(Originally from Facebook – August 13, 2013)

Poor M. Night Shyamalan. He gets so much hate. But what do you do when you’re a director who peaked with his first two films?** I guess you get relegated to doing vanity projects for wealthy movie stars. I defend Shyamalan a lot, too, primarily because those first two movies are two of my favorites. I would go so far as to say that The Sixth Sense has one of the most nearly perfect narrative structures in the last 30 years of film. But also…The Happening happened. So what’s an M. Night fan to do? I just can’t defend him on this one. (Well, I will say that rumor has it that Smith stepped in to do a good portion of the direction, so I will defend him that much.)

I expected After Earth to be…I don’t know. Battlefield Earth bad? (Hey, I watch the bad ones, too; that’s just how darned much I care.) It’s not B.E. bad, but there are far better choices on which to spend your movie-watching time and money.

Where did it go wrong? I think the primary problem is with the performances. Will Smith, who usually plays the manic, outgoing funny guy, instead plays a reserved, dour space marine. It’s not a role he does well. He doesn’t come across as stern and serious, so much as he looks like he might be constipated. It’s not that he can’t do serious; it’s just that when he’s done so successfully, he’s had the benefit of a great script and supporting cast. Here, he’s “supported” by his real-life son, Jaden, who should serve as justification why the term “nepotism” is considered a pejorative. Or, in layman’s terms–the boy can’t act. Hopefully, his dad will eventually realize this and stop buying him movies to star in.

The story had a lot of potential. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a young cadet have to navigate the deadly obstacle course of an Earth 1,000 years in the future, where the plant and animal life have evolved to prey on humans? But when you begin hoping that the cadet will fall prey to poisonous leeches, et al.? Then you’re in “Hayden Christensen in Star Wars” territory. And there were some major holes in the plot. Without giving too much away, let me just say…flying suit.

IMDB gives it a 4.8, due, no doubt, to Will Smith fans. I say it’s a 4.0, and if you’re one of those Will Smith fans, maybe add half a point. Maybe. (running time 1:40)

** I also happen to think that Quentin Tarantino peaked with his first two films, too. So there.