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Cowboys & Aliens - 6/8/2011 5:39:44 AM   
Empire Admin

 

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Post #: 1
RE: - 15/8/2011 12:43:14 PM   
D-ToX


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quote:

ORIGINAL: artilleryman

'You’d have to go back as far as Near Dark to find a satisfying and successful example'

No, actually. All you'd have to do is go as far back as Firefly/Serenity, you dense fuckers


Harsh but very true 

I saw it last week, pretty good and not very silly at all but it is true that it could have done with a little more fun in places.

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Post #: 2
RE: I didn't like it. Go watch 'Apes' instead. - 15/8/2011 1:39:32 PM   
spamandham

 

Posts: 481
Joined: 27/11/2008
Olivia is basically the narrator.

Not too bad a film anyway. As far as ludicrous concepts go at least it's pretty original.

I look forward to the pirates vs zombies vs ninjas film.
Post #: 3
RE: I didn't like it. Go watch 'Apes' instead. - 15/8/2011 1:45:27 PM   
spamandham

 

Posts: 481
Joined: 27/11/2008
Oh and that last paragraph comes within a gnats chuff width of being a spoiler

/slap.

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Post #: 4
Awful Film - 15/8/2011 2:26:47 PM   
benskelly


Posts: 221
Joined: 28/8/2007
From: To Your Immediate Left
 Awful film.  Just a complete mess.

As the review says - if not the rating - no fun.  Convoluted.  Boring.  Dour.  Takes itself way too seriously.  Craig just scowls and mopes, that's his whole character.  He has to be the biggest killjoy of an actor ever to do popcorn films like this and Bond. His accent is all over the map.  Ford fares better, but since he is naturally dour, and this character even more so, it just adds to the dry depressing feeling.  It's not even a good-LOOKING film. 

I know it's become a cliche to question the star rating here - but this and SUPER 8 are so weak and undeserving of four stars.  Or three.  Or even two.  They both suck.  Both Spielberg productions directed by pretenders to his throne and both trying so hard to recreate the magic of his earlier work...and failing miserably.

Hey, I love The Beard at his classic best.  This ain't it.



    
   

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Post #: 5
RE: What a mess! - 15/8/2011 4:01:45 PM   
musht


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From: Oireland
 Really enjoyed this film. The serious approach they took to such a random concept was really well executed. Not perfect but very enjoyable.

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RE: I didn't like it. Go watch 'Apes' instead. - 15/8/2011 4:27:42 PM   
Jodan_King


Posts: 311
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quote:

ORIGINAL: spamandham

Oh and that last paragraph comes within a gnats chuff width of being a spoiler

/slap.



Too close for my liking, shoud have read this before the review. There is a line of dialouge that now needs to be delivered perfectly to have any kind of an effect for me. Damn it!

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Post #: 7
Cowboys & Aliens: Review - 17/8/2011 12:57:48 AM   
Edward9630

 

Posts: 63
Joined: 8/8/2011
From: Ireland
 Cowboys & Aliens is a very good film. It has a great story, good cast and im not a big fan of western films so this is one of those films I truly enjoyed. My only complaint about the film is that the aliens should have been alot better then they were, i swear its like they came unprepared for this. I think the reason the critics are hating on this film is because there's not too much details about the film, to be honest its not to be taking seriously it's just a fun sci-fi/western film. I would recommend to go see this film.

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Post #: 8
The Not So Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 17/8/2011 2:00:04 AM   
BenTramer

 

Posts: 864
Joined: 18/3/2009
It's an odd mix of conventional cowboy flick and the usual alien abduction horrors. The writers fail to flesh out the characters. Daniel Craig never really changes much throughout the movie and the aliens are one-dimensional baddies. I don't quite know what Olivia Wilde was doing in it. Her character is completely unbelievable and she never really connects with Daniel Craig on any level and then she disappears.

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Post #: 9
RE: The Not So Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 17/8/2011 10:58:36 PM   
Hood_Man


Posts: 11271
Joined: 30/9/2005
InCREDIBLY dull! If anyone could find me a more miserable, grumpy pairing than Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig I will perform strange but pleasing things for your amusement. Not a sense of humour between them.

Fun in places but far too slow paced in general, and no interesting characters to care for. It was actually far more interesting before the aliens turned up, I was beginning to think that Daniel Craig could work incredibly well in a Wild West setting.

The title says Cowboys vs Aliens, if that doesn't suggest an enjoyable tongue in cheek movie like The Mummy or the first Pirates of the Caribbean I don't know what will, I can't believe they took themselves so seriously.

2 stars. Not awful, just very very forgettable.

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Post #: 10
RE: The Not So Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 18/8/2011 5:59:28 AM   
Castor Troy


Posts: 7057
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From: Rocky's graveside
 I enjoyed it - it was pretty much what I was expecting. Craig was a great hero - really badass. For was underused a bit. The action wasn't all that great apart from the spaceship attack in the desert. But I loved how they played it straight - it was made really well - it looked great. But I think the best thing about it were the aliens. I thought the design was great - the best I've seen in a long time.

3/5

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Post #: 11
RE: The Not So Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 18/8/2011 10:16:32 AM   
talpacino


Posts: 3624
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From: The Royal County
 I actually enjoyed this a lot. I thought it was going to be played for laughs and a bit of fun but it's a lot straighter and more serious than I expected. That didn't bother me at all like it seems to have bothered a lot of reviewers. The tone worked fine for me. Not a great film but defintely a good one.

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Post #: 12
Waste of a good concept - 18/8/2011 12:16:23 PM   
mickyc

 

Posts: 10
Joined: 5/10/2005
Surprised to see this get 4 stars from empire, the production values are great and acting is spot on also but the story is just dull and lacks the excitement needed for a summer blockbuster which its supposed to be.

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Post #: 13
Cowboys but why Aliens? - 18/8/2011 4:07:50 PM   
doocey01

 

Posts: 1
Joined: 18/8/2011
Started well, liked it, had giant hot dog combo after sinking 3 pints in an hour prior to kick off. Film started well too! Then the aliens arrived and it became I am Legend all over again. Terrible CGI, cowboys shooting at obviously nothing in from of them and then they are destroyed by their own weapon, I bangle from Claire's accessories (sorry can't spell).
Should have just been called cowboys. Note: the Indians were nonsense too!
Empire, sort out your ratings and grow some back bone! If it's a B movie then state that.
Not amused by your kidology, especially after I have just subscribed to you for 12 months (to get the zombie game)

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Post #: 14
Fail - 18/8/2011 4:14:59 PM   
sephiroth7

 

Posts: 150
Joined: 14/10/2009
Was really looking forward to this and found it enjoyable enough for about 30 minutes. Then it became a shocking mess of a humourless bore. Four stars Empire, really?

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Post #: 15
not that bad - 18/8/2011 10:39:57 PM   
HERMES_67

 

Posts: 91
Joined: 1/10/2005
ive seen a lot worse (Hobo with a shotgun) and this isnt in the same ballpark. well worth a watch if your at a loose end with a couple of hrs to kill..... Enjoy....

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Post #: 16
RE: not that bad - 20/8/2011 12:49:23 AM   
darth silas


Posts: 4949
Joined: 1/10/2005
From: My living room
 Shite.

Too long.Too boring.No humour.Craig Is as dull as ever and Harrison Ford,what happened to your charisma?

The worst film iv seen this year.

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Post #: 17
- 20/8/2011 1:24:15 AM   
sadtwat

 

Posts: 8
Joined: 18/1/2009
It isn't Aliens versus 'The Wild Bunch' because The Wild Bunch were actually interesting, engaging characters with a story that had a point and had somewhere to go; this was arguably the least engaging film I have ever (EVER) seen. On a par with 'Matrix Reloaded'.

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Post #: 18
What a waste - 20/8/2011 10:56:41 AM   
jammyemma

 

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/4/2007
Starts off well but quickly degenerates into boring, boring rubbish. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford both seem to have had their personalities removed, Olivia Wilde is pointless and there's little or no characterisation. Add to that some gaping plotholes and a finale nicked from Independence Day and you're in for a really dull time. I almost fell asleep.

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Post #: 19
RE: What a waste - 20/8/2011 1:03:33 PM   
DJ Rob C: Mark II!


Posts: 34807
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From: Christmas town
 Shocked to see so much hate really, I know the reviews bar Empire's have been surprisingly poor but I loved this when I saw it at Big Screen... my friend wasn't fussed but I really enjoyed it... sure the plot goes a bit muddled towards the end but the cast is solid, the effects are great and for the first time in a while I felt I cared about the characters from the get go, something Favreau and a Spielberg-produced movie (Hello Super 8) seem to do well... and the action towards the end had me thrilled for a week 

4/5


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Post #: 20
RE: not that bad - 20/8/2011 1:51:10 PM   
Rhubarb


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From: No Direction Home
quote:

ORIGINAL: darth silas

Shite.

Too long.Too boring.No humour.Craig Is as dull as ever and Harrison Ford,what happened to your charisma?

The worst film iv seen this year.


I actually thought you were going to like it, and show that hey, you don't hate Craig, just don't think he's right for Bond.

Anyway, it is a bit boring yeah. It would be fine on Channel 5 on a Sunday Afternoon, but outside of that context its difficult to see when I would bother wanting to watch it again.

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Post #: 21
RE: not that bad - 20/8/2011 2:28:38 PM   
st3veebee


Posts: 2354
Joined: 3/9/2006
From: 9303 Lyon Drive
 Went into this preview on Thursday with mixed feelings. Jon Favreau has never really impressed me and Aliens....well recently anyway...ditto.

THE GOOD:

-Brilliant cast.

-Harrison Ford back to his grumpy best, reminding us of just how great he can be. Craig is good too.

-Good SFX overall.

-First half of the film, sans aliens, is an absolute hoot: a real throw back to old westerns.

-Olivia Wilde is just nice to look at.


THE BAD:

-Aliens are dull in design, motive and action

-So many niggling plotholes and distractions you HAVE to set aside your brain to get any enjoyment of the second act.

-A severe lack of Sam Rockwell.

-Several characters are given little to nothing to do.

-The second half of the film gets tiresome in parts with a lackluster finish.

THE UGLY:

-........emmmm.....well.....the alien design wasn't very fetching. I expect better Spielberg!


Not a bad film by any means; with a particularly great first half. If they had taken out the Aliens part of the title this could have been a brilliant western. Sadly with the extraterrestrials intact: it gets boring quickly towards the end and even an on form Harrison Ford can't help the film at that stage.

Still not sure about Favreau.










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Post #: 22
A wasted oppurtunity - 20/8/2011 5:11:44 PM   
THERAHMAN

 

Posts: 14
Joined: 28/6/2006
Best scene in the film is the opening shot of Daniel Craig waking up. It seems, and I bet it'll come out, that Favereau didn't know what kind of style to go for. The Western element wasn't even as good as Back To The Future 3, and the Alien stuff was circa 1990 Flight of the Navigator scifi. A complete waste.

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Post #: 23
Empire often mark success by critical analysis not box ... - 20/8/2011 6:40:00 PM   
Senton

 

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YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE MATERIAL EMPIRE BUT MOVIES ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT MAKING PROFIT> A LESSON IM AFRAID YOU STILL HAVEN'T LEARNT

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Post #: 24
RE: Empire often mark success by critical analysis not ... - 21/8/2011 10:47:32 AM   
mackey

 

Posts: 337
Joined: 15/7/2007
The overly serious tone was a mistake in my opnion, it just didn't gel with the scenario. Everything about the film was dull and made for a very laborious viewing experience. Even the action scenes lacked invention & spectacle so there really are no redeeming qualities. Favreau can't seem to do action scenes with any originality - the set-pieces are probably the weakest element of the Iron Man films I think. Cowboys & Aliens just feels like a waste of time and money and rubber stamps my opinion that it has been an awful summer for blockbusters.

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Post #: 25
What were they thinking? - 21/8/2011 8:12:00 PM   
BatSpider


Posts: 170
Joined: 6/7/2010
freakin' awful. Boring and insultingly stupid, but not in a funny way.

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Post #: 26
What were they thinking? - 21/8/2011 8:12:02 PM   
BatSpider


Posts: 170
Joined: 6/7/2010
freakin' awful. Boring and insultingly stupid, but not in a funny way.

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Post #: 27
CURSED - 22/8/2011 4:22:13 PM   
HENRYS CAT

 

Posts: 3
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It's the curse of Bond. Craig doesn't see to have made a good film since Casino Royale. He did some great stuff once..

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Post #: 28
Boring shite - 23/8/2011 7:53:37 PM   
ashy

 

Posts: 5
Joined: 28/7/2006
This is a very boring film devoid of wit. The cast look genuinely bored, too, and quite embarrassed. Craig barely says a word. He should have said "no" when this script crossed his desk.

Like I said, boring shite.

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Post #: 29
slightly over-long, but okay - 24/8/2011 11:30:27 AM   
bretty

 

Posts: 143
Joined: 6/10/2005
I think Empire slightly over-rated this one. Anyone going to a film with this title should adjust expectations accordingly, and it was not bad. Darker then it sounded and good one the action hots up. But there were flaws (personality changes for Ford and his son) that made it an okay movie rather then a great one.

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Post #: 30
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