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Doom (2005) Certificate 15

Doom
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Rated 2.5 stars
Average rating
(51%)
 
Starring: Dwayne Johnson | Karl Urban | Rosamund Pike | Ben Daniels | Dhobi Oparei
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Studio: UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time: 116 mins
Genres: Action/Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Languages: English
Hearing-impaired: English
Released: April 03, 2006

In the not-so-distant future, a portal has been discovered leading from Earth to Mars, where the government operates a research base to examine the ruins of a lost civilisation; scientists are studying it, conducting experiments they perhaps shouldn't be, and trying find out what happened. Answer: nothing good. That's what Sarge (The Rock) and his unit of high-tech Marines find out the hard way when they're sent to investigate a disturbance on the base which turns out to be nothing less than an infestation of terrifying, evil, flesh-eating monsters.

Highest rated reviews

33 out of 35 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
Not What It Could've been

katanaman from Cheshire, 9th April, 2006

This film could've worked so much better if they'd stuck to the idea of the games.
A typical thing to say as a fan of the games, I know.

The film starts quite well, with quite a good cast really, and with a few subtle references to the games eg, the coloured doors. However, when the film is half way through, and the plot has been explained. That's when it goes downhill. As it turns out, all the monsters are actually mutations due to a bad reaction to a genetic experiment.
Sound like Resident Evil at all?

The monsters resemble those of Doom 3 in looks only, they can't throw any fireballs though. I would have thought they film makers would have stuck to the idea that they were an invasion force from Hell, which would have been better. The part where all types of chaos breaks out only happens in the form of a first person (complete with the hovering gun from the games) for about 15 mins.
I my mind, that doesn't seem to do the Doom name justice.

If you're curious, and after a film where you can pretty much take your brain out and put it on one side for an hour and a half, then this is it. That's only my oppinion though, and so I leave you to decide on it.

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17 out of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3.0 stars
HURT ME PLENTY!

James from Chorleywood, Barnet, Peckham, 6th April, 2006

I rented this from Choices recently (03/04/06). Being a big fan of the game (the heading's a modest clue) the not-so-rave reviews from way back stunted any initial interest and urgency of a cinema trip. However, when I saw it on the shelf I decided Why not! Anyway, I won't go into the storyline, it's fine - possibly touched upon before in resident Evil, a previous great game to film conversion (and not bad too IMO!). The acting's ok; the catty, creepy guy is a good character. Really, the film's success is in its appeal to fans of the game (I honestly can't see why anyone would want to see it if they weren't already a fan of which there must be millions anyway); so, does it work? For most of the film, yes, it's fun! Fans will no doubt look for and spot familiar environmental characteristics, and they're there - like the shapes of doors, particular weaponry ;) and gameplay. It's no secret there's a 1st person sequence thrown in - and why not?! It's very well executed and quite funny I thought (I can't decide whether it's a form of geek humour but no matter). That's about 5 minutes, a nice wink to the 1st person shoot'em-up genre the way no other film has tried to (or is that dared to?!). My only complaint, though fortunately I was warned on request by the Choices guy - and I shall duly save you the disappointment by telling you why and now - is the ending! It's a bizarre confrontation between The Rock and 'a soldier' that unjustifiably tries to imitate a wrestling match, even so far as to at one point substituting metal wiring for ring-ropes (strangling). Now, no one should need to love WWF to not find this scene ridiculous. But ignore this bit and enjoy the rest for what it's worth. Also, don't expect it to get too dark and hellish with pentagrams, lakes of fire and barons and spidey machines roaming about: it's not THAT faithful to the game! But it's not bad: I give it three flame-eyed skulls out of five!

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16 out of 22 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Fantastic!

TheKIngOfFuh from from Aldershot, 22nd February, 2006

I recently purchased the US Unrated edition, and we were completely blown away. The acting is OK, and contrary to what other reviewers have said, there IS a storyline. I was a bit confused by the 1st person perspective scene in the film, which would have been better on the big screen - on the small screen, yes, it is a bit like playing the game. That scene aside, the film was 1st class entertainment from start to finish, and is highly recommended, whether you're a fan of the compuer games, or not.

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21 out of 38 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3.0 stars
We're gonna need something with a little bit more kick.

JediSi from , 29th October, 2007

Yes, years ago, I too played Doom to death, who didn't ? Compared with the games of today Doom is pretty unspectacular, but its not one of the highest played games ever for nothing. But, is making a movie from a very out of date video game a good idea? Probably not. It's not in Alien or Species league, but it is worth watching...more than once. It's not disappointing by any means, as long as ridiculously large guns and the usually over-egoed yanks to go with it are your thing. It sits further towards action than horror, and the acting is below average (for either genres), but the action scenes were pretty cool and the gore sufficient. All in all, I expected a lot, lot worse.

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Most recent reviews

*** May contain spoilers ***


Rated 1.0 stars
Dreadful acting.

Marino5549 from , 5th February, 2010

The story really was awful and the acting particularly dreadful (especially Rosamund Pike). She brought no gravitas to the role considering she was supposed to be a scientist but disected an 'alien' body with only a thin pair of latex gloves and her face (unmasked) an inch away from the decaying body. Way too much shooting in very dark surroundings which made it difficult to see what was going on. Not a particularly good or enjoyable film.

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Rated 0.0 stars
Don't Bother.

CNIH from , 26th January, 2010

Don't bother - Set almost entirely in darkness you can barely see anything even if there was anything worth seeing!

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Rated 0.0 stars
awful

daz2519 from , 12th January, 2010

dont bother awful acting and terrible story

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Rated 3.0 stars
Doom

manatesh from , 22nd December, 2009

Heard of Doom - Yep. Never played the first incarnations of this computer game, but played Doom3 to death (and I died a lot). Then I saw the film.... All I can say is that you don't need to have played the game first, but once you have seen the film, you will want to. Doom 3 s the game that I would be least likely to play if I had a heart condition. The film satisfies the science fiction horror enthusiast, but, to be honest, the game is far more enjoyable. I will play the game again, I won;t watch this film again.

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