Skyline – Review
There’s this ridiculousness to Skyline at times, that some, well, maybe many won’t get. But we start on the basis of an alien invasion, so until CNN or Stephen Hawking proves that this stuff can or will happen, let’s not scoff at the film’s ridiculousness just yet. Skyline is perfectly fine for what it is: a brainless, sci-fi, campy movie, that sometimes feels like a CG love letter to the stuff Roger Corman once produced in the 1970s. Ham-fisted heroes. Corny dialogue. Cool monsters. It’s a modern day low budget ode to the drive-in low budget movies. So again, some, if not most, will absolutely hate Skyline, while a few others will love its campy charm.
The Brothers Strause, mostly known for their visual effects work and AvP: Requiem deliver on what they know best, which is a solid, entertaining action movie with spaceships and cool looking aliens. The film’s inception is interesting, and maybe could be a summer movie game changer. Made for $500k, with $9 million devoted to the digital FX, the film is a grand scale low budget take on the stuff Steven Spielberg no longer makes. For the time and budget, Skyline will raise an eyebrow or two, but for those who don’t care about the technical behind-the-scenes stuff, the film grabs the old Night of the Living Dead scenario of people caught in something and house themselves safe. Some want to leave, others want to stay. Been there, done that.
Skyline isn’t original, nor did it attempt to be. It’s fun when taken on a cheesy, popcorn-eating level, as most of the action and attitude displayed in the film, reminded me of why we love all of those schlocky Alien rip-offs Corman produced almost endlessly. We didn’t go to those to see them reinvent the wheel, but to deliver on what it promised. Skyline is another ID4, War of the Worlds, or heck, even Mars Attacks! Spielberg isn’t doing this films anymore, so we gotta take them anyway possible. Sure, it’s not that great, but it’s fun on a kaiju level, mixed with a silly twist -that some will groan at – but all in all, not even Stephen Hawkins can mathematically conclude on why something like Skyline can amuse for 90 minutes.
Rating: 
9 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Producer talks Skyline sequel | KillerFilm - [...] with mostly negative reactions from both critics and moviegoers (and you can read Jon’s review here). Of the many ...
Join Us On Facebook
Advertisement
I thought the movie okay. I had the same problems with this as I did with AVP:R. The special effects and action are nice, but the characters, actting, and story are dull. To me the actors took things too seriously and it came off as cheesy. I did LOVE the ending though. I’d probably give it the same rating.
Also, am I the only one who sees a little irony with the alien’s scheme and the tone of the film?
Jon Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Thanks, Matt. The ending got booed at my screening. I hear ya on your thoughts, and I hope I echoed that in my review.
Matt B. Keith Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I could understand why some won’t like, but I thought it made Balfour’s character strong. Besides, having your brain put inside one of those aliens, and then taking control would be sweet.
robert gloer Reply:
November 17th, 2010 at 7:26 am
Not only was the movie boring about a group of people talking, crying and panicking with barely any action but the ending was so stupid. Comon you gotto have a better reason for the invasion then the aliens came to earth to take our brains.. becuase with all their technology they have nothing better to interface with their technology then our human brain which we use only less then 10%. I would rather believe they came to steal our penis becuase theirs got smaller over years of evolution while they got smarter and bigger heads. And now they cut off our mens penis and interface with their own body to use as their wives demand it
I totally enjoyed being taken into Alien Invasion Mode.For a low budget film the F/X sparkles better then certain Vampires!Acting was solid with Eric Balfour & the rest of cast making a taunt edge of your seater making the viewers sweat & squirm!The Brothers Strause do tap into a Roger Corman type of film for sure & I’m a sucker for most of those so my rating would accordingly be higher Jon 3-Star!
My sister saw this film last weekend, said it was pretty bad.
Jon Reply:
November 17th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Definately not awesome, and it isn’t for everyone, but it’s fine. Probably will play better on DVD via rental.
Not to be picky, but the guy you’re refering to is Stephen Hawking, not Hawkins. Chances are he’d have approved of this movie, although he probably would have booed in his mechanical voice at the “they came for our brains” ending. Ugh.
to be real Skyline was okay, but could have been better.What i didn’t like was the ending it left you hanging, all in all i enjoyed the movie.