credit: reelcinemas.co.uk)

I will say this though: After Earth has some great concepts in it. I love the idea of the alien creatures that hunt humans by their fear response, and the way that they set up scenes to trigger that response and make it easier to track their prey. That's genius, and it's a shame that better use isn't made of it. I also really like the accompanying idea of emotional control that is one of the films central pillars - 'danger is very real, but fear is a choice'. There's a lot of mileage in that idea, and a certain amount of truth as well, but again it's criminally underused other than to justify the characterisation.

Ultimately After Earth is a film with some good ideas, let down by the script and actors. Don't be fooled; this is a young adult coming of age film with a sci-fi background. I see nothing but wasted potential here.

(Credit: philosphoers-stone.co.uk)