Moonfall

Let’s start by saying if you like Emmerich and his long list of world-killing films, you’ll like Moonfall. It’s not his greatest work, but it’s got Emmerich’s camp-stamp all over it. To be honest, the production feels like Emmerich-lite. Despite the premise, it doesn’t feel that big, cinematically. The overall story is rushed, and the human elements are sort of forced… so typical Emmerich.

Clearly, there’s a bigger story about aliens, mythology, and the true nature of the moon going on. It’s a fun discussion to have, and thankfully, rushing the story makes it palatable. The reality is we’re here to see some really cool special effects, and this has got ’em in spades. For me, the best part was the journey of the Endeavor from the launch sequence under threat of Tsunami and the occasional crash, followed by the phrase, “We don’t really need that. Right?”

“…got Emmerich’s camp-stamp all over it.”

Most of the action is CG but looks pretty good. The animation regarding the secret of the moon is pretty spectacular as well. The Nano-monster looks like the drones of the Matrix — not overly exciting. The star of the effects action is how the moon’s gravitational pull affects the weather and a simple car chase. These effects are why you see an Emmerich flick.

Independence Day set a high standard for Roland Emmerich, and Moonfall falls far short of taking it down. My biggest issue is with the human story. We don’t spend enough time on the characters’ backstories to connect with them. Once the film tries to bring emotion in, it’s cut off, and we’re thrown back to saving the world. Something interesting that you may miss is that there is zero romance. No one falls in love, let alone kisses another person. Is this a new “enlightened” trend in storytelling?

If you don’t take the story too seriously and you’re used to the Emmerich storytelling style, you’ll have fun with Moonfall. There’s a lot to groan and laugh at, unintentionally most of the time, but really, nothing should surprise you in the way it ends. See it for the effects and enjoy the ride.