What I Watch I Review: DRONE WARS

Drone Wars

Directed By Jack Perez

Starring Corin Nemec, Nathin Butler, Verona Blue, Whitney Moore

In Drone Wars, Corin Nemec (yes, Parker Lewis) plays a good man who goes out of his way to help others, putting himself in harm’s way, in humanity’s darkest hour.

Mysterious Drones of unknown origin have all but destroyed the Earth and Elias (Nemec) has been chosen by a mysterious group (The Hornets, aka Bugs) to receive advanced weapons that can fight the Drones. This is complicated by a rouge group lead by a man name Rhys, who believes he is better suited to lead the fight against the Drones then the current leadership in L.A.

Drone Wars is one of those odd films that isn’t bad, but isn’t good. It falls somewhere in the painfully average category. A film that is competently made, but just doesn’t quite get there. It’s maddening, because Drone Wars could have been a much better film.

It falls prey to the same three problems many indie films do – especially lower budget horror and sci-fi films. Poor script, effects and acting. Three things ANY film needs to really succeed.

The script is about half-way to where it should be. It’s another film that feels like it was lensed off of a pitch sheet rather than an actual fleshed out item usually called a screenplay. The plot is there, but often in the background and forgotten while other things happen. What story there is seems to peter away after the first thirty minutes, and turns into an hour of filler.

What does happen it often so illogical it destroys any suspension of belief and causes the viewer to ask: Really?

When it comes to the acting, you really need to know only two things: Corin Nemec and Verona Blue.

Corin Nemec is an actually good actor, and does his best here. He actually delivers the type of performance a good version of this film would need to get viewers engaged.

Verona Blue may be my favorite new actress, and is easily the best special effect in this film. She gives a performance that is far better than the actual film.




Nathin Butler as Rhys get a special mention here, if for nothing else than chewing the scenery in every scene he has.

The production values are good, but held back by a flat look to the image and special effects that seem lifted out of the 1980’s. Sometimes the Drones look really good, especially the big ‘mother’ Drones. It’s the other times that are more dangerous than the Drones themselves.

Many times when the Drones move and change course as they fly, they seem to change shape, go fuzzy and even expand and contract. Weird. Often, the Drones move so fast you barely see anything but a grey or silver blur on screen.

One almost gets the feeling they are moving this fast so the viewer won’t realize how bad the effect actual is.

Maybe the movie should have moved just as fast.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Drone Wars is worth watching at least once. But ultimately it is a disappointing film that could, and should have, been much better.

RATING: 5

WHAT I WATCH I REVIEW: RESIDENT EVIL Film Series

RESIDENT EVIL

Film Series

Starring Milla Jovovich

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Afterlife, Retribution, The Final Chapter); Alexander Witt (Apocalypse); Russell Mulcahy (Extinction)

Recently I have watched all six Resident Evil movies over the course of one week. What exactly does that mean? Well, to begin with: Nothing. It means nothing.





First off the Resident Evil films have nothing at all to do with the Resident Evil video games series. (See, nothing.)

Secondly they barely have anything to do with being actual films. (Again, nothing)

They are very threatening films though. Let me explain:

They Threaten to actually tell stories and have a plot – but never follow through. There is nary a plot to be found in any of the films – or anything resembling something as silly as a story. In fact, you can fast forward through all the films and never miss any story points.

They Threaten to have any real action or adventure. Well, here they almost follow through – there is some action, but little actual adventure. Most of the action so is overboard and cartoonish that it borders on lame.

They Threaten to have anything resembling actual three-dimensional characters people can relate to. Are there any characters in these films? Hell, I’d settle for stock characters. Even Alice has very little characterization or personality. As for character depth? Zilch. The characters are nothing more than filler for the (almost) pretty backgrounds.

They Threaten to have pretty backgrounds. And they fail miserable. How can a major, theatrical release film franchise in this modern era with a mid-level budget have such terrible special effects, and shoddy camera work? Hell if I now. Ask Paul W.S. Anderson.

Most of all they Threaten to be entertaining. NOT!!

Above everything else these film are a giant tease. What else can you call 9 hours of Milla Jovovich running, jumping and dancing around half-naked or in skin tight outfits? Seriously, it’s like a 9 hour lap dance without a payoff. (Yes, I went there.)

The Resident Evil film series is easily the worst theatrical released film series in history. Period. Loud, nosy, lame, boring, poorly acted, poorly written, poorly made and piss-poorly directed. I would write ‘poor effects’ but that would be a compliment.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Let THE ASYLUM take over the reboot. At least that would be entertaining.

RATING: F@%& NO.