Genres

Visitors Review

eve_dolluk 2012-05-24 22:41:38

Average disaster type movie but visually stunning

I didn't get to see this at the cinema so no 3D for me, I did watch itin HD though on a movie channel. I remember never bothering with itwhen it came out as I had read the reviews on here and gave it a miss.I am not sure how good the 3D was in this film but its definitely thesort of film that lends itself to 3D if done properly.Its basically a caving/diving film with a disaster setting, cavers aresearching new territory deep in a cave system when a storm hitsessentially trapping them inside. They now need to find a way out asthe way they came in is blocked.There is nothing really new here story wise and it unfolds like atypical disaster flick, the ham acting reminded me of a 70's disasterflick. What is new is the visual experience which is very good and youalso at times sense the feeling of claustrophobia and asphyxiationthroughout.Good points - Visually stunning, Decent sense of realism, Lack of CGI,Tense moments.Bad points - Hammy acting, Ioan Gruiffards bad American accent, Averagecharacter building. Pacing was a bit quick for this type of film.Overall a decent watch but I may have been disappointed if I had paidmore to watch at the cinema as for that price you would expect theacting to be way better, some of the lines were delivered very badly. Ican imagine this was due to the time they had to film and theenvironment they worked in as this looks like an on location movierather than blue screen based.Overall I was pleasantly surprised once I ignored the bad points (sometimes it can be hard to do ). Could it have been better ??? Hellyes. Was it as bad as some people made out ??? No.I'll give it a 6 but it could well have been a 7 or 8 with betteracting and characters and a slower more tense pace. Its a decentdisaster popcorn flick though and a visually good.Worth a watch on DVD for sure.

Ethan Alter 2012-05-24 10:49:59

A film of modest ambition that mostly lives up to the low bar it sets for itself.

Shaun Munro 2012-05-23 20:51:34

[S]urely the worst thing James Cameron has dared waft his fortune close to.

Robbie Collin 2012-05-23 07:56:47

Suffocating, nerve-fraying and deeply uncomfortable to watch. Just not in the ways intended.

John Hazelton 2012-05-22 07:00:28

The 3D cinematography is occasionally impressive, but in most other respects Australian made cave-diving adventure Sanctum is a disappointingly hackneyed genre outing.

Lauh 2012-05-21 14:17:00

Why do they always make me look at these people as idiots?

Every time I watch a film like this (group of people go discoversomething but everything turns out wrong and a bunch of them die) Ifell they are all stupid. Should that happen? No. SANCTUM did have somescenes that kinda creeped me out, me being a person who can't swimproperly and, when in the beach, doesn't let the water up her hip. Butthe rest of it was SO predictable and so... déja vú style, that after awhile you just want all of them to die so the film can end. And I dobelieve that going trough something like this must be terrifying (Iknow I would be!), but every time something like this goes to thecinema, there are always some scenes that makes the people in it lookdumb. And I'm figuring that's not the objective of the film, but aftera while gets kinda hard not to laugh on their faces when they'redealing with disaster.Conclusion: you can watch it, it won't be the most horrible thing youhave ever seen but, seriously? It's not really worth the time,specially because the beginning of the film shows you how it's going toend. What was the point of that?

Rick Groen 2012-05-20 03:37:35

Stick that camera down an aquatic cave, wrap a paper-thin plot around it, slap the whole thing up on an IMAX screen and call it a movie. More truth in advertising: Call it a lame movie.

2012-05-19 17:34:04

Must own for 3d library

This review is from: Sanctum (Two-Disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray) I saw this on an xd real 3d screen - wow !!!!! This movie is native 3d - shot in 3d !!!! Same cameras used in avatar The cimeatography is stunning , great cast , decent story DECIDE FOR URSELF !!!! This movie is alot of fun , has heart , effects , This movie basically is a warm up for avatar 2 to be shot in 3d and mostly underwater (so I heard ) nice experiment I can see it's so so for 2d , but must own for 3d library !!!!

Jeff Bayer 2012-05-18 23:47:30

Sanctum? Dang near killed 'em.

2012-05-18 12:41:59

I'M NOT WEARING A DEAD PERSON'S WETSUIT

We have a group of spelunkers exploring a cave in New Guinea. It has underwater caverns which need to be dived. Josh is joining his father on this expedition. His dad is a driver, the type of guy that can turn a fun adventure into a nightmare. This cave starts on top of a mountain, the "mother of all caves" and winds down. They suspect the cave eventually goes to the ocean, but they haven't discovered the way...yet. Meanwhile a bad storm is on the way. Got the plot figured out? Like most James Cameron movies, the plot is never complicated. Emphasis is placed on character and scenery. Unlike his other movies, this one didn't work as well.No sex or nudity. Rare f-bomb.

matty344 2012-05-18 08:13:44

An excellent film - better than expected.

I decided to see this film because of a friend's birthday. I wasn'tlooking forward to it though, as from the trailers and other reviews,it looked extremely poor. Though, the storyline takes a while to kick in (not REALLY Long) butyou'll tend to lose concentration for the odd minute or two. When thestoryline does kick in though, it got really interesting. Some parts ofthe movie can be noted as quite sad, and other bits quite upfront,however it's a film which should be watch by everyone at least once. Asfor me, I'm going to be buying it on DVD when it's released.The acting in the film was extremely good, I couldn't fault it. Theyplayed their roles exactly how they should play them. I think if it wasplayed any differently, it would more than likely ruin the atmosphereof the film. 10/10For the storyline, could have made the beginning section moreinteresting - but what do you expect for a beginning. 8.5/10Ending (I'll let you decide if you watch the film)- 10/10All in all, 10/10

2012-05-17 22:02:19

A dull, predictable thriller

Sanctum certainly seems to have a lot of potential, doesn't it? It was filmed in 3D and produced by Avatar director James Cameron. Even if you're like me and not completely sold by the TV spots and trailers, it's bound to be decent because Cameron is somewhat involved, right? Keep telling yourself that. Sanctum is probably the most disappointing theatrical experience in the first few months of the year.You'll probably notice how fantastic the film looks. Sanctum was obviously filmed in 3D and uses the same techniques Cameron used for Avatar, which also isn't surprising. Nearly everything seems to jump off the screen, but at the same time the film doesn't really have any standout moments where the effect is utilized in a way that really wows its audience. Most of the underwater scenes are spectacular though. Seeing those vast underwater cavities, even if they were probably mostly created in front of a green screen, is incredible. There are also several scenes where you're looking at the giant hole in the earth the main characters first enter as if you were looking down from the sky while it's raining that are really memorable because of the perspective. So at face value, Sanctum has the appearance of a good film or at least a decent one.Nearly everything else about the film is awful. You know things are going to go downhill once Josh mutters the line, "What could possibly go wrong in a cave?" Everyone in the film just makes terrible decisions from then on out. Remember that thing that happened last time? Let's make it a point to mention that, so it won't happen again. Sure enough, it happens again. DON'T do whatever you're thinking about doing. I know it's a drastic situation and you have to think on your toes, but you will surely die if you do what you're thinking of doing. So what does the person do? That thing they were advised not to. So guess what happens? Josh and Victoria are probably the worst of them. Josh points out the stupidest of observations. When the cave first starts to flood, he's in the team heading to the surface but decides to go back for his dad and the others still down in the cave. The cave is flooding. Water is pouring in. It's very obvious what's happening. So Josh runs in, around rocks, all out of breath and calling out to his dad. When he reaches the cave entrance, he yells out the brilliant statement that, "THE CAVE IS FLOODING!" Gee, you think? Victoria does something in the film that is incredibly stupid and you know it is right when she does it, then later looks back on it realizing she should have done what she was advised to do in the first place. Do you want to defile a dead woman's corpse or develop hypothermia and freeze to death? The answer should be obvious. The rest of the characters aren't so great either though. Josh's dad, Frank, is basically emotionless and nothing more than an Australian version of Christian Bale's Batman while Ioan Gruffudd's Carl is the typical selfish character that makes a lot of over the top decisions that never pay off.Throw in the lame attempts at humor and terrible dialogue and you have yourself an hour and forty nine minute groanfest. Carl mentions something about Frank's anus being so tight that a dog won't be able to hear him fart while Crazy George spews nothing but bad jokes and even worse dialogue the entire film. Developing the clap in Mexico along with advising to grow gills if your equipment goes faulty and telling someone to calm down because the "panic vulture sits on your shoulder" are all things that are memorable for all the wrong reasons.Some of the tight spaces traveled through while underwater were able to trigger my claustrophobia at times, but it was nothing that hadn't been done better before. Remember The Descent? Most of me was wanting Crawlers to show up and kill everyone in this horrible film after it was established that every character had been dropped on their head at some point in their childhood. The other part of me was wondering why this pushed for an R-rating. Other than a few brief moments of gore and the F-bomb being dropped a few dozen times, the film could've easily been edited down to a PG-13 rating to appeal to a wider audience. Then again, with Cameron's name slapped onto the film and the main marketing ploy, maybe a PG-13 film that mostly takes place underwater would remind too many people of Cameron's 1989 film The Abyss and make them think it was a remake or something. Well, let me tell you, this doesn't come anywhere close to even touching The Abyss.Sanctum is a dull, predictable, and cliche thriller with terrible dialogue, a lame attempt at humor, some of the dumbest characters to ever be included in a film, and just a rather underwhelming journey in the end. Don't go into this expecting it to be another Avatar just because Cameron is connected to the film in some way or because it was filmed in 3D. Don't even expect a good film. If you have any interest in Sanctum, I recommend waiting for the rental because it really isn't worth paying expensive movie theater ticket prices in addition to whatever you have to pay for 3D films.

geoffgee 2012-05-17 00:14:10

Well worth experiencing at least once at the cinema if you get the chance.

This film is way, way better than some of the negative reviews here hadled me to believe it would be. I'd heard the 3D was outstanding (evenmany of the negative reviews had conceded that much), so I wentprepared to settle for at least having a good experience in the way ofseeing some stereoscopic excellence in action. I certainly wasn'tdisappointed on that score. What I really hadn't expected however washow strongly I would come to feel for these characters. Not only tofeel, but also to care deeply about what would become of them. Creditis therefore due to the excellence of the acting performances by eachand every actor/actress for that. Considering the claustrophobicsetting (which must by its nature impose a few limits) I found thedialogue to be intelligent and free from any of the more usual usualaction-flic clichés. Several times during the film we are asked toquestion how far the norms of a (relatively benign) outside world stillapply once humans find themselves transported into an environment whichis so overwhelmingly hostile. At other times the question becomes 'Howfar can one be justified in involving others' lives in the fulfilmentof one's own personal ambitions?' As undoubtedly harrowing as this filmis, after I had left the cinema I found it had the effect of helping meto see the (everyday) world from a much better point of view. Somescenes are graphically quite disturbing, but in my opinion they areneither unnecessary nor included in any way gratuitously. I think it'sa great pity that this film seems to be having such a short run atcinemas. It is definitely well worth experiencing at least once at thecinema if you get the chance!

Geoff Berkshire 2012-05-16 14:12:50

Cardboard characters, laughable dialogue and performances that wouldn't pass muster on syndicated television.

Amy Nicholson 2012-05-16 02:56:41

In scuba gear, no one can hear you scream

caroline-nucifora 2012-05-15 12:38:53

I enjoyed it

I liked it. I didn't go into see the movie and expect anything morethen I got. I loved the underground cinematography and yes the actingwasn't Oscar winning performance but not everybody on the cast ever is.There were a couple stand out's and that is typical of any moviereally. Some of the movie made me cringe but you would expect thatconsidering their situation. I'm not sure what everyone was expectingwhen they watched the trailer then went and saw the movie, are youreally that surprised or did you skip the trailer and go see it anyway?I'm wondering how much of the movie is based on the reality of whatreally happen but despite this curiosity I did leave the cinemasatisfied with what I experienced, and am eternally grateful it wasimpossible for the directors to throw in any car chase scenes. If yourbrain went slightly numb watching it and you didn't have to think toohard - well I think that was what was suppose to happen. I am notdisappointed in the least and I'm someone with a short attention spanso it couldn't of been that bad really. Anyway, each to their own.

2012-05-13 21:09:08

not enough 3D

This review is from: Sanctum (Two-Disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray Combo) (Blu-ray) The story became better because of the 3D but there wasn't enough 3D. You can't compare this 3D with Avatar's because there really isn't that much. The story moves slowly and it's a predictable plot. I hope Cameron is working on more 3D movies that rival Avatar. He moved the bar high with Avatar and doesn't match it with Sanctum.

Steve Persall 2012-05-13 12:58:31

As the trapped explorers die off one by one and we don't care, a current Oscar nominated tale of survival in tight spaces comes to mind. But in terms of everything making such a movie intensely satisfying, Sanctum is only 63 1/2 Hours.

2012-05-13 00:50:14

Drownings Galore

If, like me, you liked the drowning/liquid-breathing sequences in "The Abyss", you'll (like me) enjoy this movie too. Good for producing claustrophobic, breath-holding anxiety and relief that you're not down there, underwater in the dark, with this bunch of obnoxious nutters.

2012-05-12 08:45:50

Sanctum: So-so------really up to what a person likes in movies

This review is from: Sanctum (DVD) I first popped this movie in expecting to be drawn in fast but I quickly got distracted doing something and pretty soon there was screaming like crazy in the cave and im like seriously what happened? So right i would go back and than get distracted again!!!...I finally just sat on my couch and determined as all Heck to watch this movie all the way through. This movie was eh there was the obvious diving scenes that was pretty cool and I loved hearing them talk even though I ended up not really caring WHAT they were saying! I think there was some parts that could have been cut out like a lot of the fighting, i got it that daddy and son don't get along from their little chat on the screen so I didn't care for when they were arguing for how many minutes. It annoyed me that Josh blamed his father for that lady drowning...she was freaking tired. he should have demanded her to stay but since she went she wasn't in the state of mind and panicked so fast. I know nothing about diving but I'm sure that if she had gotten rest, her thoughts would have been a lot more clear. When the storm was first starting and those four people were coming back up and they started screaming and dadada, i think they could have made that scene into a 2 minute than instead of what it was. I loved George's character, when he got decompression sickness and was dying that made me upset. It really annoyed me when they were like telling Frank not to drown that one guy that broken every bone in his body like really, so you gonna let him be in pain? i was thinking you are idiots. When Frank and his son made it to where that military thing was they could have done something to get out in my opinion, and than why go back?!?! And all that drama between Karl between Frank and Josh my god....cut that whole crap out...Freaking psycho he deserved to get left alone in the first place. OOH and about his girlfriend if you are unexperienced why they heck are you going down there? I thought Karl said that they met at another expedition that maybe she knew something but than Frank was she came down here knowing nothing, mistake number one and mistake number 2....blah blah blah...where was the sense from her and her boyfriend obviously not where its supposed to be!!! When the son drowned his daddy cuz he was hurt and slowly dying, not gonna lie it made me tear up cuz at that point you just saw that the boy finally understood his father. But ya know after the father died, I really didn't care if Josh made it or not. I think Frank should have gone all the way, he got everyone to the point where they were and yea he should have been the one to conquer it...but eh whatevs..... I think if you enjoy watching movies about people going to unknown places and something happens to them that they start dying off than you may enjoy this movie....if not than you may not. if you are weary rent it....no harm in it!!