Two Timing LA Movie Day

The Short Review

Two completely different sci-fi movies in one day – one a big bang summer blockbuster and the other a no-budget mumblecore affair.

Both miss the mark.

Cowboys & Aliens: 5/10

Stuff sure blew up good but who was I rooting for again? Murky character motivations and flat-line character arcs kept me from caring about anyone: did Daniel Craig’s character change or grow one iota throughout the movie?

The tone changes from flippant to gravely serious as often as an episode of Glee. What started out as a wonderful & languidly paced Western goes into plot pacing overdrive the moment one of the main characters is injured in a riverbed – from there on out the movie tries to outpace the Pirates Of The Caribbean sequels in terms of set pieces and action scenes.

Thankfully a charismatic and inspired cast saved it from being a total dud: bucket loads of great character spots from Rockwell, Goggins, and of course Harrison Ford made the moments between explosions worthwhile.

Another Earth: 4/10

Such a brilliant sci-fi premise wasted on the trials (and boredom) of youth. A few true moments of tension and heartache ended up spoiled by overly long stretches of nothing to do, punctuated by some of the most annoying camera work in recent memory.