Aurora

I purchased this on DVD cheap for a laugh. There was a small amount of special effects at the begining, the rest was desert scenes, with skylines that look suspiciously like they were altered using Bryce. But that isn't the point. The special effects are almost non existant, so they don't get in the way of the film. This could easily be trekking across the Sahara as across the planet Aurora. The interactions are well thought out, the break up of authority well depicted. I give it a good rating, for an indie film it is really good.

After a malfunction, a spaceship crash lands on a desert planet called Aurora. The said planet has been selected for human colonisation on the basis that it is covered in a desert, has extreme temperatures, has no drinkable water and is inhospitable for human colonisation. But apart from this it is an excellent choice. The surviving men then embark on a trek across the hostile terrain. Along the way they argue a bit. And drink some water. And that's it. That is all that happens. Additional highlights include tent scenes, dramatic posing in the desert, tent scenes, a low budget electric storm, tent scenes and scenes in a tent. Recommended for insomniacs with an interest in desert camping.

Essentially a story of survival. Five men on a trek across a desert. But not, necessarily a "desert planet." They crash in or by an ocean. Plenty of water there. They have to get across a desert. Okay. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. But earth is much the same. Breathable atmosphere and desert bordering ocean. Southern California, Northern Africa present the same geography. Not a lot of a-c-t-i-o-n as it is more of a psychological story than an action one.

I gave it a four because I have been spoiled by modern special effects and glitzy production but the scenery during the desert day shots is great.

Got this film on DVD cheaply. I figured it was worth the risk of it being a bad film because even bad films have the odd redeeming feature/scene in them. No such luck with this one. I understand from other comments that it was made on a tiny budget, which explains things like the special effects, or lack of them. Even so, this movie would be better named Snore-rora. It was a real effort not to fall asleep, or press the fast forward button on the remote. I kept expecting something to happen to break the monotony of the desert walk, but it didn't. It just went on, and on, and on.

I suppose that it succeded in getting across the desperation and feeling of helplessness the characters must have felt in their seemingly interminable trek across the desert. I was certainly feeling pretty desperate and helpless by the end of it.

Avoid it all costs.

Picked this up in a two movie DVD set for a buck or so. Didn't really look promising and as I started to watch the movie I was just glad it didn't cost me more! Low budget may be an excuse, but it's not a very good one. The worst thing about this movie is the writing. I can handle slow paced movies, but this isn't slow paced. Most of the time nothing really happens. Movies never makes me sleep, but this one came pretty close. While the idea in it self might be OK, the writing just doesn't cut it. There are not enough development of characters or plots to make this a good feature film. They just make time pass by all these pictures of the characters doing some walking some chit chat and stuff that don't add anything to the movie. With that said this movie might make a good short film.

As for special effects, really there's nothing special about them. They're bad. To be honest, they could have and should have cut the storm thing part from the script. As said before, it don't give the movie anything, it offers no challenge to the characters it's just there to look good. And it don't.

Cinematography, however is one of the best things about this movie. It's all over good, with some enjoyable shots. However, the lightning could've been better, especially at night. It looks cheep.

Production design, sets, locations and costumes also need some credit. It's not that bad. Rather nice actually compared other things.

The acting is OK. For a low budget movie they got OK actors. They say their lines loud and clear, but thats about it. Then again with lack of characters and action what else is there for them to do. Never the less a little more acting wouldn't hurt.

All in all this is not the movie you want to spend any kind of money or time on. This is a movie far down on you watch list.