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Spectacular, but
hollow...
Director, Roland Emmerich, knows how to put
on a mammoth spectacle. "10,000 B.C." is
most certainly that. Some of the visuals on
display here are breathtaking, capable of
inspiring awe in the most jaded cynic. The
effects in this film are above criticism,
simply demanding audiences to drop their
jaws in disbelief.
Emmerich's weak point in films such as "The
Day After Tomorrow", "Godzilla",
Independence Day" and "Stargate" have
nothing to do with technical wizardry --
rather, it lies in his inability to create
meaningful interpersonal relationships
between characters and his lack of effort in
crafting intelligent witty dialogue.
Therefore, as a general rule with this
director, we are left with an entertaining
and spectacular cinematic event that only
serves as temporary entertainment.
All that being said, "10,000 B.C."
represents his best effort to date. The
premise helps to raise the level of
discourse, primarily because this is, above
all else, a love story. Combine "Last of the
Mohicans", "Apocalypto" and "The Day After
Tomorrow"... et voila!!!
Virtual unknown, Steven Strait, plays D'Leh,
a young man who lives in a snowy mountainous
village. He is vying for three things in
life... To find the truth about his father's
disappearance... To win the white spear,
signifying him as the leader of the
village... And to win the love of his life,
Evolet, as his bride.
The brightest new star making her way up
Hollywood's A-List is Camilla Belle, a girl
whose incomparable beauty has already drawn
deserved comparisons to Rita Hayworth, Hedy
Lamarr, Ava Gardner and Gene Tierney. She
plays Evolet, a girl with piercing blue eyes
who is an orphaned child of legend, destined
to play a role in the fate of the village.
When she is kidnapped by an evil clan, along
with a number of other tribe members, she is
separated from her one true love, D'Leh. He
and three friends vow to rescue their
tribe-mates and set off across the
treacherous snow covered mountains in search
of them.
What the film lacks in probable historical
accuracy, it more than makes up for in
wonderment and adventure. There are scenes
whose images will be hard to forget.
Consider the woolly mammoth hunt with a
stampede so visceral that it is hard to
imagine these creatures are made up of ones
and zeros. Contemplate our brilliant
introduction to the saber-toothed tiger,
drowning at first, then winding its massive
body through the maze of spikes.
Every shot in this movie is pristinely
realized and lends terrific weight and
believability to the proceedings.
The final act is monumentally grand. It is
doubtful that any 2008 production will
feature such a massive special effects
undertaking. I am not a critic who tends to
raise any eyebrows at special effects...
they are really only worth noting when they
go unnoticed. "10,000 B.C." is a superb
example of that theory.
If only the dialogue had been a little more
polished, more believable, this movie could
have avoided some of the "cheese factor". A
really great writer needed to get his hands
on this material. As it stands, the film
could have been written by a 15 year old.
Steven Strait and Camilla Belle are both
very talented, but they weren't helped by a
simplistic screenplay.
Nevertheless, I can easily recommend this
adventure flick. It is rousing entertainment
that should satisfy almost everyone.
©
Written by TC Candler |
Director
Roland
Emmerich
Cast
Camilla
Belle
Steven Strait
Running Time
109m
Rated
PG
Official
Website
n/a |
