impressive visuals but a slow burner that fizzles out

Rating: 5/10 (26 January 2014)

I was bored watching this film, it took a while to get to the point. It is visually very attractive, all CGI, and you are intrigued as to what will happen mainly because you can't believe that it's so uneventful, but ultimately I didn't care. Even Tom Cruise couldn't rouse any feelings of connection or empathy with his character and I found it was rather predictable - Hollywood. I remember thinking about what I was going to write for my review whilst watching it (never a good sign) and thinking that it was a hi-tech, hi-budget version of low-budget 80s films like Solar Babies or Steel Dawn but with aliens.
The film plot didn't exactly make sense, I could see what it was trying to do but there were plot holes the size of a small asteroid, and what did make sense in terms of understanding was just silly and I didn't care and I couldn't suspend my disbelief. Even Morgan Freeman wasn't giving it 100% and the rest of the cast seemed to be very inexperienced - acting my numbers. The acting was pretty hammy or wooden and nothing about the film felt original; Independence Day was heavily ripped off. The end was without any surprises and over all I was left unimpressed and that the entire film experience was pointless and there was no allegory which might have made it more relevant. There were enjoyable bits I guess, a pleasing flash back to Top Gun, a few laughs with Bob - the bobble-head - and visually it looked good, and Cruise playing Cruise is likable, nice future-tech and a beautiful swimming pool, but I wasn't emotionally involved in the film at all and it just seemed like a long music video or disjointedly connected set piece scenes. Why the name Oblivion?
This film could have been so much better, more tense and poignant.