by Christian Grullon, Contributing Writer
There are two standout heroes in the military thriller, Land of Bad, a film which exposes the darker side of human nature. During a hostage extraction, both heroes fight terrorists who would cut a hostage’s head off. Then they start getting philosophical about the difference between them and us.
Land of Bad is pretty compelling, sticking with their number number one hero, the inexperienced Air Force Sergeant J.J “Playboy” Kinney (Liam Hemsworth). The action doesn’t fail to jump out of the screen, thanks to solid choreography. Russell Crowe performs as the number two hero, playing Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm, the socially awkward but formidable drone pilot.
Crowe is most entertaining when his eyes are laser-focused on computers, giving and extrapolating information with supportive Staff Sergeant and Wing Lady Nia Branson (Chika Ikogwe). Grimm helps the overwhelmed Kinney when he fights through enemy territory to rescue a hostage. The prisoner is a CIA spy, who’s been getting intelligence on a dangerous Russian arms dealer. However, it doesn’t matter once Kinney’s team goes back and forth with bloodthirsty foes.
Despite the excellent action, the dramatized lecture about what’s wrong with the American military is a little too much. Maybe the intention was to drive that point in the film, but it takes away from its authenticity and feels forced. Some lines are clunky as if the writers are trying too hard to make a point. Failing to let the story speak for itself is a glaring issue throughout this movie.
The plot is predictable, and the story has few surprises. While the action is commendable, the predictable nature of the storyline is too much to overcome. There is little room for surprises, which can disappoint any viewer looking for something authentic and original.
While Hemsworth’s and Crowe’s performances are commendable, the supporting characters don’t add to the story. They have little depth or development, and aren’t given much screen time. It’s tough to care for the supporting characters, which leads to missing the opportunity to impact the story emotionally emotionally.
Land of Bad’s pacing is also glaring, as some scenes drag on too long. Some are a bit rushed, so there isn’t much cohesiveness in the story. The lousy pacing makes the film disorganized and uneven.
Furthermore, the film doesn’t have much nuance in portraying the military. It does add some themes, but fails to explore them more deeply. There aren’t complexities of military life and service, so the military portrayal is one-dimensional. As a result, the film feels very small and doesn’t leave a big impression. The excellent action sequences are insufficient to overcome the film’s many flaws.
While Land of Bad has incredible action sequences and good lead performances, it suffers badly from forgettable supporting cast members, lack of nuance, forced lecture, uneven pacing, and flawed portrayal of the military. These fatal flaws detract from the overall experience of a thriller.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
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