Alien imitator with Vin Diesel turning in an unmemorable performance as the dangerous escaped prisoner. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet with three suns. The nocturnal inhabitants turn out to be carnivorous and there's a rare solar eclipse on the way. Fabulous sets and good visual direction, but not a lot else going for it.
The Marvel comic superheroes come to life on the big screen in this entertaining action blockbuster. Patrick Stewart stars as Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of group of specially-gifted mutants who are out to help out humankind. Hugh Jackman is the other standout as X-favourite Wolverine. Top quality effort that is loads of fun.
Enjoyable time travel yarn in which a temporal radio link allows a father and son to reunite. A cop who lost his father thirty years ago when he was six uses a rift in time to try and alter the past. Time paradoxes are intelligently explored, although at times it is necessary to simply suspend scientific analysis and enjoy.
Donnie Darko D: Richard Kelly (2001) 122m
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Highly original film that defies categorisation, although there are definite science fictional elements. Set in the late-80s, high school student Donnie Darko's dreams (or hallucinations?) are inhabited by a giant rabbit trying to steer him in disturbing directions. Stunning visuals, lots of 80s pop culture and fine performances throughout.
Solaris D: Steven Soderbergh (2002) 99m
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Director Soderbergh may have bitten off more than he could when tackling a film version of Stanislaw Lem's classic sci-fi novel. George Clooney stars as the psychologist sent to investigate a wayward space station where lost loved ones are re-created. Not in the same league as Tarkovsky's 1972 Russian version, but has more than its fair share of devoted followers.
Spider-Man D: Sam Raimi (2002) 121m
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Claimed by both the fantasy and sci-fi communities, Spider-Man is a passable superhero blockbuster that pretty much offers up what most would expect. A high school geek (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically-modified spider and attains spidery super-powers. He squares off against the Green Goblin and goes OK with his girl.
Suppressing emotions is the order of the day in totalitarian post-World War III society. In a rehash of the Fahrenheit 451 scenario, a cop who tracks down "sense offenders" starts empathising with his collars. The double-Magnum martial arts are a bit over-the-top, but overall this is an interesting film offering plenty to think about.
Minority Report D: Steven Spielberg (2002) 145m
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Tom Cruise is outstanding in this enthralling story of a Pre-Crime unit whose job it is to arrest criminals before they commit an offence. Arrests are made on the basis of the visions of a trio of drug-mutated psychic "Pre-Cogs". Things hot up when Cruise's character is implicated in a vision. Based on a story by Philip K Dick.
