A good watch, survivability problems but an engrossing-ish plot and a 'sunuva b****' ending makes you wanna' see the next

Rating: 6/10 (6 May 2010)

I bought this on DVD a few weeks after its release onto DVD and was generally let down. It wasn't a bad film, and it did have its ups and downs like any film. The good deserves 5 stars, and the extra is due to the fact that Catherine McCormack is my God-Father's (Steve) sister.
Good: I was generally engrossed in it at points, namely the Apache chase (however short) the Sniper sequence (also short) and finally the ending (once again short, but understandably as it left us waiting for the next in the series). The majority of the camera-work was good, albeit rather too wobbly at times, but it did give a good feeling of being a member of the survivors after the 'Code Red' break down. The Characters were mostly well played - Doyle especially, but Harold Perrineau (the Helicopter pilot) also. Tammy and Andy were average, but in their defence, their roles are tough ones and they do try and create a link between them and the audience. The CGI is really rather good during the film - namely the firebombing and the rather "butcher" like scene with the helicopter rotors and the wave of infected - and it does show well. General Stone (Idris Elba) plays his role well, and he does a good job of effectively becoming the "overseer" of this little island refuge. His decision to order the soldiers to shoot everyone "targets free" and then his order to firebomb the area make us hate him, but at the same time, we can see why he'd do it.
However, that last statement links into the bad points - surely you would just order all the people to perform a task - I doubt the Infected can follow orders >.< Other bad points - The camera, although, as I said at some points its good, at certain times its just annoying. The shakiness gives you a headache and the constant moving doesn't allow us to focus on one character for any lengthy piece of time. Other then that, its has so many plot holes that it makes you think at points during that you could have performed a better story line and thus think of that instead of the actual film. E.G How the hell can one Infected defy not only a battalion strength army, avoid three dozen snipers, avoid being incinerated, gassed then avoid death at the hands of a reasonably well trained soldier (Scarlet) and then only to die at the hands of Tammy... I mean... What... However, if you can get past the grudging fact that he is a vital character it becomes an annoying but acceptable thorn in the side.
To summarise - Although annoying at times, it does have a generally good feel most of the way through. Worth a watch a least.
The "Awwhh hell!" you feel when seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Infected makes you want to see the next one, and the characters are generally pretty good. Like I said - Worth a watch at 6/10 :)