SCI-FI SMASH | 'Life' Film Review
'Life' tells the story of an international space crew that discovers life on Mars.
It is a Science Fiction film that will make viewers' hearts pound with tension, though it does take its time getting to that point.
The film's alien - Calvin is brutally disgusting. Taking lives and completely overwhelming its victims, Calvin destroys them in a flash - often from the inside out. If anything, 'Life' can be compared to Ridley Scott's 'Alien', with evidence of storyline inspiration used to create something completely new.
Pleasingly, the characters are very real, which is a breath of fresh air in this genre. The choices they make are ultimately decisions that viewers would commonly make themselves. As an audience, this is reassuring and familiar.
In some cases, character scripting may repel viewers looking for more fantastical action like that of 'Gravity' or 'Interstellar'. But that's what makes 'Life' brilliant in its own way - the realistic reactions and responses its characters depict, much like the popular film 'Arrival' achieved in 2016.
Marketing issues that should be noted include the advertisement featuring Ryan Reynolds, suggesting he plays a larger part in the film than he does: he appears the poster, partakes in interviews with Jake Gyllenhaal, and is the third name to appear in the credits.
Those who have seen the film will understand why this is a problem, beyond the fact that he was given minimal screentime to properly convey his comedic talent. Such a decision could be reasoned down to the decisions made by the characters throughout the film, and how each choice has its consequences; characterisation is something director Daniel Espinosa has done extremely well in 'Life'. Either way, the marketing team has arguably used Reynolds as a means of attracting more people into the cinema.
'Life' sets itself apart from most other Sci-Fi films Hollywood has churned out in recent years. Though it's far from perfect, it remains a standout film in its genre, with a human touch. One suggestion, though: avoid eating before watching 'Life.'
'Life' is released in cinemas throughout Australia 23rd March 2017.
