This is what I would call a promising manuscript still in the condition to be molded into something good, that unfortunately turned into half hearted muck. What could have been, `just ain't!' So I'd love to direct this film, and here's a few things I would have changed.
The acting is done with way too much bravado. Was the direction `act like you're all priests?' Very Shakesperian, but not at all suited for the Silver Screen. Maybe this could have been solved on a very early stage in the magical process called casting. Alright, I'll give the actors credit for being professionals (as in doing it for money), but great acting doesn't come by it self. It has to be inspired - most likely from someone or something; usually the director or the manuscript - or a large paycheck. So this would have to be mended; possibly by toning down the sneering and illusions of grandeur.
Then there are simple things like military uniforms that look completely ridiculous (red pyjamas, need I say more?). Well, I'd certainly change that to something better suited for real combat. After all, soldiers of today don't march on line into combat. They sneak trough grass, jungles and puddles of mud and water, and thus need something else than glossy parade uniforms.
Alright, I know the battles of the Armageddon are supposed to be chaotic, but in this film every fight scene defies what most people know about simple logical behaviour during a conflict. Even though most people haven't been to the army, they know from watching the daily news that military conflicts just aren't fought the way this film wants us to think. There was talk of some tactical maneuvering in the film, but I certainly never saw it. The only thing I did see was a lot of uninspired shooting in all directions, and it went on and on and on. There's simply no development. All the excitement of a raging battle is gone. It's not seeing hundreds of explosions that thrill, but someone trying to break trough, and maybe failing - or someone trying to get into position for a good shot, and making it or not. That's exciting! Not mindless shooting followed by even more mindless explosions.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD: Then there are the small things like the President of the USA personally going into battle. The word I'm now looking for begins with an 'r' and end with 'idiculous!' However, there was one particular air war scene that caught my eye in which they fly over the battlefield and down with a jet. It's all glorious CGI of course, and the only combat scene I'd keep. Just about the only cool scene in the entire film, so it's worth a meriting mention.
OK, I can live with that the Devil corrupts the EU, and thus come into conflict with the USA. Though it would have been a far more interesting film with the USA as the Evil Empire. I mean, how's that for a nice twist! In fact I think that's far more likely, since the EU largely drowns in its own bureaucracy, while the USA is largely lead by one single man. It's also very interesting in the perspective that the world mostly knows the USA to be a bastion of democracy and good (of course disregarding the Vietnam war, The Iran/Contras scandal, Watergate, the death penalty, racial segregation until the 60's and not to mention Bill Clinton's marital vows).
Unfortunately there is sort of an unwritten rule that you can't criticise the American government in a film - well, not unless you're foreign or named Oliver Stone, anyway. So maybe that's one of the things I would have to forego. There's also the question of ratings. Many hardcore patriots might fall off, and you don't want that. Then again, there are patriots of the American government, and patriots of the American way. Two slightly different things, if you ask me (the latter being the better, since governments are much easier to corrupt).
POSSIBLE SPOILER: Further more, all the mayhem suddenly stops as an act of God dawns on the battle. It sort of works like the proverbial cavalry coming to the rescue of mankind. It's all very biblical, but it completely robs the victory from the films true hero - especially since there is given no presupposition to this event. It simply happens, without any apparent cause. Yes yes, God's our only true hero and all that, but it's simply not who the film calls us to relate to. There would have to be a different solution in where our hero wins with God by his side, instead of this great wonder. Or there could be a condition our hero had to meet in order to make this wonder happen, but there is simply no such thing in this film. I mean, what's the point of fighting so hard to win, if God's going to come to the rescue with a big wonder of all wonders anyway?
I would also tone down the childhood of The Dark Ruler, 'cause we all know he's bad, don't we? There's no need to waste time telling it in so many details, all though the `torching the baby scene' was quite cool. There's simply too much talk in the beginning. If I wanted to see a play, I'd go to the theatre. Get on with it! Further more, the Devil without disguise looks like my uncle Bark. Ugly, but not scary. I would be looking for someone more like the Balrog of LOTR for this role.
There are of course many more things to pick on, but this will have to do for now. So if I got the chance to make this film, I would not only do it better, but I'd even do it with a smaller budget. Because only a few small steps would have made this film much better. It's just sad it turned out so bad.
The acting is done with way too much bravado. Was the direction `act like you're all priests?' Very Shakesperian, but not at all suited for the Silver Screen. Maybe this could have been solved on a very early stage in the magical process called casting. Alright, I'll give the actors credit for being professionals (as in doing it for money), but great acting doesn't come by it self. It has to be inspired - most likely from someone or something; usually the director or the manuscript - or a large paycheck. So this would have to be mended; possibly by toning down the sneering and illusions of grandeur.
Then there are simple things like military uniforms that look completely ridiculous (red pyjamas, need I say more?). Well, I'd certainly change that to something better suited for real combat. After all, soldiers of today don't march on line into combat. They sneak trough grass, jungles and puddles of mud and water, and thus need something else than glossy parade uniforms.
Alright, I know the battles of the Armageddon are supposed to be chaotic, but in this film every fight scene defies what most people know about simple logical behaviour during a conflict. Even though most people haven't been to the army, they know from watching the daily news that military conflicts just aren't fought the way this film wants us to think. There was talk of some tactical maneuvering in the film, but I certainly never saw it. The only thing I did see was a lot of uninspired shooting in all directions, and it went on and on and on. There's simply no development. All the excitement of a raging battle is gone. It's not seeing hundreds of explosions that thrill, but someone trying to break trough, and maybe failing - or someone trying to get into position for a good shot, and making it or not. That's exciting! Not mindless shooting followed by even more mindless explosions.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD: Then there are the small things like the President of the USA personally going into battle. The word I'm now looking for begins with an 'r' and end with 'idiculous!' However, there was one particular air war scene that caught my eye in which they fly over the battlefield and down with a jet. It's all glorious CGI of course, and the only combat scene I'd keep. Just about the only cool scene in the entire film, so it's worth a meriting mention.
OK, I can live with that the Devil corrupts the EU, and thus come into conflict with the USA. Though it would have been a far more interesting film with the USA as the Evil Empire. I mean, how's that for a nice twist! In fact I think that's far more likely, since the EU largely drowns in its own bureaucracy, while the USA is largely lead by one single man. It's also very interesting in the perspective that the world mostly knows the USA to be a bastion of democracy and good (of course disregarding the Vietnam war, The Iran/Contras scandal, Watergate, the death penalty, racial segregation until the 60's and not to mention Bill Clinton's marital vows).
Unfortunately there is sort of an unwritten rule that you can't criticise the American government in a film - well, not unless you're foreign or named Oliver Stone, anyway. So maybe that's one of the things I would have to forego. There's also the question of ratings. Many hardcore patriots might fall off, and you don't want that. Then again, there are patriots of the American government, and patriots of the American way. Two slightly different things, if you ask me (the latter being the better, since governments are much easier to corrupt).
POSSIBLE SPOILER: Further more, all the mayhem suddenly stops as an act of God dawns on the battle. It sort of works like the proverbial cavalry coming to the rescue of mankind. It's all very biblical, but it completely robs the victory from the films true hero - especially since there is given no presupposition to this event. It simply happens, without any apparent cause. Yes yes, God's our only true hero and all that, but it's simply not who the film calls us to relate to. There would have to be a different solution in where our hero wins with God by his side, instead of this great wonder. Or there could be a condition our hero had to meet in order to make this wonder happen, but there is simply no such thing in this film. I mean, what's the point of fighting so hard to win, if God's going to come to the rescue with a big wonder of all wonders anyway?
I would also tone down the childhood of The Dark Ruler, 'cause we all know he's bad, don't we? There's no need to waste time telling it in so many details, all though the `torching the baby scene' was quite cool. There's simply too much talk in the beginning. If I wanted to see a play, I'd go to the theatre. Get on with it! Further more, the Devil without disguise looks like my uncle Bark. Ugly, but not scary. I would be looking for someone more like the Balrog of LOTR for this role.
There are of course many more things to pick on, but this will have to do for now. So if I got the chance to make this film, I would not only do it better, but I'd even do it with a smaller budget. Because only a few small steps would have made this film much better. It's just sad it turned out so bad.