Gareth Edwards (2) (1975–)

Okay, interesting enough idea, if you ignore the basic premise of the USA (or was it the 'West'?) realistically taking on the rest of the world, and the special effects have moved on enough from the days of Will Smith in I, Robot (2004) for the robots to look pretty natural. But it really is a mash-up. The US military insertion by helicopter was pure Vietnam buddy movie, the New Asian cities owed more than a little to Blade runner, the morally corrupt US military high command (or stand-in, as per Avatar) is pretty much de rigueur these days, and if the temple towards the end wasn't Asgard's bifröst bridge generator, I'm a monkey's uncle.

As for the walking-talking comedy suicide bombs, words fail me, except perhaps to mention the Uruk-hai torch-bearer at Helm's Deep. Joshua and Maya's final meeting reminded me of nothing so much as Gladiator in a bean field rather than a wheat field. And then the Independence Day ending. A pleasant enough way to spend two and a quarter hours, but I doubt many are going to watch it more than the once.… (més)