Movie Review: After Earth

After Earth

Release Date: May 31st 2013
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Main Cast: Jayden Smith (Kitai Raige), Will Smith (Cypher Raige), Sophie Okonedo (Faia Raige)
Screenwriter: Gary Whitta, M. Night Shyamalan, Will Smith (story)
Genre: Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images
Official Website: After Earth Official Site

Storyline: One thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind’s new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige returns from an extended tour of duty to his estranged family, ready to be a father to his 13-year-old son, Kitai. When an asteroid storm damages Cypher and Kitai’s craft, they crash-land on a now unfamiliar and dangerous Earth. As his father lies dying in the cockpit, Kitai must trek across the hostile terrain to recover their rescue beacon. His whole life, Kitai has wanted nothing more than to be a soldier like his father. Today, he gets his chance. (Via Columbia Pictures)

After Earth ended up being a bit different then what I got from watching the movie trailer. Yes they end up going back to Earth but I thought we would get Will Smith and Jayden Smith together throughout the movie on Earth. What did transpire was Jayden Smith character did pretty much all the acting himself. If you were my boys this didn’t mean anything, but as an adult that loves these types of sic-fi flicks, If feel that Jayden was still to young to take such a big role by himself. Some parts looked forced and others were flawless when portrayed by young Jayden. Other than that, the movie is visually exciting. My kids were engrossed from the beginning until the end. When that happens, I categorize that as fantastic visuals and effects that keep a 6yr old and 11yr old seated without fidgeting throughout the whole film. Overall as a family we did enjoy the film and I would recommend parents taking the kids to see it.

The story concentrates on Will Smith characters returning home after yet another mission. The human race no longer lives on Earth, hasn’t for a very long time. We of course killed our own planet. So we have taken residence in a different plant that ended up having creatures that kill by sensing fear. Humans have created cities and have manage to live in this planet and survive these creatures. Will Smith character comes home and in that process the wife gives him the guilt trip and he ends up telling his son that he will take him on his next mission to get rid of one of those creatures on a different planet. So they set off and during trip come upon an asteroid storm that ends up destroying their spacecraft and they must do an emergency landing at the nearest plant which happen to be Earth. Earth is deemed a very high-class planet that one must not land on but they have no choice. The craft is about to come part just before landing. This is where the journey begins. Once awake, Kitai (Jayden Smith) realized they have crashed and the air is not safe. Once he finds his father, Cypher (Will Smith) is in a bad situation, he has broken both legs and one has cut thru his artery. Cypher tells his son, that for them to survive he must journey alone to find the tail of the ship that landed 100 kilometers away from them and find the homing beacon to save them both. This is when Kitai is put to the test and Cypher from the destroyed ship via camera tries to guide him along. Kitai will come across life or death situations and will have seconds to decide their fates.

I wont give anymore away and just say that if you are a sic-fi junkie then this film will appeal to your liking. If you plan to go with children, make sure they are used to seeing some strong scenes involving scary creatures and noises. Overall they movie is great.