Settlers

Most bad reviews are (in my opinion) based on the assumption of the (re)viewers that they will get something like a post-apocalyptic survival action movie on Mars, but instead got a drama touching topics like bonding, loneliness, guilt, revenge and forgiveness and the like.

Settlers for sure got also some issues regarding world-building, and the tempo of the unfolding narrative is rather slow, but on the other hand, it got a fine meditative, dark and melancholic quality, that I liked. What else? Acting and production are solid to good, effects too.

So beware: if you expect or want some action or adventure movie in a sci-fi context, Settlers is in all likelihood the wrong choice for you.

That's the best word I can think of to describe this movie...I was so excited to see Johnny Lee Miller in a movie again! But my excitement was short lived (as it was - minor spoiler- his presence in the flick).

The story built up slowly and its tension kept me interested for a while, but after watching too much sulking, and crying and characters doing unreasonable things, by the third act, I lost what little interest I had left.

It didn't help that the girl was annoying as hell and behaved like a little brat and the mother did not seem to know how to deal with her.

By the end it turned from sci-fi to unwarranted melodrama with an unsatisfactory ending, so, why bother?

Good work by Sofía Boutella, though.

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.

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.

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".