Attack the Block

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

It was the other alien film that came out opposite 'Cowboys and Aliens'. It seemed there was a lot rhapsodic waxing from the critics when the compared this film to 'Cowboys'

Aliens land in a poor section where the accents and slang are so thick you could cut them with a cliche. They also land on Guy Fawkes night so the explosions of their invasion just seem to be part of the background noise. It falls to a bunch of teenage hooligans that live in the Cabrini-Greene-esque housing project called 'The Block' to defend London from the invasion. Yes, some belief must be suspended. But the film makers do come up with some good story to make this go down a little easier.

It was fun. There was some really good scenes of ultra-violence. The movie starts off as a dismal look at the conditions in East London and how roving bands of young thugs on BMX bikes are committing crimes until it runs into the alien bits. Then it's a lot of running and alien killing and car chases and bike chases.

Half the fun of the film is figuring out the slang. They whip it fast and furious and it get's hard to follow. The worst offended is the white kid who thinks he's from Jamaica. It was nice when the English speakers talked just to take a break from figuring.

[Drunk Monk]

I’ve had this recommended to me by many over the years but I’ve been putting it off because I was under the misconception it was a zombie flick. It’s not. It’s a Brit stoner alien invasion flick with a two-tone reggae vibe. 

It’s Boyega’s first and surely what got him Star Wars. He wields a katana, a lightsaber precursor. It’s also an early Nick Frost where he plays what he always plays only a little less corpulent. Its also an early Jodie Whitaker and while I have yet to tune into her as the Doctor, she’s good in this. 

Luved the two-tone patois and the stoner humor. 

The alien were fuzzy bearillas with cyalume teeth. The had a low budget feel which worked well for this film. Although, they would’ve been improved with some tentacles. 

The action and pacing were good for an hour and a half. It had some nascent directorial style, and was entertaining enough with its B-grade vibe.

My only issue was with the reveal under UV lights in the grow room. UV lights are bad for growing pot. It destroys them. It pulled me straight out of the stoner humor just like the bad trip in Attack of the Mushroom People. Twas a tell - the filmmakers didn’t really know...

D00M recommended.