Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Michael Allen
Writers: Paul De Meo and Andrew Kreisberg.
SyFy's Red Faction: Origins premiered Saturday, June 4th, with a second showing Monday, June 6th and there is also an upcoming DVD release of this title, August 30th. The launch of this film almost coincides with the release of the latest Red Faction game, titled Red Faction: Armageddon, which can be unpacked June 7th. So obviously, there is some cross promoting occurring between the SyFy Channel and THQ. The film itself is an exciting, action paced thriller, set on Mars. Twenty-Five years previous to the show's main events, a group of socialists fought for freedom, against the Earth Defense Forces. However, the battle still rages on, as Red Faction, led by Alec (Robert Patrick) and Jake Mason (Brian J. Smith), must battle marauding tribes and the remnants of the Earth Defense Forces, now called The White Faction.
Are you confused? The film is not as complex as the many competing military tribes would have you believe. There are simply several opposing groups fighting for sole rule of Mars. As well, the film is well produced and there are suitable action elements here. A villain is provided initially by Kate Vernon as the Matriarch, but this is mere shadow play. The real root of evil lies below the Mars crust. Actor Tamer Hassan plays the leader of the remaining Earth Defense Forces still on Mars. His dreadnought, a large battleship, is secreted underfoot and the conflict arises when the EDF attempts to turn a band of marauders against the Red Faction. But the plan deflates with the intervention of a zealous Jake Mason.
Jake has a mission. He wants to reunite his family, twelve years after a brutal kidnapping in his household. His mother was killed and his sister was taken. Now, he believes he knows where she is. The central plotline of Red Faction: Origins involves the Masons' reuniting their family, under the threat of war. The acting of Tamzin Merchant as Lyra, the sister, cements the core of the writing in the believable, or at least into the realm of entertainment. This film is based off of a video game franchise, after all.
The Marauders, the Red Faction, and the White Faction all come to blows in the final few minutes, with SyFy showing that they know how to create an action packed climax. There is drama at the end of a pistol and there are lost memories restored, with Jake holding the film together as the much needed hero. The martyrdom in the last few minutes seems unnecessary, as film, in general, repeatedly shows viewers that if you are 50+, then you are better off dead. However, Red Faction: Origins is a light-hearted romp through a sci-fi universe and Danielle Nicolet as Tess De La Vega provides many of the best awkward laughs, as a sidekick should.
This SyFy Original will likely broadcast again, across the airwaves and fans of science fiction will enjoy the references to obscure sci-fi writers, like Isaac Asimov, or the scientific innovations like terraformers and flying dreadnoughts, in this movie. Finally, the film is rarely overly serious and Red Faction: Origins is for those looking for some well thought out sci-fi entertainment. Give this one a shot; your dreams of living on Mars will thank-you.
Overall: 7 out of 10 (some of the science is not explained - because of time, good acting, the effects are well done, lots of action, some of which is unbelievable).
Red Faction: Origins is available on DVD or Digital Download, if you missed the initial showings:
Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA
| | | |
Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis by Email
Posted in: 2011,movie review,robert patrick,science fiction,syfy,syfy network,tamer hassan
0 comments:
Post a Comment