The Grey: NR #17

Is it just me or is Liam Neeson in too many movies. Two of the trailers, back to back, had him in them. While Neeson is still the coolest thing since Chuck Norris, he is in a a lot of movies lately. Not saying it's bad, just hoping he doesn't get over saturated. Speaking of Liam Neeson, this weeks movie is a film where Neeson doesn't just fights wolves, but also Alaska it self! This weeks film is...

 

Let's Begin

PLOT

Ottway is a tough as nails survivalist, hired to protect an oil drilling team in Alaska from wolves. That night on the plane ride home, the plane spectacularly crashes in the middle of Alaska, leaving Ottway and 7 other men alive. With little to no food or water, the freezing Arctic temperatures, and the mutant wolves with the power of tactical intelligence (not really, but they sure act like it), Ottway and the others must survive long enough to find help, or be killed.

PROS

The atmosphere is haunting. It's just so creepy and quiet that you never know when a wolf might attack. I literally felt cold while in the theater, This isn't called The Grey for nothing.

The film is extremely unpredictable, you'll never know what happens next. While you will know which guy will die next, you'll never know how. There is one scene that comes so unexpectedly that it left me gasping for air!

This movie is brutal and unforgiving, blood will be shed, people you like will die, and language will be said. Everyone in the theater had to look away at some point.

The movie isn't all about action, in fact the wolves are hardly a big part of the film. It's more about asking provocative questions and how people react in the face of danger. It's almost like an art film with a budget, almost.

The direction is amazing. There is one scene where a character is a strong river and the camera moves in such a disorienting way that you feel like your in the water with them.

This is the first time in a long time I had to look away from a movie. I won't say when but I'll just say I hate heights.

CONS

The characters are all stereotypes. You got the annoying one, the cocky one, the funny one, and the level headed one. It makes the movie have less of an impact.

The dialogue is bad. It makes the characters even more stereotypical.

CONCLUSION

You may have heard that this a "MAN'S MOVIE FOR MANLY MEN WHO DO MANLY THINGS WITH OTHER MANLY MEN IN MANLY WAYS!!!!!". While that's somewhat true, it's not the main focus. This a thought provoking film covered by B-movie antics. I highly recommend it, just don't go in expecting Taken with wolves.

RATING

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