'The Titan' Is A Lot Of Dead Air
Start writing a post
Entertainment

'The Titan' Is A Lot Of Dead Air

A review of Lennart Ruff's "The Titan."

671
'The Titan' Is A Lot Of Dead Air
Netflix

I really need to stop watching whatever Netflix original film first pops up on my screen, and sci-fi movie-makers need to stop trying to turn Sam Worthington into weird looking aliens.

After watching only 20 minutes of "Game Over, Man!" I knew I could find a better use of my time. So I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. "The Titan" is the latest nail that Netflix has hammered into their sci-fi baseball bat, and for some reason, I keep letting them swing it at my face.

It isn't a terrible movie, but it is bland and unimportant. This is largely due to a bland leading performance from Sam Worthington, a bland script with not a single memorable human conversation or interaction, and a bland reveal that is mostly spoiled by the movie's own poster. Sam Worthington ends up looking like one of the chalk-white CGI orcs from "The Hobbit" trilogy.

All of this culminates in a climax devoid of any excitement or concern for the characters involved and a resolution that proves the movie could have been twenty minutes long. There is dead air in "The Titan" than the actual moon Titan.

Sam Worthington is Rick Janssen, a military man who has a history of surviving in near-impossible circumstances. For this reason, he and other soldiers and scientists from around the world have been chosen to be part of a military experiment.

It is the 2040's, and the Earth will not be able to sustain human life for another generation. A corrupt scientist (Tom Wilkinson) thinks that the best option is to genetically engineer humans so that they can survive on Titan, Saturn's largest moon and the only other rock in our solar system with an atmosphere.

The film at least does a good job of making itself sound like it is grounded in real science, though it's still mostly gibberish. He lies to the test subjects, excluding the details about forced evolution and physical mutations and simply telling them that they will be superhuman. He also fails to mention what we plan to eat on Titan, but that was just an inquiry of my own.

The whole arc of the film involves these test subjects realizing that they're changing, and perhaps for the worst. Taylor Schilling delivers the best performance as Rick's wife because she is one of few actors who decides to move her face, but she is still confined to a script bereft of natural dialogue and, oddly enough, almost any music.

The first 20 minutes felt especially off. The script is bare, making characters entering or exiting scenes feel very awkward. The lack of answers to questions, the lack of basic responses, and the forced introductions of characters makes it all very alien. Our protagonist is a grumbly, bland man who refuses to respond to anything he sees or is told. This isn't all his fault.

The character of Rick Janssen is so bland that even the most charismatic actor would've delivered a sub-par performance. There isn't much more to say, other than you should learn from my mistakes.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

87504
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

53751
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments