Saving the day

After Earth (2013)
Certified: 12
Duration: 100 minutes
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, David Denman, Kristofer Hivju, Gabriel Caste, Lincoln Lewis, Chris Geere
KRS release

A thousand years into the future, Earth is desolate and empty. Humanity has fled and is colonising another planet thanks to the efforts of General Cypher Raige (Will Smith), who leads a tough unit that battles the predatory monsters known as Ursas.

The film wears its influences proudly from Dune to Star Wars

These creatures sense fear through a pheromone that humans release.

Cypher is fearless and has spent a long time away from home chasing them.

During one of these absences, Ursas attack his home, leading to the death of his daughter Senshi (Zoe Kravitz) who was trying to save her brother Kitai (Jaden Smith).

Faia (Sophie Okonedo) sees her son in shock and wants him to accompany his father on a mission, the last one before he retires. Trouble occurs and the spacecraft crash-lands on Earth.

Many problems ensue. First off, an Ursa that had been held captive on the ship escapes; Cypher is injured in the drop; and Earth becomes home to all manner of wild creatures. Kitai must learn to hold back his fear and embarks on a voyage to start off a homing beacon that should bring them help.

This is the second feature after The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) to star Smith and his son Jaden. Thankfully, Smith has kept director M. Night Shyamalan of The Sixth Sense fame on a tight leash and the result is a sci-fi adventure that also encapsulates father and son relationship elements.

After the recent Tom Cruise’s Oblivion comes another film about an Earth that has decidedly not gone awry, and we better take stock of this warning.

The science elements in the film’s basic premise may be a bit iffy such as creatures that were evolved to kill man when man has been absent from the planet for over a 1,000 years or the ice cold temperatures at night that return to normal in the day. However, these are plot mechanisms that have to be taken in one’s stride as the focus lies elsewhere. This film breathes on its action sequences and lives and dies on Jaden rather than on Will.

Jaden has a likeable enough screen persona, which had already been evident in The Karate Kid (2010). The script taken from an idea by Will is aimed to turn the spotlight on to his son. However, it helps that Jaden has the right qualities to pull it off.

The other selling point of the film is the action and its sci-fi view of the future.

The action is well choreographed and sometimes breathtaking. The cinematography, mostly shot in California, presents a lush imagery, with visuals that are clearly influenced by Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology. He had also written the acclaimed Dune.

But the connections between this film and the Church of Scientology have been taken way too far, with the theme of controlling one’s fear and the use of the volcano being tagged as making this film pro-Scientology.

The film wears its influences proudly from Dune (1984) to Star Wars in the almost jedi-like training of Kitai.

The action sequence that involves a giant eagle and a flying Jaden has to be the film’s highlight. The design and look of the blind Ursas is also impressive.

The film is solidly directed, well paced and accompanied by incredible visuals. It comes along with a message that we should take better care of this mudball we call Earth. That is good enough for me!