Various script reviews have gone up online of late including some highly anticipated genre titles. Here's a sample from each, just click through to read the full breakdown:
Alien vs. Predator 2 "Taking all the decent work into consideration, it's catastrophic. It's really that bad a script. If fans don't already feel like whipped dogs, they will by the end of this, and the sad thing is, they'll buy just enough tickets to guarantee Fox makes another one of these, if only for DVD, in the future. Because it's so cold and crass and calculating, so pointless a retread of the work of the genuine talents involved in the franchises previously, this is the one that feels like the stake in the heart of both properties. This is the announcement that they're not remotely interested in continuing the films in a way that expands the great work that already exists. It's creatively bankrupt in a way designed to take the least effort for a return. It's a bitter pill to swallow, having to kiss off both franchises for the time being, and all I can hope is that there's a genuine rebirth later. This certainly isn't it..." (full review)
Iron Man "The script comes in at a hefty 119 pages... that's 2 hours in movie-land-time, or about twenty minutes too long - for an action film. Don't get me wrong, the dialogue is smart, mature and relevant -- so cutting needs to take place with some of the action sequences. HOWEVER. I wasn't necessarily sold on the idea of Iron Man making its way to the screen. The character is visually boring, the set-up is over done, and the whole story is one big cliche... but, I had fun (until about page 40... then again for a few pages here and there). A decent script, but not good enough..." (full review)
Casino Royale "CASINO ROYALE is not the disaster some have feared. It is certainly uneven, and sometimes it's uninspired. But it succeeds wildly in two unexpected areas: 1) This is an affective drama/love story, and 2) It successfully molds Bond into a new character, a new type of man - into someone I really liked. Although, I'm not sure this man should be called "James Bond". The "drama" in this story could work quite well if the film makers care enough, and are brave enough, to play it for all it's worth. Real people (tired people) in a visceral world of deceit and ultra-violence, simply trying to find normality (and peace) could play quite nicely if performed honestly, and helmed bravely..." (full review)
