Spring Break
Movie Review: 10,000 BC
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: The Edge
Roland Emmerich, the man behind the epic films "Independence Day" and "The Day After Tomorrow," brings us yet another epic film with "10,000 B.C."
The movie's storyline focuses on a young mammoth hunter named D'Leh (Steven Strait), who sets out on a mission to save his tribe and the woman he loves, Evolet (Camille Bell), who have all been kidnapped. The kidnapped tribes are used as slaves helping to build pyramids. D'Leh, as well as few other men from his tribe, subsequently set out to try and free those enslaved.
Where the story really loses the audience is in the factual errors it presents. There is a scene in a forest where the men are attacked by "terror birds," and while these animals did exist, they did not live at the location in which the film is set. Another error was the saber-toothed tigers that were also not from the area yet appeared in the film. Also, the film depicts mammoths being a primary source for the building of the pyramids, which I also found to be an inaccuracy.
Another thing you realize while watching this film is that they must have had amazing dentistry back in this time. Every character had extremely white, straight teeth. I would expect that back in 10,000 B.C., dentistry was not a top profession. Along with this observation, little things you notice about the film is how well groomed some people are, as well as how fast the weather and landscape change throughout the journey. It makes you stop and think and takes away from the believability of the film.
However, the film did have its good points. The cast of the film is basically unknown. You might watch and say "Hey, I saw that guy as a terrorist in an Arnold Schwarzenegger film," but besides actress Camille Bell, they aren't recognizable. This may deter some people from a movie-going experience, but I feel it helps, because not knowing an actor makes the character he is portraying seem much more realistic.
The film is also full of great action sequences. It makes the movie more enjoyable in the sense that without the action, the film would have been completely dull.
Overall, I would have to say the film is way ahead of its time. Some inaccuracies in time and witty observation take away from what could have otherwise been a decent action flick.
- Ben Van Wyhe
edge staff
The movie's storyline focuses on a young mammoth hunter named D'Leh (Steven Strait), who sets out on a mission to save his tribe and the woman he loves, Evolet (Camille Bell), who have all been kidnapped. The kidnapped tribes are used as slaves helping to build pyramids. D'Leh, as well as few other men from his tribe, subsequently set out to try and free those enslaved.
Where the story really loses the audience is in the factual errors it presents. There is a scene in a forest where the men are attacked by "terror birds," and while these animals did exist, they did not live at the location in which the film is set. Another error was the saber-toothed tigers that were also not from the area yet appeared in the film. Also, the film depicts mammoths being a primary source for the building of the pyramids, which I also found to be an inaccuracy.
Another thing you realize while watching this film is that they must have had amazing dentistry back in this time. Every character had extremely white, straight teeth. I would expect that back in 10,000 B.C., dentistry was not a top profession. Along with this observation, little things you notice about the film is how well groomed some people are, as well as how fast the weather and landscape change throughout the journey. It makes you stop and think and takes away from the believability of the film.
However, the film did have its good points. The cast of the film is basically unknown. You might watch and say "Hey, I saw that guy as a terrorist in an Arnold Schwarzenegger film," but besides actress Camille Bell, they aren't recognizable. This may deter some people from a movie-going experience, but I feel it helps, because not knowing an actor makes the character he is portraying seem much more realistic.
The film is also full of great action sequences. It makes the movie more enjoyable in the sense that without the action, the film would have been completely dull.
Overall, I would have to say the film is way ahead of its time. Some inaccuracies in time and witty observation take away from what could have otherwise been a decent action flick.
- Ben Van Wyhe
edge staff
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