Wizard-8 When I discovered a copy of this British movie at my local library, I was intrigued because the British film industry seldom makes movies like this. But upon watching it, I found out why the UK film industry seldom makes movies like this. I will give this to the movie - for what had to have been a limited budget, some of the special effects aren't that bad. Some are actually pretty good. The other parts of the movie do have the feel of a limited budgeted British television drama, though that didn't bother me too much. The main problem with the movie is with its script. I could look past the fact that the story seems to have been greatly inspired by the John Christopher "Tripods" books. But this telling of the same basic theme sorely lacks a lot of explanation. We don't really know how this society works, like how people get food or what they are expected to do imprisoned in their homes. It's also never really explained how one of the youths suddenly gets a connection with the robot invaders. If the movie could have gone into detail about things like those, I think it could have been really interesting. Another problem, though, is that the drama is kind of dull. A few more action sequences could have helped, as well as adding some real convincing emotion and character development during the quieter moments. While the movie is a Hollywood blockbuster wannabe, it falls quite short in its aim, and it isn't surprising that apparently no American distributor felt it was worth releasing to American theaters.

gohambone This is a terrible movie. I couldn't even make fun of it. It's like a really bad episode of the Twilight Zone. If you are a sci-fi fan, the story and subsequent plot holes will infuriate you.The most exciting part of the story is the war of 11 days in which the Robot Overlords managed to conquer humanity. This pinnacle event is told and not shown in 3 lines of text over a black background.Flash forward to the dystopian future where humanity has been placed under house arrest for 4 years. Cabin fever is at a peak as humanity struggles by being fit, apparently well fed, cleanly groomed with access to showers, beauty products, and laundered, tailored designer clothing. How will humanity escape their implants which may or may not do something? How do our heroes not suffer permanent damage from being repeatedly electrocuted? What is the robot master plan?Use your imagination, you will probably come up with something better

skot-21 Basic and by the numbers. I had extremely low expectations because It looked like a kids movie. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware not everything made is going to be something I will enjoy but this kind of watered down rubbish is completely devoid of any value on any level what's so ever. It's a tired old plot, recycled and rehashed. Mailed in performances by the only two cast members with actual career (Kingley has been on a down slide since Iron Man 3, which I though he couldn't sink any lower) to the sci-fi channel level of CG, this film is a tragedy on so many levels and definitely not worth the time... clearly the people who made this didn't put any real thought or creativity into it. Robot designs were cheap, like Asylum Sharknado cheap, basically cubes, because cubes are easy to make in CG rather than designing complex, engaging robots that are visually interesting and worth showing off Instead we get cubes that are basically on screen very sparingly, either do to cost or embarrassment.All the positive reviews posted are clearly by people who either A.) have some connection to the cast crew or producers, or B) are just idiots, which is why garbage like this continues to get made. What a waste... too bad all the time effort and money was spent on this wasn't put towards something people would actually enjoy, rather than cranking out this. Completely unnecessary, nothing we haven't seen elsewhere with better craftsmanship and purpose. What a waste of a cool name and 90 minutes of my life, 90 minutes I will never get back.... do yourselves a favor, watch Red Dawn or any number of better films with the same plot, you know, the old "kids vs oppressors" troupe.

Peter Pluymers "Sean Flynn. You are a fascinating phenomenon." I understand that this film was made for a young audience. Actually I should form an opinion with this in mind. Does that mean that films for a young audience always look terrible ? And must I, as an adult, always judge these movies from that perspective? Why ? "The Goonies", "How to train a dragon", "ET" and (I'm ashamed to say it) "Frozen" are clearly creative products meant for toddlers among us. If I were to write an opinion about these films, this would be a remarkable positive sounding opinion. Youth films can also be entertaining, with a subtle story and surprisingly good looking special effects. But just as "Big Game" this film fails on several levels and even sounding names like Gillian Anderson and Ben Kingsley can't change that.First, there are the pitiful-looking special effects. This is due to the limited,available budget I guess. It doesn't look like a new version of "Transformers". It rather resembles an old episode of the "Power Rangers". Admittedly, at times it wasn't so bad, but most of the time it seemed as if a bunch of "Dinky Toys"-like robots were pasted onto the screen. Not to mention the mastermind that was connected to the whole army of robots. It looked like "Frank" from the eponymous film. This really made no sense at all.But especially the story is terribly childish, incoherent and predictable. The opening text is enormously brief. That made me already suspicious. We're told that three years ago a swarm of robots invaded earth and there was a war that lasted 11 days. Since then (already 1264 days), the whole world gets grounded and everyone gets an implant in the neck so the robots can intervene immediately if someone leaves his house. The choice you have then is to get the hell out of there, rush to your home and get inside as soon as possible. Or get hit by a whopper of a laser beam and vaporize. Because that is the only rule the robots have introduced when taking over earth : "No one can leave his home". This rule applies until the occupiers are ready with their (unknown and according to them innocent) research, after which they will disappear again. Then again, those robots aren't exactly that superior, because they still use individuals, who are known as "collaborators", who make sure everybody obeys and follows that rule. They can even intervene by briefly saying a command in an imperative way, followed by an authorization code. The in anger erupting robot immediately calms down and runs of to take care of other stuff.Instantly I asked myself some pressing questions. How did those house arrested earthlings get food and beverages ? I suppose the weak ones systematically disappear because there's no medical care available? Electricity, water and other utilities will malfunction after a while ? How is it possible that the partying gang can still consume alcohol ? The way the implants can be switched off briefly, is so simplistic that it seems unlikely. And scientists and rational people are seemingly deported first, so that they couldn't come up with this solution. And apparently Mr. Smythe (Ben Kingsley) still doesn't know how the brainwashing machine works, otherwise it wouldn't knock him out all of a sudden. And finally I was wondering who the hell would read the message in those tennis balls, since no one can leave his home.The recurrent fact that's always used in youth films is again applicable here. The youngsters become true heroes after straightening the crooked, threatening situation and thus save the world from further disaster. Once again the adults are just a gang of morons who aren't able to solve these problems in a rational and intellectual way. Sean Flynn also happens to have an incomprehensible force. Live with it and don't try to comprehend it. Also there's the strange fact that the superior robot (also known as the "Mediator") can keep an eye on a whole network of robots, but isn't able to control this individual. I thought this was a bit exaggerated. But it fits in this rather illogical story. Kingsley does not play a memorable role, but he can demonstrate his "wounded self-esteem expression" again. Anderson still looks sensual. There isn't much more to say about her. Sean (Callan McAuliffe) plays the hero. Enough said. Nathan (James Tarpey) is the irritating member of the group. A windbag who turns out to be a wimp when the going gets tough. And Alex (Ella Hunt) represents the feminine gender and is of no further significance (besides a "Sleeping Beauty" moment at the end). The only amusing acting performance is that of Milo Parker as the little Connor. Brilliant how he can overpower a small group of adults just by using flares. And he's clever too ! I didn't know Stannum was Latin for tin.Ultimately, this is a ignorable movie that really aims at a niche segment of the movie audience. It might be a bit too frightening for the really young kids. And a bit too childish for the older kids. And for us adults, it's completely bland and backward. But are you a "Dr. Who "fan and you're hooked on old-fashioned-looking Lego-blocks-like robots, this adventure film for kids might be able to entertain you. However, this was not for me.More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT