This fast-paced, over-the-top comic-book-styled film seems to be rather unpopular here. I watched it last night, didn't know what to think of it, read all the user comments, still wasn't sure.
So I re-watched it this Sunday morning, and guess what? I started to like it! Unlike the first time's puzzlement, I felt joyful anticipation for the more remarkable scenes (just brief hints: gas station, cemetery, sushi place, baseball bat...) The "stock footage" taken from Dante's Peak (which I haven't seen yet) was of course impressive, the home-made disaster scenes less so.
Being a big fan of Clint Eastwood, I of course welcomed his daughter Alison. Not earthshaking, but a nice face to look at, and at times I tried to find family similarities. The face I liked most was Sara's neighbor's. Oh, and the lobby security man..
But the baddies were best! Dangerous yet incompetent brutes one can love to hate, up to the CEO. Also interesting that this film is mostly Brazilian (check the end titles), with possibly just a 2nd unit for LA location shots.
I won't watch this film again today or tomorrow, but certainly at a later time. Imperfect and silly as it is (take just the mysterious "laser" which in effect is a UV lamp), it has endeared me already :^) As to mindless violence: yes, there is plenty (reminding me of Lasse Spang Olsen, or Takashi Miike). There is no real moral, and, as Matt says in the end, there isn't even a story here. Still, I had my fun, and will again.
So I re-watched it this Sunday morning, and guess what? I started to like it! Unlike the first time's puzzlement, I felt joyful anticipation for the more remarkable scenes (just brief hints: gas station, cemetery, sushi place, baseball bat...) The "stock footage" taken from Dante's Peak (which I haven't seen yet) was of course impressive, the home-made disaster scenes less so.
Being a big fan of Clint Eastwood, I of course welcomed his daughter Alison. Not earthshaking, but a nice face to look at, and at times I tried to find family similarities. The face I liked most was Sara's neighbor's. Oh, and the lobby security man..
But the baddies were best! Dangerous yet incompetent brutes one can love to hate, up to the CEO. Also interesting that this film is mostly Brazilian (check the end titles), with possibly just a 2nd unit for LA location shots.
I won't watch this film again today or tomorrow, but certainly at a later time. Imperfect and silly as it is (take just the mysterious "laser" which in effect is a UV lamp), it has endeared me already :^) As to mindless violence: yes, there is plenty (reminding me of Lasse Spang Olsen, or Takashi Miike). There is no real moral, and, as Matt says in the end, there isn't even a story here. Still, I had my fun, and will again.