One thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind's new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige returns from an extended tour of duty to hi...
After Earth feels more like an afterthought. After the travesty that was 'The Last Airbender', Shyamalan had something to prove. Could he ever make a decent film again? His answer was After Earth, well...Will Smith's Scientology brainwashing abilities probably convinced him to direct this. This is my kind of film, atleast it would've been if it was actually good. A commander takes his son on one last errand before retiring, but crash lands on a now polluted and uninhabitable Earth. They must use their wit and instinct to survive the harsh environment. Surprisingly the landscape shots look stunning, turning the planet itself into its own foreboding character. Rules are set, such as temperature fluctuations, which gauges specific limitations for Kitai Raige (you think that's bad? His father is called Cypher...). Themes of self-destruction and fatherhood are seeded, but due to the heavy handed plot and horrific dialogue, these do not grow into majestic thematic trees. No, Will Smith's story is a simple "point A to point B" whilst his son Jaden runs through woods getting chased by CGI. All of the emotional substance is squandered for a narrative that believes it is self-important, but comes across as pretentious. Nepotism for the Smiths strikes again, but unlike the 'Pursuit of Happyness' where Jaden tags along, both Will and Jaden "act" separately. Will is woeful. We get it, he is supposed to be a stoic character. But come on, just one smile! He is your son after all. Jaden, well, can't act. Nepotism can only get you so far. Several uses of green screen were incredibly noticeable and the editing was obnoxious at times. Occasionally Shyamalan will utilise some good techniques, particularly a POV shot of Kitai being dragged on the ground, but it's not enough to shroud the fact that the film is ultimately boring. Two uninteresting characters who are badly acted, trying to give meaning to a story that dissolves as soon as they crash onto Earth. There's an overlong monologue on fear, and all I kept saying to myself was "ohhh, missed me with that Scientology shi...".
