I just returned from a test screening for an unnamed sci-fi action film, that is part of a major franchise, set to released this summer, that has yet to be rated. I signed a nondisclosure agreement, so I am bound by a gag order that prevents me from discussing any specifics about it.
It was a rough copy, as it is still in post-production, so there were a few scenes that weren't completely realized yet. However, it does constitute enough of a complete film for me to form an opinion about it.
So, take that for what it's worth.
Of the movie I watched, my generic summary would be this:
You take the good, you take the bad,
You take them both and there you have
The facts of a summer sci-fi/action big budget film.
It's far from being an epic trainwreck, but it also fails to deliver anything truly special. It's not even bad enough to appreciate for being bad.
I wouldn't call it a reboot, as it fits into the series and doesn't undo any from the previous films in the franchise...at least without good reason and explanation. I guess if I were hard pressed to label it, I would call it a reimagining of sorts.
I could see where they were really trying to balance being stereotypical summer fare, and something special. Which was disappointing to me because (regardless of effort) it failed to be special.
I felt that when the filmmakers had a choice between "fresh and unique" and "typical summer action" they paid lip service to the former and went forward with the latter. I had hoped that they would have gone the Iron Man 3 route of being brave enough to slow down, tell a cogent story, and add some legitimate twists.
I guess the best analogy for this would be that they skipped the "fresh and unique" concept like a rock across the water, then it sank into the depths of the "typical summer action".
The major highlight for me was that there were some neat fan-service moments, and one brief shining moment it followed a very clever and well conceived sequence of events.
The major bummer moment for me was when I realized that, at one point, they had gotten their inspiration from an old Monty Python sketch for a not-so well conceived sequence that ran through the hole movie.
It was like the ending of "Departed"...in a bad way.
All in all, I will see this unnamed sci-fi action film, that is part of a major franchise, set to released this summer, that has yet to be rated, in the theater upon it's release...if only to see if they were able to incorporate any of my astute constructive criticism into the finished product...which I highly doubt.
