Kevin's Watch

I've been sick lately so I had a chance to dig out a few older films to watch. I have a vhs version of Wing Commander so I gave it another shot. I'm not a fan of the games so I'm speaking strictly about the film. There is a lot to like here but for some reason there was also some kind of fundamental failure with the execution, direction of the film. The actors selected for each role are fine (in some cases not great but nothing horrible). After watching it recently and after a few years since the last time, there are a few issues that strike me nearly senseless. First of all the direction is a bit clumsy which leads to some real problems with establishing the setting, mood and overall environment (though after having viewed the film a few times now I seem to get what's going on). Many of the exterior shots are brief and from odd angles. This is supposed to be an epic Sci Fi space adventure. There are no panoramic shots, like what you'd expect from a Lucas film, that demonstrate awesome wonder. I did like the capital ships design, many ideas taken directly from modern aircraft carriers. I'm not sure why you need storm doors on a space ship but I'm just being picky. The mythology of the Pilgrims is pretty cool, if a bit convoluted, and the prejudices applied to them do seem authentic in the context of the story but for some reason it seems forced.
I guess my gripe is that WC could have been genuinely epic. Its like cutting down a sapling before it can grow into a mighty, majestic oak. Perhaps it was the budget. Perhaps it was the director. Perhaps I’m full of crap and the story really wasn't worth telling and I'm just a hopeless fan of all space sagas no matter what form they take. Just seems a shame, a missed opportunity.

A friend and I went to see it in the theater primarily because The Phantom Menace trailer was shown before it. We thought the film was so horrible we walked out after about 20 minutes.

Yeah, Cail. The first 20 minutes didn't do much to keep people in their seats.

Oh. It also occured to me that the Kilrathi seemed amazingly easy to kill, especially in person. The creature effects were terrible as well. BTW.

It's a shame too, 'cause I like shoot-'em-up sci/fi.