If you were bored and browsing the newest releases, you probably read the synopsis and reviews for Captive State and thought what a crappy movie. I went to see it because I was curious. Let me say that even though you are thrown smack dab in the middle of an alien occupation of Earth, the story builds towards the future while filling in any blanks you may have about the past. It won’t give you a lot, but what it does provide is enough to keep you informed. While you watch the movie unfold and wonder where it is going, I got to say the ending was worth it. I didn’t see it or even sense it coming, but it was awesome. I felt misdirection and anger towards one character only to learn that he had a different reason for everything he did.
I had wondered why John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, and Ashton Sanders would want to be in this kind of movie. There’s not a whole of explanation of why things are the way they are, or even what anyone plans to do about it. There’s a failed attempt to ignite a war, which is really the whole storyline of the movie. Rogue humans want to start a fire and show people across the globe that they can fight back after aliens disarmed all the militaries. Meanwhile, Goodman’s detective cop is trying to prevent a war, save the kids of his dead partner, and get the police commissioner fired. This isn’t your conventional alien invasion movie, to say the least.
You would think none of it makes any sense, then the ending shapes up and I was left amazed. Words like greed came to mind after a series of arrests make you think the movie is going to end with no epic showdown of humans and aliens. I wondered why certain characters were duped into actions they didn’t want to be a part of, yet somehow everything happened for a reason and the greater good. I don’t want to ruin the ending, just know I really enjoyed it and thought it capped off a rather mediocre movie. Most invasion movies follow the same major plotlines, the personal stuff thrown into this one really paid off in the end which is what surprised me the most.
Other than the ending, I thought the musical score by Rob Simonsen was great. It fit the story, the characters, and the action sequences. I haven’t checked it out on iTunes yet, but plan on doing it after writing this review. 7/10
Ten Stars or Less 