Doomsday

Starring: Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Science Fiction
2008

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After Scotland is walled off to contain a deadly virus that turns people into zombies, a career soldier (Rhona Mitra) is sent in to find a scientist left behind who may have discovered a cure. However, once there, she finds lawlessness has taken over and the situation is far more deadly than anyone expected.

Review:

Tim: Movies that are determined to pick and choose and borrow from other films can work, granted the total is greater than the sum of their parts. It also helps if the movie feels fresh and unique. Sadly, Doomsday is a movie we're seen before, because it is simply the recycled plot from a number of movies which did the whole action sci-fi thing far better. Director Neil Marshall keeps the film moving briskly, which prevents us from getting too bored. However, the movie itself is just sadly ineffective.

Rhona Mitra is actually quite good in the lead role. She makes a very good action heroine. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the best character to work with (it is very one-dimensional). Still, she's entertaining to watch on screen and generally does a good job. I liked seeing Bob Hoskins on screen, but wonder why he was in such a bad movie.

This film might have worked if it was more memorable. However, it is just an amalgamation of scenes from better science fiction movies. I couldn't stop thinking of 28 Days Later, Escape from New York, Escape from L.A., and even a little bit of the Resident Evil movies. Nothing- absolutely nothing in this movie feels new or different. That is quite a huge problem. Even worse, the film isn't particularly powerful. While the movie starts out decently, towards the end, it just becomes so forgettable that it immediately fades from memory. It doesn't help that the plot is very often silly and foolish and hard-to-believe.

Doomsday has enough action to keep most people at least partially interested. However, it is just not a good movie, and doesn't measure up to any of the films from which it so brazenly steals. I'd pass this one by.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Silent Hill, Escape from New York, Escape from L.A., 28 Days Later, Resident Evil