Doom
for strong violence/gore and language.
Reviewed by: Bob Rossiter
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
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| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi Horror Action |
| Length: | 1 hr. 40 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2005 |
| USA Release: |
DOOM GAME REVIEWS:
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| Featuring | Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, Ben Daniels, Razaaq Adoti |
| Director |
Andrzej Bartkowiak |
| Producer | John Wells, John D. Schofield, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura |
| Distributor |
“Hell breaks loose”
When a gory, violent video game is transformed into a movie that has the tagline, “H*** breaks loose,” and the producer repeats the phrase in his synopsis, what do you expect to see at the theatre? I expect a movie like “Doom”—gory, violent, foul language-filled screen time with no real plot, and stereo-typed characters with little or no acting ability required. I will try to be as discreet as possible, but due to the nature of the film, some content of this review may not bode well with the squeamish or those who are younger (or young at heart).
The movie starts with scientists running for their lives from an unseen evil at the Olduvai Research Station on Mars. They are able to establish a level five quarantine, but now an elite team of Marines known as the Rapid Response Tactical Squad must enter the station to retrieve important scientific data. They must also kill with “extreme prejudice” to make sure this enemy doesn’t make it to Earth. The problem also has something to do with an extra pair of chromosomes found in the remains of some humanoid creatures at an archeological dig on Mars. This basically sums up what plot there is.
*SPOILER WARNING* We find toward the end of the movie that not everyone reacts the same when infected (or injected) by the extra chromosomes. What makes the difference is whether you are a good person or an evil one. Good people get superhuman powers, but wicked people turn into monsters who kill every other living person or animal. Sarge (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) gets infected, and it soon becomes obvious that he is evil. Reaper (Karl Urban) has the opposite reaction, however, when his sister, Samantha (Rosamund Pike), injects him with the chromosome syrup telling him she knows him, and that he is a good person. This leads us to the final showdown between good and evil. What the moviemakers missed is that the Bible says we are all evil. If there was a way to put this kind of gene into us, we would all turn into horrible monsters. “There is none who does good, no, not one” Romans 3:12 (NKJV). Fortunately though, we all have opportunity to choose God’s gift (Romans 6:23).
There is no way to describe all the gore found in “Doom”, and I wouldn’t want to. For those who need it, however, I’ll give a couple illustrations. One of the most minor is when we watch a woman’s arm cut off by an elevator door and it falls to the floor. One character or another is then seen carrying this appendage throughout the movie. In another scene a monster is shown swinging a soldier by his heals, hitting the soldiers head and upper body against pipes, walls and anything else solid—with bloody and gory results.
Foul language was used more than 100 times. S*** was used about 40 times, and the f* word came in a close second. God’s name was also misused about 20 times with milder obscenities making up the rest of the list.
Near the beginning, a cardboard cutout of a nude woman is seen in the background at the barracks, and a short time later Portman (Richard Brake) is telling good looking women he needs to strip search them. Nothing happens at this point, however. Later, there is a quick scan of a pile of dead bodies. One of these appears to be a woman with a fully uncovered breast.
The only positive element in “Doom” is the concern John and Samantha have for each other and the growth in their brother/sister relationship.
The writing, originality and overall movie-making quality are all poor. The influence of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Vertical Limit” and other movies is unmistakable. Most of the backgrounds were also unclear due to the darkness while filming. Character development was non-existent. This made it difficult to feel sorry that good soldiers were dying or have a triumphant feeling when the enemy was defeated. Another poorly filmed set of scenes were done in “video game mode.” All you could see was the weapon and the people or creatures being shot at, just like you were playing the game. That was a very boring 5-10 minutes.
I recommend you either save your money this weekend, or watch something else that has more of a plot and better quality. I doubt that “Doom” is a good watch for anyone.
Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Extremely Offensive / 3
Extremely Offensive / 1
-Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is …amazing!…
-Action from beginning to end, really
-That last 20 min. or so, when they switch to 1st person mode is WELL DONE and very innovative
-Storyline super close to that of “Resident Evil,” but unique in its own ways, good direction and style
-Comedy parts in the movie are pretty funny
-No cheap jumps, but real jumps (and I usually never jump in movies); it makes it seem like its going to do something, but then it won’t, and when you’re not expecting it, it will get you
-pretty cool, especially for fans of the game
So basically, if you liked “Resident Evil,” you will love this movie. The only thing res. evil had on this one, was a better soundtrack.
Good / 5
I must however admit that “Doom” is one of the few modern video games I played in college at Multnomah Bible College, and the first game I ever played with life-like blood and violence. The “Doom” video game sadly set the violent precedent we have today surrounding the whole Gen X Gamer world. “Doom” thankfully does not carry the same satanic feeling as so many games today do.
“Doom” is the story of a team of Marines (Semper Fi), led by Sarg (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) into this underground Scientific Lab called the Ark. They are sent to retrieve some information, save the lives of the survivors and eliminate what ever is killing the people in a locked down area. They soon realize that what they are fighting against is a genetically engineered super human who is in essence the next step in the evolutionary chain. Turning man into monsters with super strength, speed and healing. Once attacked, the monster has the ability to turn humans into monsters as well.
So who is the monster? Where are they hiding? Who will be killed next? And how will the team of Marines get out alive? Once they team realizes what is going on, they lock themselves into the Ark, in an attempt to quarantine the situation, not allowing the monsters to escape to the surface.
Doom is INCREDIBLY well acted and the dialogue is just very snappy and good. I was VERY surprised to see the Rock, actually be able to deliver lines like a professional actor and not a wrestler, as was his previous career. I was also very impressed with the film direction and set design. So many times, we have these movies that look downright fake. “Doom” actually looks real and has the feeling of a very good video game brought to life. I have been very critical with my reviews of video games made into movies, probably because I think that video games are a waste of time. However, “Doom” is just a true diamond in the video game movie world.
Besides the acting of the Rock, directing and set design, what really brings this movie to life is a no-named actor named Karl Urban who has played in very few hits and really has not top lined anything we have seen. He plays the perfect role as the Co Hero in this movie and has the potential as being a great supporting actor in bigger films. The rest of the cast of this movie were excellently casted and very well trained. In the list of characters on the team, you have the druggy nut case Marine, Catholic Marine, and the Kid woose Marine. All of which somehow add some comedy and flavor to the movie. Be careful, this movie even has a Hitchcockian flare to it, in the aspect that it will make you JUMP all the way through. Something so many movies today are lacking. The Jump Factor is vital in this kind of movie and the director seems to capture exactly how to do so.
WARNING: “DOOM” IS NOT FOR KIDS AND NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH! “Doom” is an absolute bloodbath with lots of violence, killing, grotesque wounds, munching, shooting and more. From beginning to end, the movie has some serious gross-out moments. Not done in a horror sense, but more of an Aliens sense. The movie is pretty realistic, and no one under 17 should be allowed to see it. There is also some bad language associated with your typical military behavior. There is one very quick scene with a dead woman in a room of other dead people with her shirt open and blood everywhere…
“Doom” is like a combination between “Alien” and “Resident Evil”. I give the movie 3½ of 4 for shear fun. My friend gave the movie 4 of 4, however, I try and reserve the 4 of 4 stars for movies that are just downright perfect. This movie comes close though, but some may just consider this too far over the top. It is certainly not for everyone. I personally do not like horror, nor do I like video games, and I loved the film. If that says anything.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 4½