Director: Alister Grierson
Starring: Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Wakefield, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie
The One Where I “Rain Man” Over Sanctum 3D
I sent this to RR in Australia, one hour ago, I am yet to get a reply…
Dear Richard Roxburgh,
Hey, Rich… I forgive you for Van Helsing. And I never, EVER thought I would say that.
Will I ever forgive you for League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Umm… can we wait until I see the Extended Cut of Sanctum in 3D, in my own lounge?
Cheers.
Yours Sincerely,
AT.
Ps I’m one of the three people that liked MI:II
Well, on a windy Sunday evening, I wasn’t expecting that.
I really, really liked Sanctum. Really liked it.
If I think about it, I suppose I was always going too. I love The Abyss. I love 3D. I love caves. I love Richard Roxburgh.
Dive in after the jump for the full review.
Well, it’s a start. There was a moment when I first saw the trailer and my heart sank, though. I think the JC (not that one), link made me think there were aliens in it. When I realized it was just a survival film, my heart sank a bit. Maybe it’s me longing for The Abyss on Bluey, or maybe it’s the JAMES CAMERON PRESENTS! Being plastered everywhere on the posters. Either way, I was left wanting.
I am happy to be proven wrong.
Essentially what we have is people stuck in a cave (a really, really big one), that need to go down, further and further, before coming back up.
What I loved about the film was that my regular cinema buddies were worried they may flip out watching it. That the tight, enclosed spaces may make them start to hit their own head, in a fashion that I like to call “Rain Man”. The fools. It’s only a film.
Well, I am happy to report, on at least three occasions, I “did” The Rain Man. I freaked out a bit.
Hair getting caught in the safety cable, tearing a bit of scalp away? (Hits own head).
Having to share oxygen, but then both freaking out, and fighting each other for air? (Hits own head three times).
How about a Cape Fear style ending, where someone who has “died” jumps back up, and goes all Max Cady? (Hits head violently, whilst shouting “Wheel. Of. Fortune”)
The film genuinely made me curl up. And it deserves credit for that, because in hindsight I was a bit blasé about the effect it may have.
I may as well get the Richy Roxburgh love in out of the way now, because I never thought I would say it. He is immense. He anchors the film, and needs too. I didn’t think any of the acting was appalling, but some of it seemed a little rough around the edges. Almost like they went with the first take because RR was so spot on, they knew it was enough. And they were partly right. Ioan Gruffudd’s accent jars a little, especially towards the end, I thought. His girlfriend is super hot, and her presence in and out of the wet suit was much needed to stop this becoming gayer than Top Gun.
The films main find is Rhys Wakefield. I’m ashamed to say, but I noticed him immediately from Home And Away. You can laugh at that all you like, it’s important for two reasons. One, it means Mrs T will watch this with out fail on Bluey. (It’s good to get her buy in, you know?) Secondly, Chris Hemsworth did OK from it, didn’t he?
He’s guiltier than anyone of some over/under acting, but when it comes to the crux, I thought he was solid.
I’m genuinely surprised to be writing this. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the film as much as I did.
The nods to Daylight, (Come on… it’s underrated, and you know it!), and Cliffhanger were welcome. One scene in particular got as close as anyone has to the start of Renny Harlin’s classic, for me. I could have done with out the scalp bit, though.
So, what of the 3D?
Well, I think they’ve been very clever, and lucky, to get JC’s name all over the posters.
You can tell, like Resi 3D (*spits on floor*), it had used the same cameras as Avatar. If I’m honest, I thought there was more scope for the 3D. But then, thinking back, I like that they didn’t take the obvious route all of the time. It’s subtle, and it certainly adds depth and more importantly, scale, to proceedings.
I’m downloading the soundtrack right now, as that has JC’s dirty, grubby 3D fingerprints all over it.
And the bit where they find the tank, all that way down? That is going to be my screen saver.
Colour me impressed.
