Spectral (2016)

Very well executed

To me, this movie is perfection.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

GREAT. Movies like this are usually ruined with bad humor and a bad cast full of popular celebs that's can't act. They did a good job making you want to figure out where it was going.

Spectral: Spectral is about American special forces fighting the remnants of government troops during a civil war in Moldova. During the battle, the special forces are attacked by what appears to be ghosts and call on a DARPA scientist (James Badge Dale) to come investigate and help the US Army counteract this new threat. The Good: Spectral pulls off a neat trick. It is a movie about science and technology and the hard-working scientists behind it. Despite all the hoo-rah action scenes, it is the thinking men that will get them out of this mess. The movie sets this tone well and keeps it throughout the film. The fact that it manages to do this without talking down to the audience too much is an amazing feat. The solid acting across the board and a solid science fiction foundation are matched with a good pace and good action scenes. The film does manage some very nice set pieces with good practical effects mixed with the CGI. The Bad: If one goes a looking there might be a plot hole or two. (You need a hundred laser cannons using brand new tech? I am going to need half an hour and some duct tape). In addition if while the film certainly uses science throughout I wouldn't exactly quote some of those theories on Friday's physics exam. Actual citizens of Moldova can also feel free to criticize the wrong city, wrong language and ridiculous description of your government. In Conclusion: Though marketed as a Netflix original; Netflix actually picked Spectral up on the cheap from Universal/Legendary who was unhappy with all the science stuff and possible realized too late that Emily Mortimer is not going to open a summer blockbuster. That said one can certainly see the not inconsiderable budget on the screen. How Universal shelved this film and opened The Mummy is a mystery for another day. Solid Sci-fi actioner with an elevator script sounding like a cross between Black Hawk Down and Aliens. A fun film that is better than one might suspect.

Do you care about plot holes? Is it important that the story is water tight and has no logical errors or can you enjoy a movie that is made with gusto and has very fine actors in it, enough for you? The argument for style over substance could not be clearer than in this case. And it's something you have to be aware (if you saw the trailer you already are aware of it) before watching the movie and possibly waste your time.If you decide you want to see this visual extravaganza, then hold onto your seat, because this Science Fiction movie, while not making sense throughout, has a tension level that is high. The visuals are really good and you wouldn't know from the movie that this is the first feature length movie the director has done. A visual thrill ride with good action set pieces

This is another blender production: take all sort of cool movies around a theme and break the movies into the smallest pieces than reassemble it all into a feature film that is in every way like the movies it is composed of, and at the same time original enough so nobody can bring the authors to court. And because there are several writers that probably worked independent of each other the story is pretty much like an animation movie sent to several animation studios in Asia.So the soldiers are upset because they are taking a civilian with them. Than the audience finds out they are upset about bringing two civilians with them. They have the big armored cars. And they think they are fighting humans. Than they are scared. And they are on foot. They know the weapons are useless against the new targets. So they take two children.And the science is written by English majors that have seen enough crap movies to know how to design new tech.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch