Decent Film

Rating: Null/10 (24 July 2002)

This was a decent movie, with fairly good performances from everyone involved, except Will Smith. Yes, the story is a bit hard to believe, but this was an escapist summer blockbuster. For what it was, it wasn't bad.

Someone needs to find better parts for Will Smith or, at least, teach him how to act plausibly.
His character is a Marine Officer, a pilot. During one scene in the film, he is part of a caravan of campers and RV's screaming across the desert, trying to get to the nearby military base. As they get close, they are stopped by Marine Guards. Perfectly reasonable behavior by the guards, considering what's going on in the movie. Will Smith has an alien in the back of a truck, and he vigorously pulls back the covering on the alien to let the guards know he is demanding passage. The guards, of course, recoil from the sight. As they drive on, Smith dismisses the guards with a wave, and a "Get the hell out the way!" For one thing, a Marine Corps Officer would never, never, ever, ever treat enlisted Marines in this way, especially Marines simply trying to do their jobs. I had difficulty getting past this scene. What the hell is the purpose of crap like this? Maybe this was to improve Will Smith's pseudo tough-guy persona? Maybe that's why he also kept sticking cigars in his mouth throughout the course of the movie, talking ferociously around it just like I'm sure he thinks a real-life tough-guy fighter pilot would?
A decent enough movie, but Smith's act is way past old.