I don't like dumping on small low budget indie films by first time directors, because everybody has to start somewhere and not everyone is a Spielberg. But this is pretty lame. First viewing, I fell asleep during "Revolt", so I gave it another shot. So many problems, but what's the first and biggest in all such endeavors? THE SCRIPT. Someone needed to go over this with a red pencil BEFORE money got spent.
Let's start with the name: "Revolt"? it's not even about a revolution. And the word "Resist" is used all through the film to symbolize the human struggle to survive an alien invasion! A quick parsing of IMDb shows both names have been used multiple times in various films, so why "Revolt"? It makes no sense. Plus, it helps nothing that the cover art makes it look like a third-rate Xbox game and not a movie, and whoever did the art, must have created it BEFORE they knew who the lead was....because it doesn't resemble him at all. (Lee Pace was a last minute replacement for the original lead Alex Russell.)
Then the plot, such as it is -- a rehash of every alien invasion film since "Terminator" -- I can't even list every one -- definitely most of all this wants to be "DIstrict 9", which was also filmed in South Africa (here, subbing for Kenya). But also War of the Worlds and Battle Los Angeles and The Darkest Hours....probably more I can't remember this minute. The special effect where people go "poof!" and explode is way overused. The alien robots look just like other ones in every sci fil film of the last 20 years. CGI has sadly made it all too easy to pop this into movies; so easy they have it on ordinary TV shows. Nothing original here at all.
Plot? A US special forces solider stationed in Kenya during a world invasion by aliens (huh? is the US occupying Kenya? did it ever?) is injured and wakes up in a Kenya prison cell with his memory gone. Good news though! the cell next door houses a gorgeous French doctor played by Berenice Marlohe -- an actual former Bond girl! I mean, what the luck! could have been another guy -- or a 55 year old female doctor -- or a 14 year old girl. But no, it's a gorgeous super-hottie! The gimmick is the soldier can't remember his name. (SPOILER ALERT: I sat through this out of grim determination to find out his real name, because I thought it was a clue that would wrap up the action. I'm saving you that effort. It's never revealed. He remembers everything at the end, even his childhood address -- why would that be on his t-shirt anyhow? -- but sticks with the name "Bo" that the hottie girl gave him. Huh?)
The two of them wander around, encountering both aliens and rebels. At some point, they improbably find a cool 1950s RED convertible in perfect condition which has GASOLINE IN IT -- in the middle of Kenya, during an alien invasion? and drive around in it. I mean, it's not conspicuous or anything! RED! then the aliens grab Ms. Marlohe and she's never seen again. Despite not so much as a sidelong glance or even a kiss, the film decides they were about to fall in love (??? again, what if she was 55 or 14? pretty convenient she's smokin' hot, isn't it?) The end of the movie is a sentimental montage about how fantastic she was. I guess he feels bad he didn't even manage to cop a feel.
This movie is a waste of time for the talented Lee Pace, who's done vastly better work over the years and probably by now deserves a cool leading man role. This wasn't it, going direct to video after languishing for 3 years. He's miscast as a Jason Bourne type (guy who forgets his name and why he's here, but still retains mad military fighting skills and reflexes). I wonder why they didn't make HIM the doctor and HER the US soldier! or make him the photographer/journalist? Pace has a gentle, puppy-dog face that just doesn't convince me that he's a stone cold military killer.
I am also reminded that in the original "Terminator" -- the ur-movie for this kind of "run from the CGI alien robot!" franchise -- what makes THAT film stand out and still be the gold standard after 35 years, is the LOVE story between Sarah O'Connor and Kyle Reese (Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn, in terrific & unforgettable parts). It's their tenderness contrasting with the cold monstrous cyborg that lifts that classic film above all the rest. All this time, and newbie directors/writers STILL DON'T GET IT.
Let's start with the name: "Revolt"? it's not even about a revolution. And the word "Resist" is used all through the film to symbolize the human struggle to survive an alien invasion! A quick parsing of IMDb shows both names have been used multiple times in various films, so why "Revolt"? It makes no sense. Plus, it helps nothing that the cover art makes it look like a third-rate Xbox game and not a movie, and whoever did the art, must have created it BEFORE they knew who the lead was....because it doesn't resemble him at all. (Lee Pace was a last minute replacement for the original lead Alex Russell.)
Then the plot, such as it is -- a rehash of every alien invasion film since "Terminator" -- I can't even list every one -- definitely most of all this wants to be "DIstrict 9", which was also filmed in South Africa (here, subbing for Kenya). But also War of the Worlds and Battle Los Angeles and The Darkest Hours....probably more I can't remember this minute. The special effect where people go "poof!" and explode is way overused. The alien robots look just like other ones in every sci fil film of the last 20 years. CGI has sadly made it all too easy to pop this into movies; so easy they have it on ordinary TV shows. Nothing original here at all.
Plot? A US special forces solider stationed in Kenya during a world invasion by aliens (huh? is the US occupying Kenya? did it ever?) is injured and wakes up in a Kenya prison cell with his memory gone. Good news though! the cell next door houses a gorgeous French doctor played by Berenice Marlohe -- an actual former Bond girl! I mean, what the luck! could have been another guy -- or a 55 year old female doctor -- or a 14 year old girl. But no, it's a gorgeous super-hottie! The gimmick is the soldier can't remember his name. (SPOILER ALERT: I sat through this out of grim determination to find out his real name, because I thought it was a clue that would wrap up the action. I'm saving you that effort. It's never revealed. He remembers everything at the end, even his childhood address -- why would that be on his t-shirt anyhow? -- but sticks with the name "Bo" that the hottie girl gave him. Huh?)
The two of them wander around, encountering both aliens and rebels. At some point, they improbably find a cool 1950s RED convertible in perfect condition which has GASOLINE IN IT -- in the middle of Kenya, during an alien invasion? and drive around in it. I mean, it's not conspicuous or anything! RED! then the aliens grab Ms. Marlohe and she's never seen again. Despite not so much as a sidelong glance or even a kiss, the film decides they were about to fall in love (??? again, what if she was 55 or 14? pretty convenient she's smokin' hot, isn't it?) The end of the movie is a sentimental montage about how fantastic she was. I guess he feels bad he didn't even manage to cop a feel.
This movie is a waste of time for the talented Lee Pace, who's done vastly better work over the years and probably by now deserves a cool leading man role. This wasn't it, going direct to video after languishing for 3 years. He's miscast as a Jason Bourne type (guy who forgets his name and why he's here, but still retains mad military fighting skills and reflexes). I wonder why they didn't make HIM the doctor and HER the US soldier! or make him the photographer/journalist? Pace has a gentle, puppy-dog face that just doesn't convince me that he's a stone cold military killer.
I am also reminded that in the original "Terminator" -- the ur-movie for this kind of "run from the CGI alien robot!" franchise -- what makes THAT film stand out and still be the gold standard after 35 years, is the LOVE story between Sarah O'Connor and Kyle Reese (Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn, in terrific & unforgettable parts). It's their tenderness contrasting with the cold monstrous cyborg that lifts that classic film above all the rest. All this time, and newbie directors/writers STILL DON'T GET IT.