Skyline

Director: Colin Strause, Greg Strause

Run Time: 1 hrs. 40 min.

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

Every year around this time we’re “treated” to an “end of the world” film that pretty much sucks.  I won’t bore you with a complete history lesson, but 2008’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and 2009’s “2012” come to mind as seasonal “disaster” films of the last two years that were truly terrible.  Now here comes another with no real “star-power” to drive it toward box office respectability.  I’m convinced the only reason “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and “2012” had any financial success at all was due to its release date and drawing power of its cast.  I was a “Scrubs” fan, so I like Donald Faison.  However, you have to question the fact that he’s the most recognizable face in “Skyline.”  However, if you care to read paragraph number two, you’ll understand why “Turk” from “Scrubs” is set to carry the load of “Skyline.”

 

The budget for “Skyline” reportedly fell somewhere between $10-20 million.  The premise of “Skyline” is that the city of Los Angeles in under attack by alien forces.  Let’s face it, to make a proper alien invasion film (that isn’t documentary style) with today’s technology you probably have to spend a minimum of $100 million.  Aside from what you’ve seen in the last week, the marketing and advertising of “Skyline” has pretty much been nonexistent (aside from the occasional movie poster or trailer at the theaters themselves).  They apparently are trying to disguise the film itself in an attempt to trick the masses in thinking it’s bigger than it actually is.  I would be shocked if the positive film reviews of “Skyline” are plentiful after critics get a chance to witness this latest “disaster.”

 

Prediction.

I just can’t see this being anything but an awful experience.  There are some filmgoers who will go see anything related to science-fiction or aliens, but let’s hope no “regular” patron thinks it’s a good idea to take in “Skyline” this weekend.  If the budget was indeed $10 million, I’ll say it makes it back barely during its opening weekend.  $10.1 million for a film that I’m sure is going to be one of the worst reviewed movies of the year. 

Opening Weekend Gross: $10.1 Million

Noodles.

I'm always up for a well crafted, thought provoking science fiction thriller...This doesn't look like one of those. My first thought when I watched the trailers for Skyline was "its kind of like another take on Independence Day. Only in this movie the aliens attack us at ground level." That said, I hope its better than that piece of mindless film making. 

At first glance I was intrigued by the dropping blue lights that seem to announce the alien's arrival. The effect is very cool and visually appealing. Then when you add in the effects of people being pulled up and away into the space ships, I knew I could be counted on to at least give this film a watch. My only issue revolves around scientific plausibility, they had better have a good reason to be sucking people into their ships or this movie will royally suck eggs. 

I'm a fan of any far fetched movie premise as long as you give me some plausible reason that this crazy action I'm watching would make sense. When I sit and watch these people fly up by their crusty eyeballs into a flying saucer all I need is one line to tell me why an alien would place value on  this and I'm sold. I'll even take a flimsy reason so long as in some weird way it makes sense. Here's hoping...

Prediction.

Skyline is up against Denzel this weekend for action movie dollars. Granted Denzel is fighting a speeding train while this movie is battling aliens, but this movie is missing one big thing thing that Unstoppable is not; a Denzel caliber star. I like Donald Faison from 'Scrubs' but he's like one of the big names in this film and I just don't see that as solid competition for Mr. Washington.

Opening Weekend: Gross: $13 Million

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