I feel like this movie has a bad rap. Maybe it’s the just few people I talked to personally, but I seem to remember reading disfavorable reviews out there too. I’m not sure why.
The star of the movie, granted, are the visuals. It’s GORGEOUS. It’s not surprising once you realize that it was done by the same guy who made Tron: Legacy, but even then, there’s a difference. Tron was so much CGI. Oblivion’s sets are real, and the landscapes are real. They filmed in Iceland and that was a maaaaajorly awesome choice. Step aside New Zeland, you’ve got some competition in the “holy shit, those are real places?” category.
After we finished watching, Liz was reading notes about the movie; how it was originally conceived as a graphic novel, which *completely* makes sense as there’s a decidedly Zach Snyder feel to the framing of the movies pictures. Like frames of a comic book. And, I mean that in a good way. How, the director was unhappy on Tron working almost entirely in green screen, and that his actors were unhappy. This time around, they physically built everything they possibly could. Tom Cruise’s floating glass house was apparently so impressive, Mr. Cruise called it his favorite set he’d ever been on.
The story was also much better than Tron. Simpler. Sometimes to a fault; there’s no real untrodden territory here, per se, but what’s there is simple. No extraneous bullshit. Just, humanity in trouble, we need a hero, there’s a love story, and there you go. The imagination was really saved for the scenery. The characters are developed enough to be likable, which is something I find increasingly missing from big budget movies. Again, they’re nothing really special really, but they’re likable enough to care what happens and keep watching.
Perhaps the movie does aspire to more than it is, only falling slightly short, and perhaps the climax in the end isn’t as exciting or surprising as it could have been, but at the end of the day…it’s likable, extremely watchable, and entertaining. The script didn’t make me want to hurl things at the screen. The stupidity is kept to a minimum.
I know it sounds like I’m kind of shrugging my shoulders and saying “it didn’t suck,” and I guess I am, but guys. There has been such an endless stream of suck on a colossal level that is was REFRESHING to see something competently done. Seriously!
In summary, I like this movie. Watch it. It’s worth it for the visuals alone. A competently done story makes listening to what the pretty people are saying entertaining as well.