Review of After Earth (2013) by Dave J — 19 Jun 2014

Friday, June 20, 2014.

(2013) After Earth.

SCIENCE-FICTION ADVENTURE.

By looking at the big picture, this "story" credited by Will Smith is "Scientology" inspired which Cruise and Travolta would have to get another A caliber actor to star since both of those guys would know that if they ever did a movie like this that they would be lambasted by the media. So technically, it would make sense to have a non- Scientolgist person to make a movie about it. The set up is ridiculous but someone's got to explain it. Commander Cypher Raige's (Will Smith) only son, Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) can't seem to make it passed being ranked as a cadet. So then the father decides to allow his son to join him in on one of his last missions before he retires. Everything was A- okay, until they had to fly through a dangerous meteor shower which somehow severely damaged the ship. funny how not a single crew member had his or her seatbelt on. Anyways, this shower forces them to land on a nearby planet that is labelled as 'quarantined' and unlivable, which happens to be the planet Earth which in this movie is not even part of the solar system anymore. Upon hitting the earth's atmosphere, it split the entire space ship apart, coincidently leaving the only two survivors to be Kitai, and his father, Cypher. Except that Cypher is unable to move since both of his legs are busted. Ordering his son Kitai to find it's tallest mountain which happens to be the volcano( a cover used for a "Dianetics" book by L Ron Hubbard and start a beacon. The message here is to 'face your fears' mumbo jumbo without showing any emotion which is the ideology for any Scientology member. Very stiff performances by Will Smith, but I guess it's because his role requires it who may had a Scientologist act as a consultant. Both Will and Jayden had played much livelier characters than this movie is showcasing for they all looked like they had just arrived from many funerals.

2 out of 4 stars.