gmcniel

Setting proper expectations is to key properly appreciating this movie. I think what the filmmakers were trying to do is capture as realistically as possible what would happen during the 18 minutes that a nuclear-armed ICBM missile is in flight toward an American city. The roles of the people involved, the rather narrow scope of their decision making options, the (lack of) information available, and so on.

What is striking to me about this scenario is that it is all too plausible. Is this the predicament we want to be in?

There's a lot of fun and creative ideas and filmmaking techniques going on here that elevate this film. And despite being fairly flippant about their fellow students spontaneously combusting, the movie has heart and a pervasive sense of gleeful naughtiness.

Give it a try, I think you'll like it.

There's a dig or two at Republicans which I suspect offended some reviewers. Maybe the filmmakers could have been a little more even-handed at mocking Democrins and Republocrats - I think that would have made those kinds of jokes land better. That said, I generally think it's not a good idea for filmmakers to smuggle politics into their scripts.

So, if you can suspend disbelief (required for a film with an absurd premise such as this), and ignore the political jabs, you'll have fun with this movie. Enjoy!

The first episode didn't give me anything to get excited about. Didn't connect with any of the characters who just seem to be dutifully delivering their lines. Lines that are as dry as desert sand. Although artistically satisfying, visually compelling and beautifully shot, there's no 'soul' animating the clockwork. There's not a compelling hook that makes me want to see what happens next.