Skyline

The fact that Skyline wasn’t previewed for critics is always a bad sign. However, despite that ominous warning, it isn’t actually that bad. The problem is, is that it isn’t actually all that great either with an over-whelming lack of originality being the main concern. Though the storyline isn’t much different from many similar movies, it’s Spielberg’s War Of The Worlds of which this feels like an alternate version. Directors the Strause brothers film concerns a group of mainly unrecognisable actors awaking one morning in an LA Skyscraper to discover Aliens have arrived and are abducting all of the general population at large. There isn’t much more to say really than that. It’s more interesting to concentrate on the fact that the film cost over $10M dollars to make and that the Strause siblings raised all the cash themselves. At least they can’t complain about studio interference. More pertinent is the rumour that over 95% of the films costs were spent on the special effects alone. It’s somewhat ironic that this formula is a good description of the film itself. 95% effects, 5% everything else. As any film goer knows, that’s not a great equation. Still, there are a few decent moments when the protagonists are fighting the beasties, but it’s a shame it never really leads to anything, apart from an ending that bears more than a passing resemblance to that of District 9. Apparently a sequel is on the cards. If so, and if the directors can even out the percentages above for it, it may be worth catching this just to see what happens next.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
The effects are great. Not much else is though. Rating: 5/10.