Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Written by David Callaham and Wesley Strick. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, Ben Daniels, Raz Adoti, Dexter Fletcher, Deobia Oparei and Doug Jones.
Plot: space marines sent to a research facility on Mars find themselves hunted by monsters.
In this movie, loosely based on the first-person shooter game of the same name, a group of space marines are sent to a research facility on Mars after they get a distress call from the researchers who have been attacked by an unknown “thing”. Once on Mars, the marines team up with Dr. Samantha Grimm (Pike), Reaper’s (Urban) sister. Reaper is one of the only space marines that is likable. The rest have serious problems: overly macho behavior, drug dealing, cutting themselves when they use the lord’s name in vain, etc. etc.
Of course, Sam and Reaper spend most of the movie arguing, so they’re annoying as well. They need to retrieve the researchers data and find out what happened in the facility, but they can’t keep from insulting each other’s chosen professions. Stupid. There’s a few dead animals to be seen – nasty. And Johnson is a dick in this and I don’t really like him as a dick. Like him better when he’s in things like Jumanji, if I’m honest.
Eventually something really bad happens and the movie actually turns into a first-person shooter film, but the specials are pretty crappy. Pike looks lost the entire movie and Johnson overacts the whole time. Karl Urban was fine. Even DJ thought so and he doesn’t usually like him at all. But he was the best part of this movie that was overall pretty weak. The rules were bad. The script was bad. And there was no Freddy Claws. It was really hard to enjoy. So, we didn’t.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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