Indoctrination Vehicle

Rating: 1/10 (25 August 2009)

What a truly disgusting film.
I did realize that this film was going to go down a conspiracy style path. The silly numeric message from the time capsule buried in the 50s by the protagonist's son confirmed that. OK its stupid but I can dig stupid if it fuels a fun film. And for the next 45 minutes or so the plot trundles along in a suspense filled manner. The initially odd incursions by emo men in black was offset by a decent scene with a plane crash.
Nothing special up to that point but also nothing that offensive. I did start to suspect that I was watching a stealth M. Night Shyamalan film. Now that did worry me as his films always irritate me having that same decent suspense build leading to a stultifyingly childish ending. If only.
No, Alex Proyas has gone one further. Obviously not satisfied with a typical Shyamalan ending he takes it to the next level. Now I am not certain exactly what religious extreme he is pushing towards here. Be it scientology or some other generic rapture/ufo nonsense. But in brief within say the last 10 minutes of the film the strange visitors turn out to be aliens/angels and take the "chosen" children off to start again.
Now I am of no religious denomination personally but I don't think that has that much of a bearing on how much this film irritated me. There is no resolution of any of the plot devices used to build suspense. It seems the sheer fact that aliens/angels are involved is a de-facto resolution of any questions you are left with. And further the overt religious ending is at odds with the bulk of the film that honey traps you into a sucker punch propaganda ending.
Now I have watched plenty of films with heavy aliens/god themes and while I may not personally believe these things if the film is enjoyable I have zero problem with them. But the experience of this film irked me on two levels-
1. The ending is deeply flawed and lazy which renders THE WHOLE FILM an un-satisfying mess. I disagree whole heartedly with comments such as "good film, bad ending". Bad ending=bad film.
2. Not only is the film dreadful on an artistic level but by the closing credits I felt like I had been subjected to a 2-hour indoctrination into some scientology/rapture/ufo cult/religion/whatever.
At least Mel Gibson's religious vanity vehicle was clearly flagged as such.