Ex Machina (2015)

iRobot.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

A Newer Hope.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Being a huge fan of the Alien Invasion genre, Battle: LA pulls no punches in basically just being Black Hawk Down with aliens. Battle, struggle, set-pieces, explosion, CGI, half-time and full-time results - it's all there. As is a, now obligatory, Michelle Rodriguez role as 'kick-ass female with a firearm'. Visual feast; paper thin and meaty at the same time.


2.5 stars

Monsters (2010)

Surprisingly cerebral and pedestrian 'invasion' monster movie. Action is used sparingly, which makes for an unexpected drama here. Cinematography (outstanding), writing, visual effects, and direction all from promising Brit newcomer Gareth Edwards.

3.5 stars

Paul (2011)

Littered with Star Wars references, and pays homage to many others, this film is an enjoyable enough no-brainer.

3 stars

Skyline (2010)

One dimensional storyline as a bunch of model-slash-actors battle against alien invasion. How thoroughly entertained I was though ;) If you hate excessive CGI, you will hate this.


3 stars

Source Code (2011)

Very satisfying follow up to Moon, which, and whisper it quietly, is on a par with Inception.
Janck 4 stars

There's very much a 'something borrowed' feel to this, and though this manages to create a solid cerebral mystery, it's the more light-hearted Groundhog Day moments that raise smiles, intentionally or otherwise. The heavy thematic plotlines and characters coupled with a cloying schmaltz do make this feel like a very safe studio release, however. The individual parts are nothing new, but the sum of them is still a very engaging sci-fi thriller.
Mitch 3.5 stars

Dark City (1998)

A stellar cast fall a little flat in this sci-fi thriller with big ideas but little impact. Ideas within predate Inception, and The Matrix, however the latter being made only one year later make Dark City feel a little dated. Richard O'Brien's panto baddie sticks in the memory, but the end result is rather average.


3 stars

Splice (2009)

A film so so-so that I can't even dream up a glib review.. and that is the biggest crime with Splice.

Predators (2010)

Makes the forgettable AvP movies even more forgettable without being spectacular itself.

The Box (2009)

Wacky, bonkers, or even preposterous, but Richard Kelly still manages to push more buttons with The Box than your average turgid Hollywood flick.

Surrogates (2009)

High brow Sci-Fi concept + Bruce Willis + Lights + Camera + Action = Popcorn Blockbuster (with awesome surround sound).


3.5 stars

Inception (2010)

Janck: Hurrah for the 'smart' summer blockbuster, but it ain't the classic fanboys will have you believe it is.

4 stars


Mitch: Thoroughly decent thriller that works on many levels. Lives up to the word-of-mouth hype, but it is not the immaculate inception.

4 stars

Pandorum (2009)

Reminiscent of The Descent in space, though not as chilling, not as clever, and not as good. The characters and plot are unfortunately too two-dimensional to really ever be drawn in by the (many) 'what's-around-the-corner' scares; such that the ending is met with a collective shrug. Watchable, but average and derivative.

Mitch 3 stars

District 9 (2009)

Good to see an action/sci-fi flick that isn't just about big robots and even bigger explosions.. has a bit of thought behind it even if the message seems a bit muddled.

Janck 4 stars (June 2009)




Decent sci-fi; the quasi-doco style gets under your skin.


Mitch 4 stars

Moon (2009)

Very nicely put together Brit flick.. avoids many of the cheesy (groans) clichés you often see in sci-fi films to deliver the goods.

Janck 4.5 stars (Dec '09)


The Sam Rockwell show in space is not as 2D as one would imagine; this delivers and gives the viewer plenty to ponder. Does not have the same element of wonder as other cerebral sci-fi fodder (2001.... , Solaris etc), but firmly remains ''thinking man's'' science fiction.

Mitch 4 stars

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

A bit invasion, a bit disaster movie, a bit silly (much like Jennifer Connelly's fringe). I haven't seen the original, but this is definitely Hollywood selling out with style over substance. Hollow blockbuster.


2.5 stars

Event Horizon (1997)

Sci-fi cult classic gets a blu-ray re-release, and it's fair to say this deep space epic has lost none of its shock and awe. Ahead of its time and reassuringly cinematic.


4 stars

Star Trek (2009)

What the prequels should have been.

Janck 4.5 stars

To sum up in three words: Star Trek Wars. Highly entertainly on the big screen, J. J. Abrams has crafted a flat-out decent sci-fi spectacle.

Mitch 4.5 stars