Review: ‘10,000 B.C.’

Travis:

Roland Emmerich is an interesting director, with films that have been both loved and hated. Personally, I think The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Godzilla (1998) are lots of fun to watch, but once you look beyond the action and great special effects [even if the Godzilla design was, to some, blasphemous] the films are weak on story and lacking any amount of believability. One constant, however, is that his films are known for their fascinating special effects. Stargate (1994) and Independence Day (1996) were great and are still fan-favorites to this date. Despite all the CGI effects of his other movies, my favorite Emmerich film is The Patriot (2000) which holds up the best against all the tests. One of the biggest problems with 10,000 B.C. is that it doesn’t fit very well into Emmerich’s M.O.

There really aren’t any recognizable actors in this film, probably my choice, so I won’t waste any time on that. Believe me, you’re not being deprived of any Oscar-worthy performances. The landscapes and scenery in the first half of the film are pretty to look at, but this alone does not a good film make. One element of the film’s approach to depicting characters from this era that bothered me throughout the film was the accents. I realize that the human species of the time didn’t speak English, or any formal language that we know of, but why bother giving them accents? We already get that the English-speaking is a tool for keeping the movie at a broad audience approval rating, even though Mel Gibson’s Apocolypto did quite well, despite its gamble with subtitles over the native-spoken language. So, I suppose I am nit-picking a bit, but these weren’t my largest concerns.

We’ve seen it all before. A trailer comes out for a new movie, marketing itself as the next big action extravaganza with lots of neat, expensive special effects … then we find ourselves surprised in the theatre by a sizable lack of said action and special effects. 10,000 B.C. in no exception. The effects that do exist are well done, but for a movie nearly two hours long, most of them are packed into the final scenes of the film. I’m being too harsh? Maybe you’re right, but I have fallen asleep in a theatre while watching a movie, well … never! I found myself fighting the sandman on 2-3 different occasions during this film, wedged between momentary glimpses of the woolly mammoth scenes. The uneventful and slow-rolling love story, that essentially plays out like a prehistoric soap opera, just lumbers along as we await to see something amazing. It could be me, or the fact that these characters lived ten-thousand years ago, but I found myself entirely void of any empathy or compassion for the characters.

Honestly, I really wanted to enjoy this movie. I have been looking forward to it ever since I first saw the trailer. I even maintained my enthusiasm while nearly all my friends and co-workers scoff at me for being interested in a movie they were sure would suck. Well, I have to say that they were mostly right for once. Normally, I remain seated during the credits to digest a good film, while everyone else makes their mad dash for the exit. I actually found myself sitting through the credits of 10,000 B.C. simply to wake-up and regain my strength. No kidding! I was actually tired after watching this movie. I’m not going to go so far out on a limb as to say it was poorly made, but simply some it up as being only slightly more enjoyable than Kevin Costner’s The Postman, which is the only DVD that I have yet to watch from beginning to end in one sitting, without falling asleep. To date, I have attempted it three times. I can sincerely say I would prefer to revisit Godzilla, again, over paying again to watch 10,000 B.C.

Curtis:

Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow, The Patriot, Independence Day) directed and co-wrote this prehistoric epic teaming with Harold Kosler (AVP, OK so that doesn’t say much), but working with a largely unknown cast these guys put together quite the film. Contrary to what the trailers have lead us to believe it isn’t non-stop action. It is, as I expected, very character-driven, and a well told story. Not all about rampaging wooly mammoths.

As reads at Wikipedia: Mammoth hunter D’Leh (Steven Strait), a member of a hunter-gatherer tribe living in 10,000 B.C., travels through unknown lands on a quest to rescue his people from extinction. Leading an army, D’Leh uncovers a now lost civilization while in pursuit of a warlord who kidnapped his love, Evolet (Camilla Belle). D’Leh and his army come face-to-face with a saber-toothed cat, woolly mammoths, and terror birds in the journey to save his people.

Some aspects of the film I found questionable. As in, why D’leh’s people wouldn’t trap the Mammoth herd in the valley, yet scare them away to only attempt catching one. There’s a few more, but with that said I’m going to highly recommend this film. On top of the inlaid love-story, that seems to be a constant in these films, it contains some visuals are nothing short of awe-inspiring! Exceeding the level seen in “Troy” (2004) to reference another historical epic. From actually seeing the pyramids being built, using mammoths as work horses, pulley systems throughout, the shear massive level of construction demonstrated was unbelievable, yet at the same time very realistic. Other things such as the Sphinx completed with a very feline face, to the allusion of Egyptian’s being descendants of Atlantis, even the design of the sails are interesting. I’m not sure how well these visuals will translate to DVD, so I would try to see this at the Theater if you can. “300” just isn’t the same on the small screen. I’m going out on a limb, and saying … This movie will top the $200 Million mark. Time will tell, but I think it’s MONEY !!

[rating:2/5]