When MONSTERS released in 2010 it was an original look at the concept of alien invasion. It was applauded and it was good. Years after a NASA probe crashed between US and Mexico military forces battled against giant alien creatures that were more like giant alien cows than anything threatening. Two people had to get through this alien ensconced military zone and this was their story. 2014 comes along and first time feature director Tom Green (not the comedian actor) is given the helm to direct the sequel, MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT. It is OUT NOW from Madman Films on both DVD, Blu Ray and download (iTunes, Google Play etc). The best news for you is that the peeps at Playmaker Digital have given us 5x copies on Blu Ray plus a bonus 5x t-shirts to giveaway to celebrate its release on July 1. Find out how to win after my review below, if you miss out you can also buy it HERE. Rock on…….JK.

 

 

BY JASON KING

The first MONSTERS was directed by newcomer Gareth Edwards, he did so well and was so original in his film they gave him the GODZILLA movie, after that they should have shot him, but for some reason people enjoyed the Godzilla atrocity and not only gave him a sequel for GODZILLA to work on but the stand alone STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY: ROGUE ONE that will release in 2017. Good for him. Director for MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT, Tom Green, also went original with his MONSTERS instalment, so original that I have no idea why the monsters are even in it? They are inconsequential and part of life in the background of a war movie.

Do not get me wrong, they look amazing and the movie has some incredible production values – it looks amazing like a typical A-grade big budget work of wonder but it just fails fails fails.

 

 

The importance of aliens really has a backseat, in fact forget there are even aliens in the movie, consider them like monkeys on the tree of a jungle the military dudes pass while fighting their Middle Eastern battle and embracing the entire US of fucking A fighting in the Middle East – so tiring. But while a shite alien movie I do have to say it was an enjoyable war movie. The lead boys are all from the same hood in Detroit (I think) and they are all so well bonded, so green and entering into something that is way over their heads. They are pretty much doomed from the start #spoiler haha. But while a little too OTT jock styled I enjoyed the acting of the guys, I had little chance to empathise with them while I spent to much time confused at the lack of aliens in the plot. Why the war could not have been US troops WORKING WITH Middle Eastern troops to unite forces and be the one planet we should be while trying to eradicate the aliens from the planet all this movie goes to highlight is that we are all a bunch of idiots on earth and the true hostile force that deserves eradication. Give the planet to the aliens – they deserve it more.

 

 

I will give the movie credit for its opening sequence, its cinematography and the pacing – all big ticks. The action is endless and the movie has little breathing space while the guys go from one shit fight, about to be killed scene, to the next. And the cinematography from Christopher Ross (BLACK SEA) is epic and lifts the film out of a total waste of time.

The acting is impressive, considering not one of them is known I would happily watch their performances in other movies, they were all incredibly believable in their grief, frustration and dire circumstances. I never even recognised Joe Dempsie as Frankie – I just loved him in SKINS. Keep your eye out for Sam Keeley, he is just gorgeous, talented and has a lot of stuff in the works, most notably alongside Chris Hemsworth in IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, out later in the year (the Moby Dick movie). Special mention to Johnny Harris as Noah, he was the crazy military through and through leader and if the screenplay had gotten some more work his character would have been way more at the fore.

 

 

Following on from the first movie this movie had so much potential but the screenplay was lacking, any thought on the actual plot was missing and it should have been a standalone war movie or an alien movie where the US of A worked with the Middle Eastern Forces. As soon as we remove our heads from our asses, both sides here, and realise we truly are one species on this planet and do everything we can to respect and appreciate this then as a planet of idiots we are doomed.

The movie is not hideous but it fails on many levels – make up your own mind, enter to win or buy it and view yourself. OUT NOW on Blu Ray, DVD and download.

 

 

With special thanks to Madman Films and Playmaker Digital to win one of the 5X BLU RAYs & T-Shirt from MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT you need to either like and share/ retweet this post on Facebook/Twitter/ Google+/ Pinterest/ LinkedIn/ Flipboard or Instagram (all the links to follow us are on the top right of homepage), you then need to leave a comment below stating the answer/s to the following questions:

What is your favourite alien invasion movie and why? I am still undecided – WAR OF THE WORLDS, INDEPENDENCE DAY, BATTLESHIP, EDGE OF TOMORROW so many to choose from – this needs some pondering!!

If you do not have social media then get with the times – you can still enter, leave your entry below and email me at jking@saltypopcorn.com.au telling me you don’t have social media (you still need to enter on the website).

Prizes will no longer be awarded to first in first served. It will now be a game of skill and selected purely on the thoughts of the judges, said judges being the Salty Kernels.

The prizes will be sent after July 15th! Good luck! Oh, and minor housekeeping – huge apologies for overseas readers, this competition is only available to Australian residents.