Wing Commander

Given that it’s based on a video game, the somewhat clichéd plot, progressing exactly in such a style, can be tolerated – the action-packed intro, action sequences interspersed with action-packed prologues full of action-pathetic speeches about Earth's last hope, and the final "action" outro. However, what cannot be tolerated is that the very form also stems from this foundation, as the somewhat successful visual effects quickly make one forget the cheap B-movie quality, except for the ending, where the flashy colors are even worse than twenty years ago. Diplomatically speaking, it borrows, or rather, is "overly inspired" by other works. However, this inspiration from other sci-fi films is still digestible, the strangest part being the actual warfare between the massive spaceships. Whether director Chris Roberts intended it or not, this mutual barrage of details mirrors all submarine movies to the last detail, which is also evident in the "shaky" camera work by Thierry Arbogast and the visual design of the interiors of the spacecraft, including the red lights, burning engine rooms, and the tense, silent crew. Adding such illogicalities as the absence of protective shields on the vessels, the quite uncontrolled drinking of whiskey, or the behavior of the individual characters as negative aspects, the result is more than pathetic. And because the film takes itself deadly seriously and cracks jokes about as often as a gloomy Englishman, my review will be exactly what the film deserves. (08/21/2005)