MOONFALL (2022) Reviews of Roland Emmerich’s disaster movie

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Moonfall is a 2021 American science fiction disaster film about three unlikely heroes trying to prevent the Moon from hurtling into the Earth.

Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day: Resurgence; 2012; Godzilla 1998; Independence Day) from a screenplay co-written with Spenser Cohen and Harald Kloser.

The movie stars Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña, Charlie Plummer, Kelly Yu, Eme Ikwuakor, Carolina Bartczak and Donald Sutherland.

Moonfall-movie-film-sci-fi-disaster-2022-Halle-Berry

The Asylum has released their own mockbuster take on the movie titled Moon Crash.

Plot:

A mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler is convinced she has the key to saving us all – but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper and conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman believe her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find out that our Moon is not what we think it is.

Reviews [may contain spoilers]:

” …remains unadventurous when it comes to fresh ideas, keeping things familiar and simplistic until the climax […] All the ingredients are there for something wildly absurd yet agreeably screwball, but Moonfall doesn’t have the energy to deliver anything but inept scenes of heroism and a growing sense of seriousness while presenting pure ridiculousness.” 3/10 Blu-ray.com

“This sloppy sci-fi flick has more holes in its plot than craters on the moon. It’s not even a “so bad it’s good” movie. The filmmaking in Moonfall is so lazy, with generic characters and a story that’s absolutely cringeworthy. Slick but not-very-impressive visual effects are thrown into the movie as a weak attempt to distract viewers from a nonsensical story…” Culture Mix

“Emmerich’s storytelling is cluttered at best, incomprehensible at worst, but the camp does make it go down easy. Lines like “everything we know about nature has been thrown out the window” or “the moon is a megastructure with plants inside” can’t possibly be taken seriously, can they? For Emmerich’s sake, let’s hope not.” 2.5/5 Daily Dead

” …the zany and somewhat Jules Verne-type revelations don’t put new life into the disaster genre; rather it feels as though the shark has jumped over the moon, resulting in what feels like hours and hours of solemn gibberish. For all the faults of Don’t Look Up, it was at least addressing something real and relevant. In this film, the moon has fallen with a terrible clunk.” The Guardian

“Unfortunately, this film is terrible. The screenplay is laughable at times, with decisions being so out of context and illogical […] I totally understand that we need to expect several unrealistic aspects in a movie like this. But this film goes far beyond that and wants you to suspend so much disbelief that it’s way too much.” Nathan Pigg

Moonfall is the definitive ‘park your brain at the door’ film. It actually has some good acting from Bradley, Wilson and (particularly) Halle Berry. But the lines they have to say, and the ridiculous context they have to say them in, makes their po-faced acting all the more hilarious. It is Dr Rumack from “Airplane” all over again.” One Mann’s Movies

Moonfall represents director Emmerich at his very peak, and likely his best film since at least 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow, but your enjoyment of the movie will depend on your tolerance of some of his goofier narrative devices. Those from both sides of the spectrum, expecting switch-your-brain off fun or a laughable space oddity, should be equally satisfied.” The Prague Reporter

Moonfall is a bad movie by any logical metric, but it is just too sure of itself that it’s kind of charming. The second half reveal of the moon’s true nature – which I will not spoil because I want you to have that joy for yourself – is just so crazy and convoluted and illogical that I couldn’t help letting out a little laugh when it happened.” Screen Anarchy

“Much of the first hour is occupied by dull interior scenes chronicling the emotional problems of the heroes and their loved ones […] All the same, watching Moonfall gave me the creeping feeling that Emmerich doesn’t really do irony. Nuance and credibility may not be his strong points – but with so much time given to building up these characters, it’s possible to believe he cares about them and wants us to do likewise.” The Sydney Morning Herald

“Pretty decent film. It overdoes in the science department which makes it goofy at times. Acting by most of the cast is cheesy at most times. Patrick Wilson carries, gorgeous visuals and sound design. Second half is amazing, saved the movie for me.” Venomhology

Release:

Moonfall will be released theatrically and in IMAX cinemas by Lionsgate on February 4th 2022.

Cast and characters:

Halle Berry … Jo Fowler
Patrick Wilson … Brian Harper
John Bradley … KC Houseman
Michael Peña … Tom Lopez
Donald Sutherland … Holdenfield
Charlie Plummer … Sonny Harper
Wenwen Yu … Michelle
Eme Ikwuakor … Doug Davidson
Carolina Bartczak … Brenda Lopez
Ava Weiss … Nikki Lopez
Maxim Roy … Captain Gabriella Auclair
Stephen Bogaert … NASA Director Albert Hutchings
Hazel Nugent … Lauren Lopez
Josh Cruddas … Scrawny
Katy Breier … Bling
Chris Sandiford … Mosley
Tyrone Benskin … Judge
Krista Marchand … Cashier
Tyler Elliot Burke … Shuttle Tech
Azriel Dalman … Sonny Child
Randy Thomas … Lawyer
Maia Guest … Karen
Nathaly Thibault … Nurse

Technical details:

2 hours
Audio: Dolby Atmos | IMAX 6-Track
Aspect ratio: 2.39: 1

Budget:

$140 to $150 million (estimated)

Related:

MOON CRASH (2022) Reviews of The Asylum’s mockbuster

Trailer:

First five minutes of the film:

“Let’s lose the other booster” clip:

“Inside the Moon” clip:

“You could have just turned it off” clip:

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