Attack the Block and Cosmic Repercussions: A Movie Review

*spoilers ahead.

Director/writer: Joe Cornish.

Cast: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker and Alex Esmail.

Release Date: October 25, 2011.

Every action has a consequence and in every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. Even though the character of Moses (John Boyega) is at the heart of the events in Attack the Block, the result is an action-terror-style romp à la Battlefield Los Angeles, Akira and Goonies all rolled into one. The music certainly speaks for the generation it is targeted towards, and the look at significances of one's action is what this film is about.

The movie begins with a shot of a fireball blazing towards the Earth hinting at something cosmic will come, and there is a long camera pan down to a borough of London. Life on the streets is celebratory, with fireworks going off to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. A young female, Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is headed home and before she knows it, she is surrounded by a gang of youths.

In the process of being mugged, a large meteorite disrupts the scene by bouncing off a car, and the leader of the pack, Moses, thinks there's bounty to be found by chasing down whatever has destroyed the vehicle. Little does he know that his threatening of Sam and his pursuit of the alien beast will lead to an unsettling consequence.

What makes this film work is in how ownership is challenged. Should it be done by the end of a knife or a gun? Threats can be meaningless or they can be carried out with a conviction. Moses does not realize how his actions of mugging an innocent woman, several years his senior, would affect him. She went to the police afterwards to take charge, and to show she was not afraid. Moses and his gang, on the other hand, are. They think they can handle their situation with rebel-rousing weapons. But when the aliens come biting, the metaphors show that they cannot keep running away either from their home life, which marginally gets glossed on (more would have been better), or against other rivals in their hood.

Boyega does a great job at realizing what taking responsibility means. He has a natural charisma that works for the role he plays. Even his performance mellows when he realizes he has to turn hero, or play up a certain smile. There is star potential within him. Even the remainder of the cast does a good job at playing off one another. They have a camaraderie that comes through as believable and that is a joy to watch.

The aliens are also great to track. They act like mandrill baboons with glow-in-the-dark teeth, instead of the trademark blue ribbed snouts, to make their eeriness appealing. When considering how violent these primate-like aliens are like to their victims, somehow they have taken a liking to the gang Moses leads. But as a great leader, he is not necessarily going to be taking any of these alien trailblazers to the great fatherland.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10.

DVD features for the release include:

-"That's A Rap"
-3 Commentary Tracks
-"Creature Feature"
-"Meet the Gang"
-Unfilmed Action
-"Behind The Block"

More information, trailer and downloads can be found at Attack the Block's Official Website:

Attack the Block's Official Website

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Posted in: 2011,2011 release,attack the block,creature feature,creature feature movie review,movie review