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I AM LEGEND

Mixed feelings about this. It's basically a combination of 28 Days Later and Cast Away, which works well enough, but without the tension of the first nor the tragic weight of the latter which it so desperately reaches for. I love the fact that there's so little music though, and the music James did compose resembles the pacing of Arvo Part (I wonder if his music was used as a temp?), so it suits the picture quite well (also in the same vein as Silvestri's score did for CA). Plus, Smith appears to be charismatic and able enough to carry this film, ultimately even giving a believable emotional weight to his character.

Yet, the problem lies with the creatures and the writing. The first are just too CGI-ey to have any credibility, more resembling the creatures from The Mummy Returns than the monsters Danny Boyle came up with. This reduces the tension a lot, while Lawrence also seems incapable to really get and maintain a creepy mood. It's emotional, but never really tragic, nor suspenseful, let alone creepy. When Lawrence tries to give any meaning to it all in the final act, through some really forced conversations on God, he looses all the credibility he got left.

Another problem is the lack of weight the Big Evacuation leaves. It's supposed to be this intense, raw and traumatic experience for the main character, but instead of immersing the audience in it during the opening, Lawrence scatters fragments of it all throughout the film, while giving cliche tearjerk-lines to his characters. It all adds up to an entertaining enough and well build up blockbuster which really excells in the lack of action and the rare focus on build-up, but ultimately fails to leave in impression.

We saw True Lies for the first time in ten years, I think. It´s amazing how this brainless action effects extravaganza jewel still works after 13 years. Lots of fun, though there are some moments that me cringe in the very same way they did in 1994.

Really? Score aside, the film is a [cult] classic of sci-fi cinema easily. It'll remain one of my favourites anyway. The only thing that dampens the experience now is knowing where the franchise is presently.

The plot holes are too mind-bending to think about for too long, and that applies to the entire franchise. The whole time-travelling thing drives me crazy. Terminator 3 is the worst. However, I loved how they managed to justify the entire film with the following dialogue:

John Connor: We stopped Judgement Day.
Terminator: You only postponed it. Judgment Day is inevitable.

A tight story with tight editing that just zips along all done on a small budget!

Brilliant film that still stands up today and Arnold was perfectly cast.

I don't care for the score as a listen but it works perfectly in the film.

A sad decline indeed.

I saw the whole of it last year and i'd agree with what you said about the first 30 minutes you watched, but in extension.

Back To The Future!

Cool, two Rabin nuts
I just like his sound, have so from the very first second I heard Armaggeddon. And as for the sports score, he just has a knack for doing them. I guess his voice is just perfect for that genre

Hoping from more of him in the future
He should do Goal 3

One of the worst films I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. I'll never get those 2 hours back... (Eshkeri's score is mixed WAY too loud in the final mix... horrible, just horrible.)

I was just talking to a friend of mine in England five minutes ago and he berated me for missing this one at cinemas. Sounds like it really was very good.

Perhaps a bit of detail as to how the thing is consistent would be good. We'd love to believe you, but there's nothing quite like knowing for yourself.

how can a score be mixed too loudly? For all I know most scores are mixed too softly
I love it when music soars over everything else, at least if its good music and Stardust is just that

I'll try to keep that in mind if I ever see the movie

We all watched the Doctor Who Christmas Special, "Voyage of The Damned", last night. I'm beginning to think that they've maybe over-stretched themselves and should really have taken a break now rather than at the end of the next series.

After a disappointing Series 3 climax, last night's Special was another big disappointment - and not very original. Heavy borrowings from The Poseidon Adventure.

Series 3 does have several big highlights though. My son, David, wanted to watch the episode that scared him the most: "Blink". A brilliant episode.