Doom

There was a time that I remember from my youth where movies where based on novels and perhaps the more successful Broadway musical. Now the source for modern films has been expanded to comic books, old television shows and even the more popular video game. It is this last category, video games, is the basis for the Universal flick, Doom. For those out there that remember a few more presidents than our kids, this was a game, originally released in 1993, that helped start the trend to bloody and violent video games. Basically, the game is in first person, you find and employ increasingly bigger and deadly weapons and blow to bloody bits anything that enters your view as you wander through a labyrinth of hallways. Now, over a decade later, Doom resurfaces as a big budget action thriller.

With a flick such as this plot is just the means to highlight the reason you watch this genre of film, the gory action. The year is 2026 when a portal is discovered between Earth and Mars. Twenty years later an elite Marine team, the RRTS, Rapid Response Tactical Squad, is given an assignment that would take them to the red planet. It seems that a high-tech research facility, The Olduvai Research Station, on Mars by means of the portal performed an experiment that went terribly awry. Something there has transformed the scientists and members of the staff into zombie like killers. There may be a connection to sinister Martian specimen that possesses an extra set of chromosomes. The response team is right out of the comics, particularly an old Marvel favorite, Sergeant Fury and the Howlin’ Commandoes. There is Sarge (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson), a man of few words but a lot of barked out commands and action. Along for the ride are such solider types as Jim Grimm better known as Reaper (Karl Urban) who is reunited with his kid sister, the scientist Dr. Samantha Grimm (Rosamund Pike). Reaper lives up to his surname; he is the requisite brooding mysterious member of the team. Other members of the team are known by equally colorful names such as Destroyer (DeObia Oparei), Goat (Ben Daniels) and the Kid (Al Weaver). Much of the film has the squad moving through the corridors of the facility encountering the bizarre and deadly creatures that used to be normal human beings. For fans of the various Doom video games there is an appearance of the BFG. As most will know the ‘B’ stands for big and the ‘G’ for gun. Fill in the middle initial for yourselves.

There is an inherent problem with bringing a video game to the screen. The attraction of the game is the multiple pathways the story can take. Obviously this is not possible in a theatrical released film. You have to take the journey the director wants with no decisions on the part of the viewer. With that caveat noted this film has to be taken for what it is, pure explosive action. There is a bit more plot here than many such video game inspired flicks. There is the thread of the pragmatic military going up against the idealistic scientific community. This can usually provide sufficient conflict to add some emotional expression. This was done successfully in the fifties classic ‘The Thing from another planet’ and decades later with ‘Aliens’. Here the plot line is almost obstructed by the need to blow things up. This is far darker than most action oriented films. There really is no silver lining or resolution by the time the credits roll. To be fair, the film does not promise an award winning script. It is intended to be a roller coaster ride with loud action. In that context the film meets its expectations. That’s alright, after all not every film we want to see is going to be nominated for any awards, we see them because they are fun. I was able to forget about the real world for awhile and just enjoy the ride. There are times when the action is a little too fast paced but if you are in the mood for this type of flick it works.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson seems to be genetically created for roles such as this. He is the third generation professional wrestler following in the very large and famous footsteps of his father Rocky Johnson and maternal grandfather Chief Peter Maivia. Johnson has the rugged good looks to keep the ladies in the audience interested while maintaining the testosterone driven power men just enjoy watching. Here the Rock continues to dominate the action roles that once would have gone to Stallone or Schwarzenegger. Like his screen processors The Rock has little to say but moves strongly through the film usually sans shirt. Rosamund Pike may seem a little out of place here. She is a former Bond girl (Die Another Day) and was recently in the Oscar nominated Pride & Prejudice. While there is little for her to work with here Pike manages to make an emotional connection with the audience giving a much needed rest from the blood letting. Karl Urban may have had a rather small role in the Lord of The Rings trilogy but it demonstrated a real talent. In this film he works well as the brooding Reaper especially when he is opposite Pike. The pair helps to elevate this flick above many of the genre.

Andrzej Bartkowiak is better known in Hollywood as a cinematographer than a director. His cinematographer credits include Speed, Species and Dante’s Peak. It was films like this that gave Bartkowiak a real eye for framing a scene. For a film based on a video game the camera work is excellent. At the end of the flick Bartkowiak gives a little nod to the fans of the game and employs a first person view. Like his first directorial work, Romeo Must Die, he creates a nice moody atmosphere that manages to pull the audience in. He also tries to pace the film in such a way as to expound on some of the plot elements. While this does not always work he does make more of an effort than many directors of the genre.

Universal has put some thought into the DVD presentation of this flick. The film is available in both the theatrical ‘R’ rated and an unrated version. Most will want to get the unrated variation. The video is well done with no artifacts or defects visible. The contrast is excellent especially in the many scenes in dimly lit, spooky hallways. The Dolby 5.1 audio will give a workout to all of your speakers. The front set has excellent channel separation. The rear speakers provide a natural ambience throughout the film. The sub woofer comes alive and will shake your living room. For extras there are several featurettes provided. ‘Basic Training With The Rock’ details just what training the Rock had to endure to bring his character to the screen. ‘First-Person Shooter Sequence’ gives a much extended version of the famous point of view scene with background information on the technical problems that are inherent while filming such a scene. For those not familiar with the game there is a section that offers background and strategies. If you have an X-Box you can even play Doom 3. While this is targeted for fans of the games it does make a reasonably good beer and pizza flick for a rainy afternoon.

Posted 2/1/06