The Grey

Liam Neeson's face is all the marketing department needs to sell this movie. Maybe it's because I sat in the front row, but I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. People seem to really like this movie.


Aint It Cool News

CHUD and CHUD

Roger Ebert

Badass Digest

And I guess it does deliver on its promise. Liam Neeson and seven other plane crash survivors against some wolves.

The way Joe Carnahan shoots this movie is exactly the opposite that Soderbergh did for Haywire. Quick cuts everywhere (again, super sucky in the front row). But this was surely used to help with hiding the wolves otherwise we'd have two crappy CGI wolf movies two weeks in a row (anyone going to see Underworld?).

There are some interesting notions that are more cliff's notes of character arc than actual characters in the movie. But I give it points for not just trotting out in the snow without knowing who these guys are. And the deaths (FYI they don't all make it...) are unique enough to stave off boredom.

But I have two big issues. And I'm not about to rent a nature documentary on wolves to find out. There are way too many wolves. The men jump from one side of a cliff to another to escape wolves and there are more wolves there immediately. Really? And secondly, beware the marketing campaign. If you've seen the trailer, then they're trying to trick you into thinking the best part of the movie is something it's not. Well played Marketing Dept., well played.

Did you enjoy it?
It delivered what it promised.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Maybe in the back row to get a contrast to what I saw in the front row.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No. I have to rent that wolf documentary first.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Eh.