Ok, so I know there's been a lot of negative feedback on this film and I'm gonna shake it up a bit! Before I ventured out to see it I heard things like 'it's a cliche' and 'it's like another film I saw'. Fair point. Whilst watching it my partner and I saw elements of Moon, Independance Day, I-robot and I Am Legend (so basically, a lot of Will Smith films, not forgetting the approaching release of After Earth starring Mr Smith, also set on Earth after the disappearance of the human race).
However, and it's a big one, show me a film that doesn't remind you of something else, show me a truly original piece of filmography. All ideas have been touched on and revisited over time. Without previous, similar movies what would we have to compare with? How would we deem it a success or failure without having seen such examples beforehand? I don't believe slamming a movie for this is credible, unless it had been done better.
It hasn't. From the sleek white designs of Tech 49's (Jack Harper [Tom Cruise]) base station to the injection of green paradise in the barren space after humanity has fled, this space suit vs Yankees cap battle has it all. Even though we saw elements of other films/ideas we were still in suspense, didn't see things coming and got quite excited at the appearance of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (a.k.a Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones.)
Oblivion was well executed, structurally brilliant and visually stunning. A success though not a masterpiece.
4.5 stars *****
