StunnaKrypto
Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.
Cleveronix
A different way of telling a story
Doomtomylo
a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
ladybug2535
I have to say that I raised my rating when I found out what the budget had been on this film. I'm amazed that they were able to pull together what they did on that kind of money. And that kind of time. The problem is: This isn't porn people; you actually need a coherent film for an audience to appreciate the effort.I disagree with some reviewers' points and agree with others: I actually viewed this film twice; the first time I was sleepy and thought I'd just dozed off for parts of the film, but I was wrong. It really was as disjointed as I remembered. I think the biggest problems in this movie are due to bad editing which affects the continuity, the flow of the story, and the viewer's understanding of the film. This certainly could have been a result of having such a short budget. One bad shot could throw everything off if they don't have the budget to shoot it again. Then you have to choose: keep in the bad shots? Or have holes in the story? Both? Budgeting issues explains a lot of the problems with this movie. Equipment and professional film is expensive. And you're making a film that needs a lot of special affects which will shoot huge holes in any movie budget, plus you're shooting outside meaning you have to deal with the weather, let's give them an "A" for effort. It was a good idea. A "D" for editing. How about extra credit for finishing the film at all? Caution Spoilers: I think the biggest problem with the film was lack of continuity and coherence between scenes. This is the reason there is so much confusion about the story and leads to many of the complaints. For example, Sinbad's female sidekick is apparently murdered--it's only implied, and only vaguely so, but there doesn't seem to be any mention of what actually happened to her, and no real reaction to her loss (or disappearance). There is one mention of her dying later on, but they never say what happened to her. When did they even find her? Did they go back to that spot?? What happened filmmakers? Did you run out of film? Audiences like coherent reasonably linear story lines. You can't just have characters--especially someone that was supposed to mean a lot to the Hero, just disappear without any coherent reaction or reason.I thought the script was actually pretty good and they did try to fit in Sinbad's 7 traditional tasks in a modern setting which showed imagination. Criticisms in this regard are misguided. Again, I think the holes were due more to bad editing than the script. Or someone wasn't paying any attention to the continuity of the story. You can tell the story visually; audiences still need to be shown one way or the other. Verbally or visually. They were very bad about explaining the setup, which confused viewers.Even watching it twice I was confused about his tasks and what the heck they had to do with the ship on the bottom of the ocean. Yes, I got that it was threatening to leak and the sea monster was mad about that--but the sea monster sank the boat! They never explain that, or even offer a theory. And I never got just what his business partner had to do with the pirates. Why did he set the ship up? Holes.But this part bugs me, and this is an issue with the storyline. Maybe with the script. Why the heck would they need special alien rocks to fire up the hot air balloon? There was plenty of fuel on that island. Yet that was supposedly the only way to get off the island. These aspects of the story simply made no sense. In this aspect, the script fell down--or are we simply missing scenes that filled us in? But there was some well-done dialog, and many parts of the film that worked well. It was just very uneven.The special effects certainly showed the restraints of their budget, but I thought the sea creature--a giant squid-like thing (not a crab), was pretty good. As was the crab on land. The sirens looked more like Zombies--and their makeup was unevenly applied, again pointing up a lack of continuity and consistency, and I don't even remember the Cyclops! I liked the lava demon; I thought that was one of the best effects. The water spout type things were interesting, but they left me confused. Was that from the squid? Was he a god or something? And I still don't get why HE sank the boat and then freaked out about the oil.I think the best part of the film was the relationships, that's where the film was strongest. Of particular note was the explanation of the girl being on the island, and her sad relationship (or lack of) with her crazy father. I thought that part was interesting as was the way he controlled the men on the island. As cultic and nuts as that seems it unfortunately has some precedence in real life. Though it seems that the Somalian pirates succumbed way too quickly---just what was in that water? Or did the sirens do that? I'm not dumb, and I saw this film twice. So if I can't figure this out you know there's a problem. Or did I just doze off--again? Where did that scene go?
andris bikses
This is really great movie. people just don't understand what asylum is trying to tell them. the movies isn't about special effects. its about the messages you need to find in these movies. actually, the effects weren't so bad. i laughed and i cried. i think it can conquer with shaw shank redemption. you just need to watch it. OK maybe i am going crazy. but you just need to watch it. i swear you will like it. don't believe these liars that are mocking asylum films. you need to find your heart in these movies. i cant wait for the next asylum film. one day asylum films are going to be like fox or warner and you all will cry. i promise, you will not be disappointed.
Chris Mackey (guestar57)
Starring: Patrick Muldoon,Bo Svenson and Sarah Desage. Maybe the BEST of The Asylum,Or are they becoming better filmmakers or Am I drinking more ??? Muldoon does Sinbad (not the comedian,shh) well,But you would think the umpteeenth Grandson would still have that trademarked beard. Svenson does hve some good scenes and finish,hint-hint. The show stealer is Sarah Desage,Who steals all critics hearts ? So,OF COURSE,She is married to director. Creatures are really good,Crab-Whale-Cyclops-Flying serpents and we even starting cheering the re-acurring creature-SQUID ! Plot concerns a Tanker,Oil Spillage,Umm
Too current ya ask us ! BP, you suck barrels.
joemorph
SYNOPSIS: In this modern day retelling of the Sinbad myth, Adrian Sinbad is a billionaire oil shipping magnate, the headstrong descendant of a long line of great mariners. When his flagship oil tanker is hijacked by Somalian pirates, Sinbad rushes to the rescue. But the tanker is pulled underwater by a giant squid, and sinks into a deep sea crater where a supernatural being of terrible power resides. Meanwhile Sinbad's helicopter is struck by lightning in a storm, and crashes into the sea.Sinbad comes to on a strange tropical island, and is immediately attacked by a monstrous crab three times his size. Narrowly escaping, Sinbad bands together with a ragged group of survivors: the helicopter pilot, his fetching science officer, the bitter tanker captain and the Somalian pirate leader (these last two, mortal enemies). But when he meets Loa, a beautiful jungle warrior, she shows him cave paintings which foretell the end of mankind. Sinbad must complete seven ordeals, or the world will be destroyed by Elmec Ishu, the supernatural being enraged by the sunken tanker. (Though the tanker hasn't yet spilled its full 130 million gallons of oil into the sea).A sudden earthquake strikes - and Sinbad and the group are plunged into the ocean, only to discover that the island is actually the back of a giant whale (as per the original mythology). But they're not in the water long before pterodactyls swoop down and carry them away to feed to their babies.They next encounter a cyclops, seductive sirens, and a bloodthirsty cult led by Loa's insane father (a la Apocalypse Now, in one of the best sequences of the movie). The group dies off one by one, while romance blossoms between Sinbad and Loa. Meanwhile, back on the mainland, the world is shaken by earthquakes and tsunamis; Emlec Ishu is increasingly angry about the tanker parked in its living room. Sinbad descends into a volcano in search of otherworldly crystals which hold the key to escaping the island. Nearly killed by a towering lava demon, he and Loa manage to flee with the crystals - which release superheated gas when water touches them - and finally get off the island, by means of an old hot air balloon.Returning to civilization, Sinbad's final ordeal is to somehow raise the tanker and thus avert the coming apocalypse. Setting out on a suicide mission, Sinbad and Loa pilot a small submarine four miles underwater to the tanker. But en route, the first of the tanker's bulkheads finally ruptures - spilling 450,000 gallons of oil - and causing Elmec Ishu to unleash his full wrath on humanity, in the form of armies of strange waterspouts which destroy everything in their path.Meanwhile, the sub is chased down and captured by the giant squid. But using the sub's external nozzle, Sinbad vacuums up several oil bubbles in the water outside, thus convincing the intelligent squid to release them. Sinbad and Loa reach the tanker, and start to drill into the seabed below it, where a seam of the otherworldly crystals is buried. As the waterspouts make landfall, and with the sub's power and air reserves nearing zero, the drill punches through and floods the crystals with sea water. Gas geysers erupt from the sea-floor, filling the tanker with air, causing it to rise to the surface. The world is saved, but Sinbad and Loa are dying, out of air four miles underwater. Until Elmec Ishu appears, and summons the giant squid back, to carry the sub to the surface.REVIEW:I thought this movie had a lot going for it. There's moments of ingenuity, and real wit - Sinbad's reaction to the crab battle is kind of priceless. Biggest criticism: visual effects. As some of the other posters have mentioned they are not that good. The cyclops looks weird and roided out, and the squid only has six tentacles?!? Also not enough was made of the lava demon; it's a potentially cool creature but I wanted a lot more out of the scene.But let's put this in context. The budget for the movie is listed at $500k. Are you kidding?!?! What the filmmakers did for that amount is astonishing; there are probably hundreds of visual effects shots, which cost tons of money, so how did they do it?!Also I know for a fact that Asylum movies are shot on a very short schedule of around 2 weeks. So to even compare a movie shot in 2 weeks for $500k, with today's $100 million blockbusters is ridiculous. The scope and sweep of this film, the production value they got for that tiny budget, is actually quite amazing. The cinematography is beautiful, the locations are exotic, the action is non-stop.Performances are strong too. Muldoon's Sinbad has real heart and a dash of Tony Stark, and never loses touch with the humor. Bo Svenson nails it as the scheming CEO. But the biggest pleasure is Sarah Desage, who is not only smoking hot, but gives a nuanced performance as Loa. Look at the scenes between Loa and her father - it's emotionally rich work. She is someone to watch.Script and direction are solid. While this isn't what you would call a character driven piece, the two writers/directors Hayflick and Silver show a command of the dramatic and visual storytelling. The camera is fluid, editing is solid. And there are some real zingers in the dialogue. The movie definitely has a brain.So rather than hate on the filmmakers for making a movie that no, does not stack up to Avatar, I give them kudos for making an inspired, tiny budget action/adventure movie with a great spirit. It's supposed to be fun, and it is.One of the best Asylum releases to date, if not the best.