Settlers

Any real "critic" doesn't whine and complain about how "Bad" they thought a movie was, while also not blabbering about how great a movie is with NO explanation as to WHY they thought so. Too many princesses writing curt, nasty reviews that obviously approach what they watch with TOO high expectations. This is a decent movie that was done well, for the most part, but like any movie, it has it's flaws. It's a 5.5 in my book. I would watch the sequel if it was at least this good. Photography and directing were above par. No complaints about the acting whatsoever. Amazing location find. And yes, despite the crybabies saying it's not, it IS indeed a "sci-fi" movie, like it or not. Biggest fault: No history of how and why they are there, or almost anything else. It misses the mark by not providing enough personal history, and lacks basic high drama. I would definitely use a different director if a sequel is ever in the works.

Ilsa (Sofia Boutella), Reza (Jonny Lee Miller), and their daughter Remmy (Brooklynn Prince) are living in a remote settlement by themselves. They are attacked by a group led by Jerry (Ismael Cruz Córdova).

The movie doesn't do a lot of expositions or clarity. It doesn't do flashy things. It's lowkey serious tone and the deliberately stripped down story telling leave the movie feeling a bit empty. There are lots of missed opportunity. It hints at a dangerous world outside. It would have been great to have the characters run around in it.

My review.

Yes at the beginning it is boring with some average boring family drama.

It starts with the little girl being told that the planet she saw was Earth.

Then it picks up later. And suspense are added, making you want to know more.

A few plot twists here and there. Protip: don't watch the trailer.

The breathable air is explained halfway.

As to the gravity? I cannot explain that to you.

Makes me wonder if it's a prequel to the Star Wars: A New Hope.

I agree with the rating of 6.4.

Worth watching if you are not too easily bored. Patience has it's merits.

Got problem with gravity? You can take it up to those who made "The Martian".

I get it's not going to be a popular theme, but the script is reasonable, the performances and production are good.

I really liked the cinematography and the atmosphere of the movie, not so much the story itself, that starts interesting, has an early twist that caught my attention, but fell awkward and not too interesting.

Still, the characters make sense to me, and I know a lot of people will disagree with that, but they do as I see, and the story has a solid ending, which is another thing people complained a lot.

Also the Mars setting makes complete sense in the story, I don't think people complaining about this really gave it too much thought. It really affects the behaviour of the characters and the events.

Did I like the characters, the story and the ending? Not so much, but it's compensated with good performances and cinematography.

Overall a good movie, more for a first directing role.

...to appreciate this film, and even then it could be better.

Mars does have water, btw, and a breathable atmosphere could be produced through various processes. The huge dome for just one farm is a bit of a stretch.

But this isn't really about Mars, and the sci-fi elements are mainly window dressing.

Many questions are raised, but answers are scant and no more than hints. If you can be patient with that, it tells an interesting story about human nature and desperation, but it is a rather grey and grim story with nothing uplifting.

That, in the end, is why I don't give it more than 5 stars, despite good performances and accomplishing a lot on a limited budget. It's very dystopian, in the most depressing sense.