Aurora

While I understand this was a low budget, independent film, it could have been better. The plot and dialogue served more to get from one end of the film to the other, rather than to engage the viewer into willing these people on. There was a feeling of inevitability rather than tension throughout.

Most serious, in my eyes, was my inability to suspend disbelief. I find it impossible to imagine that five trained and, supposedly, intelligent people would attempt to walk 400 miles in the blazing daytime sun, rather than the cool of night.

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.

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.

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.

Very few films I have ever seen have left me semi-conscious by the end. It really was that much of a struggle to stay awake & watch this drivel.

Usually even a really bad film will have some entertaining feature, like really hammy acting or an insane plot.

This film has nothing to redeem it whatsoever. The acting is awful, the plot completely pointless and the special effects are at least 20 years out of date. By the end I was just wishing that it would be over, but even this is drawn out, at only 87 minutes it's not one of the longest films in the world, yet the makers still found the need to pad it out with pointlessly long, lingering shots that do nothing whatsoever to improve the film.

This story could have easily been told in a 45 minute short film.

If you're considering watching this film then save yourself the time & effort to stay awake.