Life on Mars

Sofia Boutella is a fantastic actor, and this movie is full of wonderful landscapes, paired with great sound design. It's everything else that is the problem.

The story feels trite, with little importance on dialogue. Remy (young and old) and Jerry are just... boring. Very unfulfilling to watch as an audience member. The scenic design of the home is... boring and ugly. Genuinely looks like they ran out of money.

The vfx artists did a great job on the landscapes and the robot, and the ending before the epilogue is the only good part after the first 30 min (but the scene itself is really well done, with great acting from Remy).

Overall this movie felt like a first draft. Clearly could've been better with more time and money.

Like what the headline title said, Settlers is a lame, underwhelming, and overall pretty disappointing Sci-fi flick due to a derivative predictable plot, mediocre performances, really slow clunky pacing that drags on way too long, a nothing score, weak direction, and overall poor execution. The few redeeming qualities this movie has going for include good cinematography, surprisingly solid production values, and despite the poor execution the movie's premise seems interesting.

Movie started off fine, but around 25-30 minutes in it got real stale fast. Not recommended.

Ilsa (Sofia Boutella), Reza (Jonny Lee Miller), and their daughter Remmy (Brooklynn Prince) are living in a remote settlement by themselves. They are attacked by a group led by Jerry (Ismael Cruz Córdova).

The movie doesn't do a lot of expositions or clarity. It doesn't do flashy things. It's lowkey serious tone and the deliberately stripped down story telling leave the movie feeling a bit empty. There are lots of missed opportunity. It hints at a dangerous world outside. It would have been great to have the characters run around in it.

My review.

Yes at the beginning it is boring with some average boring family drama.

It starts with the little girl being told that the planet she saw was Earth.

Then it picks up later. And suspense are added, making you want to know more.

A few plot twists here and there. Protip: don't watch the trailer.

The breathable air is explained halfway.

As to the gravity? I cannot explain that to you.

Makes me wonder if it's a prequel to the Star Wars: A New Hope.

I agree with the rating of 6.4.

Worth watching if you are not too easily bored. Patience has it's merits.

Got problem with gravity? You can take it up to those who made "The Martian".

...to appreciate this film, and even then it could be better.

Mars does have water, btw, and a breathable atmosphere could be produced through various processes. The huge dome for just one farm is a bit of a stretch.

But this isn't really about Mars, and the sci-fi elements are mainly window dressing.

Many questions are raised, but answers are scant and no more than hints. If you can be patient with that, it tells an interesting story about human nature and desperation, but it is a rather grey and grim story with nothing uplifting.

That, in the end, is why I don't give it more than 5 stars, despite good performances and accomplishing a lot on a limited budget. It's very dystopian, in the most depressing sense.