Greenland

I’ve been wondering what happened to Gerard Butler. He burst onto the scene years ago with some solid films, but lately, it feels like he’s been stuck in a string of forgettable disaster flicks. Greenland could’ve easily been another one of those, but surprisingly, it’s not half bad. It gave me flashbacks to the first time I watched Deep Impact — starting off with a really grounded vibe and gradually shifting into a tense portrayal of how different people cope with an impending catastrophe. Sure, it leans into the usual tropes by the end, but honestly, I didn’t mind. It’s refreshing to see a disaster movie that isn’t completely ridiculous for a change. (12/19/2021)

A very sober and rational view of disaster. Understandably it doesn't have the fun factor of Armageddon or San Andreas, but Greenland surprisingly maintains a high stamp of believability and raw reality most of the time. Too bad about some infuriatingly clichéd scenes (the ending), but thank heavens for the likeable moments that are pleasantly chilling in places and very well acted. Baccarin is surprisingly commanding, Butler is just OK. The pace is great and even though you can see that it's kind of a low budget movie, the filmmakers managed to camouflage it well. Decent and overall smart entertainment. (12/11/2020)

After a long time, a more expensive and bigger film, which is a pleasure in the current crisis, and also the fact that disaster films are like saffron. Greenland has solid visuals, decent pacing, Gerard Butler performing to his standard, and there’s plenty of suspense. The film is mainly a road movie about saving a family, the actual VFX attractions are a bit less, but when it comes to them, it's definitely worth it. Story***, Action****, Humor**, Violence**, Entertainment****, Music****, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense****. 7/10. (11/14/2020)

Greenland is a likably simple depiction of the sudden destruction of the world by a hail of asteroids. How it might happen, how mortals would react to it and how difficult it would be for the lucky ones (read: “the chosen ones”) to get into shelters. It is a disaster thriller with a more modest budget, shot in digital and with more emphasis on the characters. Unfortunately, those characters are placed in the most clichéd relationship context imaginable – an estranged couple who are brought together by their son (the exposition is handled through a rip-off of War of the Worlds). The visual effects and action sequences are excellent, and I was particularly pleased with the aerial shots of Greenland in the ending, as that land is numero uno in my traveler’s heart where natural wonders are concerned (I don’t want to spoil it). (12/14/2020)

Ric Roman Waugh, after successful dramas set in the prison environment, tackled a disaster film. One might think such a shift wouldn’t result in anything good, but the opposite is true. The first half of the film innovates the genre in many ways, showcasing the dark side of people that would emerge in these apocalyptic scenarios. These intimate moments are actually among the most successful aspects of the film. The tension is built meticulously, and the airport scene is top-notch. The film has an immensely pessimistic tone, and its civil approach, which doesn’t rely heavily on exaggerated computer-generated effects, drew me in remarkably. However, the second half shifted to an American style where the main characters face no real consequences. This slightly tarnished the positive experience from the first hour. Nonetheless, the acting is solid; Gerard Butler has found his niche in these family-oriented roles in recent years, and he’s always a good choice for the lead. The rest of the cast performs well too. The ending was surprising. The first half deserves 8/10, the second half 6/10... Still a decent, above-average film within the genre. For me, it’s 7/10. (11/25/2020)