Review of After Earth (2013) by Patrick K — 17 May 2014

Sometimes it's hard for my mind to keep all of the future Earth sci-fi films straight. I kept getting this movie's title muddled with "Another Earth", which had an utterly different concept, and was decidedly a lot better.

However, I'm not convinced that Will Smith's latest project deserved the brutal slating it received. I found the film entertaining overall; if perhaps a little predictable. I'm partial to sci-fi anyhow, but I was definitely tuned in for the perilous mission facing Smith's on and off-screen son. Jaden Smith proved deserving of the role, which was something I had pondered when I first saw the cast list. Nothing worse than stars handing out roles to their family and friends like unearned sweets.

I certainly wasn't bored, unlike many of the complaining viewers. I'm not quite sure what people were expecting. Shyamalan can't seem to catch a break.