Spectral

Wenn ich während der ersten zwei Filmdrittel nicht unnötigerweise gegen den Schlaf hätte ankämpfen müssen und erst zur letzten halben Stunde aufgewacht wäre, würde ich auch jetzt noch glauben, dass Spectral ein solider Sci-Fi-Movie, der mit seiner fantasievollen Lösung einer Aktion an eine erfolgreiche Videospielanpassung erinnert. Den paranornalen Streifen Black Hawk Down habe ich leider auch gesehen, so dass mir selbst das kleinste bisschen an schauspielerischem Können aus dem Jenseits oder an drehbuchtechnischem Ektoplasma nicht entgangen ist. Schade, Mathieu bringt aus den Werbespots ein Gespür effektreiche visuelle Aspekte mit und die Production values sind für eine "straight to VOD“ ganz passabel. Vielleicht sieht aber auch Budapest zu Orbáns Zeiten noch schlechter aus, als es mir in Erinnerung geblieben ist. (21.01.2017)

A pure-blooded military sci-fi flick shot in Hungary and Slovakia for a few beads. The visual aspect is first-class. The Bose-Einstein condensate is an explanation just within the bounds of credibility, which I am willing to accept in films likes this. Badge Dale is solid up to the point when he begins building a plasma gun out of junk, then his credibility just flies out of the window. The action scenes, especially the climax and the extraction scene in the square, are truly well done (and the Tatra 603s were good to see). A pleasant surprise. (09.03.2020)

Netflix seems to thrive on releasing such nifty looking B movies. Last time they surprised with The Siege of Jadotville and now we have "Call of Duty" with ghosts. The soldiers are natural and the main character is likeable. At first they have no chance against the ghosts and they get a decent ass beating, the idea of how to take them on makes sense too. The ghosts look fine and are definitely dangerous. The action is solid and looks stylish. I had a good time, good stuff! 75% (14.12.2016)

A very decent action flick, unfortunately consisting of two parts of different quality. While at the beginning it seems like properly fast-paced action sci-fi, which doesn’t look bad, in the second half they will give you some dumb explanations and the worst comes when they start to arm themselves against those invisible killers. That would put MacGyver to shame. But since there aren’t many action science flicks of comparable quality, I won’t complain and I humbly thank Netflix for this movie, together with a lot of other sci-fi flicks. (05.05.2020)

In order to be fully satisfied, it would have needed better supervision and a more capable implementer who can see beyond the minute horizon of a TV commercial. That Netflix doesn't let a vigorous dramaturgist and an agile editor out of the cage is thus worth considering. I'm a little sad that I can’t give it at least 60%, but the more the runtime moves toward two hours, the more I was gnawing at my remote with boredom. (16.12.2016)