Doomed from the beginning
Another B-grade adaptation of a video game, based on the classic computer game Doom, which first made popular the “first-person-perspective shooter” genre that spawned many of its brethren such as the just-as-popular Halo and Quake series of games. Actually, the movie’s based on the third installment, Doom 3, which explains why the plot involves a genetic experiment gone awry instead of the sillier but more fun “Hell-is-on-Mars” premise of the original game.
It is 2046, and an emergency situation on Mars demands the services of a team of really poor Aliens’ Colonial Marines rip-offs led by Sarge (The Rock), with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai nowhere in sight. Once they’re on the planet’s scientific facility, the Marines (and you) are assaulted again and again by jump-out-of-the-screen-corner-monster clichés until, predictably, all of the unknown casts are dead or you leave the cinema out of boredom.
There are only two notable features in the movie. One is Reaper’s (Karl Urban) subplot, which gave the movie an unexpected tinge of emotion. Some reviewers have also lauded The Rock’s performance here, although I personally don’t agree with them. Second is that gratuitous “gun camera” or “first-person-perspective” sequence. Surprisingly it was done for a fairly valid reason and was the highest point in the movie. Sadly, they’re not enough to save the movie from awfulness. (Note: It’s still better than suckfest Aliens Vs. Predator.)
- BMF |
