Greenland

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)

It has its weaker moments (the entire final half-hour is such a clichéd Hollywood construct, completely different in mood from the previous realistic action), but otherwise it's far from Geostorm and similar recent bullshit. It's a believable look at human behaviour in extreme situations, when a planetary catastrophe brings to the surface their egotism and low instincts. The special effects are sparse, but the ominous sights of the changing sky has an unsettling charm and visually it really looks good and believable. But I expected it, Ric Roman Waugh is a smart guy, he's done it a few times already, and his latest film so far certainly doesn't deserve to be in the blue. (11/15/2020)

A down-to-earth disaster nail-biter with an unexpectedly realistic first half. After the excellent first hour it jumps feet first into the realm of Hollywood and things start to work miraculously. Vaughn approaches this in the same way as Seňor Spielberg in War of the Worlds, concentrating on an ordinary family with Butler in the role of a dad chosen to survive. It chugs along marvelously and there’s always something happening. Surprisingly, the government does what it should; the other characters are not one-dimensional; the powerful scenes with fire raining down and blast waves work splendidly. Movies like this a needed in this day and age; it makes you realize that things could be much, much worse. Covid is nothing in comparison to Clark. (12/07/2020)

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)

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)