After Earth

Shyamalan once again showed that he is not that bad of a director, but also that he really should not write screenplays. The story is primitive, full of dementia and clichés. Smith Jr. in the lead role is also no money-maker. This interesting topic (from Will Smith's brain) could certainly have been more than an expensive-looking and story-free sci-fi about a father-son relationship. (06/05/2013)

After Earth has basically one disadvantage, that it is relatively pathetic and quite predictable within the post-apocalyptic genre, which it down to average. Otherwise, it is a solid film in every respect, even the acting wasn’t bad. Of course, the father is better than the son, but that was expected. Visually very attractive, with interesting and atypical production design and surprisingly, it is often quite captivating. Shyamalan has kept to what he always does, Regardless of the quality of all key aspects, he is always original. (10/27/2013)

This film has a promising start. With its interesting sci-fi vision, beautiful visuals and the theme of bringing a father together with his son, who is also undergoing a process of self-realisation process, After Earth has great blockbuster potential. Despite the pleasant charm of adventurousness, however, the result is a weak storyline that fails completely in terms of both emotion and message. It is like when you know what you are supposed to be experiencing as a viewer, but it just passes you by due to its naivety and half-baked nature. To a large extent, that is actually Jaden Smith’s fault, or perhaps we should blame Shyamalan’s directing. (05/15/2019)

Two stars, because unlike The Happening, sometimes something actually happens here. It doesn't make sense, but neither does the story itself. It was as if Will was inventing it half asleep over his son's bed. But what kind of bastard tells a child a similar sectarian and emotionless story of subordination? A Scientologist? Shyamalan films some of the scenes under sedation - otherwise, he wouldn't miss how the dad and son rubberized him. The icing on the cake is a kind of eco message grafted on Moby Dick for unknown reasons. Cruel for a fairy tale, naive for a drama, lame for an action film. I hope the idiot who once called Shyamalan the new Spielberg saw this film. He should kneel and tell us how he feels. And the Indian master should retire to sniff turmeric. Which, of course, will finally happen. Judging by the effects, this is a huge $130 million fraud. (06/12/2013)

Jaden Smith is a supremely unlikeable brat who happens to have a charismatic dad who’s burying him a successful career by pushing him hard into production and acting. And the film itself? An embezzlement of a 130 million budget, though better than Shayamalan's last three flicks, but that’s nothing to be proud of. (09/18/2013)