If there's one thing I've learned about Snyder films, it's this: Snyder is a good visual director, and as a result his films look nice after the first viewing. But once you look past the visuals, his films don't have much past them.
This film is no different.
The film relies heavily on visual graphics - and much of the imagery and even some story elements feel to have been borrowed from other, better movies. Most of the imagery feels to be there just because it looks cool, or to try to give a feeling of depth that really isn't there. Though the graphics are nice to look at and have some good moments, they just aren't enough to hold the movie up.
It also gives me the feeling that Zack is starting to use CGI as a crutch. It makes we wonder if he could make a movie without any CGI or special effects at all.
The story itself is a mess and feels soulless. The characters aren't given any room to develop, and are really only arc types to move the plot along. Coupled with repetitive dream sequences where it's practically spelled out to the audiences how they will go, the middle of the movie gets predictable and dull. By the time the film gets to its closing act, it's hard to really care about the characters. As for the dreams themselves, the symbolism of the items is obvious, and there isn't anything else to them otherwise. Most of the dreams feel disconnected to the rest of the movie, even more so when coupled with the imagery that only serves to look cool.
The acting ranges from average to poor, but nothing stands out.
The music is nice, though at the same time feels like the obvious choice. A few times the music feels to outshine the visuals, and make some of the scenes feel like music videos. I once heard that Zack actually picks the music before working on the scene. He should probably break that habit.
However, I wouldn't say it's a horrible movie, there's certainly worse. It's passable, something that kills time with some nice special effects but otherwise pretty forgettable. Zack should probably stick with adaptations and remakes, or at least leave the script in more talented hands.
Shallow
If there's one thing I've learned about Snyder films, it's this: Snyder is a good visual director, and as a result his films look nice after the first viewing. But once you look past the visuals, his films don't have much past them.
This film is no different.
The film relies heavily on visual graphics - and much of the imagery and even some story elements feel to have been borrowed from other, better movies. Most of the imagery feels to be there just because it looks cool, or to try to give a feeling of depth that really isn't there. Though the graphics are nice to look at and have some good moments, they just aren't enough to hold the movie up.
It also gives me the feeling that Zack is starting to use CGI as a crutch. It makes we wonder if he could make a movie without any CGI or special effects at all.
The story itself is a mess and feels soulless. The characters aren't given any room to develop, and are really only arc types to move the plot along. Coupled with repetitive dream sequences where it's practically spelled out to the audiences how they will go, the middle of the movie gets predictable and dull. By the time the film gets to its closing act, it's hard to really care about the characters. As for the dreams themselves, the symbolism of the items is obvious, and there isn't anything else to them otherwise. Most of the dreams feel disconnected to the rest of the movie, even more so when coupled with the imagery that only serves to look cool.
The acting ranges from average to poor, but nothing stands out.
The music is nice, though at the same time feels like the obvious choice. A few times the music feels to outshine the visuals, and make some of the scenes feel like music videos. I once heard that Zack actually picks the music before working on the scene. He should probably break that habit.
However, I wouldn't say it's a horrible movie, there's certainly worse. It's passable, something that kills time with some nice special effects but otherwise pretty forgettable. Zack should probably stick with adaptations and remakes, or at least leave the script in more talented hands.