User reviews

The premise for the movie is great, coupled with a solid performance from Jean Claude van Damme. I would have liked to see more of him but we can't all get everything we want. Though the blow is reduced by having Bianca Bree on screen who is not only talented in the martial arts department but is also stunning.

This film shows that British cinema is on the up and up, so things are heading to a great level.

The film takes a short while to kick in but is worth the wait to see the great visual effects and developing storyline. It was refreshing to see a film tell its story from a non conventional perspective and I felt true jeopardy for every character which is rare in this type of film.

I used to give a movie 15 minutes before I moved on but I'm glad I changed my policy before I saw this.

A solid 8/10 in my eyes, considering its apparent budget. Much Much better than After Earth so that's a point in the win column.

This movie is a RIOT!

It's completely crazy and a total mash up of genres. I reckon the main thing that doesn't work in the movie is that there is too many genres trying to squeeze together in one film that just doesn't have the space to fit in all of them in one place at one time!

It's a shame actually because in fairness each genre is put together really well and once I was aware of whether I was watching a funny bit or a horror bit or an action fight bit I was with it and loving it. Just didn't sit perfectly as a total film. I totally got used to the path we were going down after a while and I just let it ride and once I did that I enjoyed it loads more.

Didn't think a massive thing about the effects, not really up to scratch with the nowadays standards of effects but they only had a small budget. On the other hand, don't make a film called UFO with UFO's flying round everywhere if you don't have enough dollar to make the UFO's look real. But they get a pass from me because JCVD was totally kick ass, the fight scenes were extremely cool and I got a kick out of the film.

First up, they clearly didn't have the budget of most box office smashes - so don't expect huge explosions throughout (although there are a couple!) - but what it lacks in budget it makes up for in themes; what society would do to itself under threat of attack with no food, power or communication. It's got moments of comedy and moments of action - the fight scenes are utterly brutal - as well as some genuine drama. I wasn't planning to see it twice but ended up doing so after a buddy came over wanting to watch it, and I'm glad I did as there's a lot I missed first time around. It's not the best film I've seen, but it definitely left me thinking and wanting more. It has flaws, but forgive them and you're in for a great ride.

UFO Review: 8/10

It's not often I'm literally left speechless when a film's credits role, in fact, I struggle to remember the last time I was glued to the seat, unable to move as the credits role because of what I've just seen. When UFO finished, I was simply stunned, I certainly wasn't finished processing the film. This is simply incredible film making, it takes low(ish) budget film making to a level I certainly never thought possible and yes I include 'Monsters' in that thought process. The film whacks you round the head, attacks all senses and leaves you wondering what the Hell just happened! I'm reluctant to say too much about the plot as I strongly believe this film is best viewed when knowing as little as possible, but essentially it centres around an Alien invasion and how a group of friends react to what's happening around them in order to survive through it, but that it just the basics. In case you hadn't noticed, I highly recommend you check it out!

boom!

To say I am profoundly impressed with UFO would be an understatement; the best cinematic experiences, in my eyes, are the ones that don't leave you once you're back home from the cinema or when the DVD is turned off and certainly UFO falls into that category. What may seem on the surface as a mindless action film, is in reality something much darker, much more intricate. It achieves that rare feat of servicing the action junkie in me whilst engaging my brain on an entirely different level. I totally accept that this film works as a thriller, an action movie and even at times as a comedy and a horror film! In fact the film makers have thrown everything at us, even the kitchen sink, and in doing so have created an inspiring visceral experience that has left me not only wanting to talk about this movie, to discuss and explore it, but also the desire to see it again, and look at the magician's other hand, the hand he doesn't initially show us, I have a feeling there's something there reserved for the more intrigued and observant viewer.

UFO plays out with five central characters, all introduced to us at a hundred miles an hour during a hectic night out; the next morning they awake to find themselves in a blackout, all power and phones are gone, without an explanation. The radio offers no clues, only static and this is where the genius of UFO really kicks in because the way everyone reacts feels very real, so real in fact, it adds to the terrifying feel of the film because you believe it, you find yourself putting yourself in the characters' shoes. What would you do in that scenario? What could you do? Do you actually need to do anything at all? Isn't it best to simply wait it out, surely the power will be back on soon, some explanation on the news will explain what's happened and everyone will go about their lives. But what if it doesn't come back on? Has something sinister occurred? Terrorism? Environmental disaster? Without the news, the internet, any means of communication, how would you ever know what's going on? I simply adore this premise and it does lead me to my only gripe about the film, the title, UFO. It's such a shame that the business has reached a point that a film of this level of sheer class calls itself, UFO. It gives the game away somewhat wouldn't you say? I'd be interested to discover if the writer originally called the script UFO or whether it is indeed the enlightened idea of some marketing expert somewhere, either way, it takes the edge of a mysterious opening that would have gone down in cult history had you no idea a massive UFO was about to turn up. Having gone on that rant, I of course realise the trailer gives this moment away! Once the city size UFO turns up, we don't look back, the film hits a sixth gear and doesn't ask you if you're coming along, it sprints up to you, picks you up, throws you in the front seat and puts the accelerator to the floor! And if you think this is going to be a Hollywood, classic JCVD style experience, think again. You've got the Hollywood production value (at an independent level sure) you've got the best fight sequence I've seen in years (yes I'm serious) there is a single shot that is one of the best I've scene (how they pulled that off I'll never know) you have some heart stopping shocks, one in particular rocked my soul (!) and some incredible action sequences. But it's the story that shines through here, unpredictable, utterly unnerving, dark, tense and unforgiving. The film makers don't care what you want to see, this is reality amidst a Sci-Fi story, Hollywood this ain't! Whether you love UFO or despise it (if you despise it, more fool you) you can't argue that it isn't an original story, it's something you haven't seen before and how often can you honestly say that after watching anything?