Gamers rejoice, because one of the biggest and most influential video games has finally been translated to the silver screen. Given the recent trend in Hollywood to produce big-budget action thrillers based on video games, which has given moviegoers movies like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider, it should be no surprise that the first-person-shooter game Doom would get the movie treatment.
Directed by Adrzej Bartkowiak, Doom takes place in the not-too-distant future in which something appears to have gone horribly wrong at the Olduvai Research Station, a scientific outpost on Mars. All research has been called off and communication has been cut off, with the final messages consisting of terrified screaming. In order to combat this unknown threat, a Level 5 Quarantine is put into effect, with the only people allowed in or out being members of the Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS).
Led by the musclebound Sarge (played by Dwayne Johnson a.k.a. The Rock), the RRTS is a group of specially trained Marines armed to the teeth sent to investigate the problem and eliminate any potential threats. It soon becomes painfully apparent that the situation is much more dire than they ever could have imagined, with Olduvai being overrun by hellish creatures inadvertently unleashed during a genetics experiment gone awry. With the few remaining being killed off one-by one, Sarge seals off the portal back to Earth, and plans to kill the beasts before they can wreak any more havoc. They quickly discover, however, that the creatures will not give in without a fight.
In pretty much every way, Doom is a standard science fiction action thriller. It is obviously a big-budget affair, with huge, labyrinthian sets and impressive special effects and graphics. Everything has a slick, polished look that clashes somewhat with the creepy, dirty atmosphere most would picture of a colony on Mars being overrun by demonic creatures. Bartkowiak uses a lot of quick cuts to keep the pace fairly quick, and keeps the action coming throughout the movie. Basically, Doom looks, feels and sounds like what it is: a mindless big budget action movie.
Of course, Doom also contains plenty of action movie cliches, including the muscular, no-nonsense leader (Sarge), the green horn new recruit on his first mission (Kid, played by Al Weaver), and the quiet veteran with a mysterious past (Reaper, played by Karl Urban). All of the soldiers carry weapons that seem way too big to be used in any close-quarters combat, with Destroyer being in full-on Jesse-Ventura-in-Predator mode.
Speaking of Predator, Doom seems to be very influenced by that film. There’s plenty of time spent following members of the RRTS as they creep through Olduvai’s seemingly countless pitch black rooms, the only illumination coming from the flashlights on their guns. Danger lurks literally around every corner, with shadows flashing constantly just outside of the soldiers’ vision. The creature effects are suitably creepy, at times being pretty reminiscent of the famous aliens from the film of the same name. Bartkowiak also makes sure to insert a lot of close calls and near-scares to keep the audience from getting too comfortable, and includes enough blood and coarse language to secure that coveted R rating.
As for the actors’ performances, like everything else, they are pretty much standard action movie. Johnson is serviceable as Sarge, and makes a serious bid for being the next generation’s Swarzenegger or Stallone. He recites his lines more than plays a role, but he’s huge and ripped, so that’s got to count for something. Disappointingly, the role has him playing it straight and does not make use of Johnson’s considerable sense of humor and good timing, which would have made his performance, and the movie, a lot more entertaining to watch. Urban also holds down the fort as the silent, stubbled and steel-jawed Reaper. None of this really matters though, as no one can doubt that the real stars of Doom are the creatures, which are pretty menacing to say the least.
Fans of the video game will more than likely appreciate that Bartkowiak was able to pay homage to the game in several ways. Of course, there couldn’t be a movie based on Doom without the appearance of a BFG. Also, the use of the first-person perspective during one of the final fight scenes is actually pretty clever, definitely making the movie look and feel like the game, and thankfully is used only fleetingly, allowing it to remain novel without becoming overbearing.
One of the things that will probably endear the movie to fans of the game is that it is based on the video game, but the main problem with Doom is that it is a movie based on a video game. Sure, no one is going to go into the theater expecting to see Oscar-worthy material but at the same time it should not excuse it for suffering from the same pitfalls that every other film of its ilk does: wooden acting, lack of interesting characters, ever-present special effects, a huge budget and lots of explosions. Granted, all of that could be forgiven if the movie were at least entertaining, but it isn’t. Anyone who has seen any action or sci-fi movie has pretty much seen all that Doom has to offer, and has seen it done much better. In other words, those who don’t really know or care what the difference between an Imp and a Demon will probably want to sit this one out altogether. For the rest, waiting for its DVD release might not be a bad choice.
