Freestyle Digital Media | Release Date: February 24, 2012
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
24
Mixed:
8
Negative:
4
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8
RikiegeNov 17, 2012
A good movie that combines war with adolescence.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
survivorfan989Apr 27, 2013
A solid Aussie film that might be aimed at a teenage marker but there is enough here for adults to enjoy also. I've just recently read the book from John Marsden and they did stay very close to the content, and choosing Caitlin Stasey asA solid Aussie film that might be aimed at a teenage marker but there is enough here for adults to enjoy also. I've just recently read the book from John Marsden and they did stay very close to the content, and choosing Caitlin Stasey as Ellie was spot on; in fact all of the young cast is exceptionally talented. The action scenes look great and the film is a non-stop feast of explosive scenes. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable film I would certainly recommend, and a quality Aussie movie! Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
HaithamBayazeedJan 19, 2013
The first movie that comes with teens who can act since super 8, amazing piece of art, great job, amazing story! Can't wait for the sequel! loved it! Everything was perfect!
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
Paul55donovanFeb 4, 2013
A action packed film that was fun and dramatic. It was better than the original Red Dawn and showed what it really would be like if your country was invaded and even better is that is shows the question in front of them they're free but doA action packed film that was fun and dramatic. It was better than the original Red Dawn and showed what it really would be like if your country was invaded and even better is that is shows the question in front of them they're free but do they deserve it and what should they really do hide or fight for their loved ones who would do the same for them. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
MovieGoer14Jan 26, 2014
One of my favorite movies, and ten times better than Red Dawn (2012) although I liked Red Dawn (2012). It is pretty intense and interesting piece of film making, the characters are full of emotions, heart and spirit. It is funny, sad,One of my favorite movies, and ten times better than Red Dawn (2012) although I liked Red Dawn (2012). It is pretty intense and interesting piece of film making, the characters are full of emotions, heart and spirit. It is funny, sad, intense, thought provoking...etc. I just love every second of it. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
gianischoFeb 29, 2012
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is amaizing i can't write more cause i dont know good english but the movie is perfect for my ages..
This movie is amaizing i can't write more cause i dont know good english but the movie is perfect for my ages..
This movie is amaizing i can't write more cause i dont know good english but the movie is perfect for my ages..
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1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
rotkuMar 11, 2012
I was expecting an action movie along the lines of the classic Red Dawn however I got a movie that spent too long on a camping trip, have an invasion force that couldn't shoot straight and heroes that injured themselves running into gardeningI was expecting an action movie along the lines of the classic Red Dawn however I got a movie that spent too long on a camping trip, have an invasion force that couldn't shoot straight and heroes that injured themselves running into gardening equipment!! Great concept, poorly outlayed. Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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3
VorlargenSep 6, 2012
Limp movie with silly and cliched characters and plot lines. There was nothing believable about the story or the characters and I was left without empathy for them or their situation. Freely driving and riding around the local roads whenLimp movie with silly and cliched characters and plot lines. There was nothing believable about the story or the characters and I was left without empathy for them or their situation. Freely driving and riding around the local roads when there has been an invasion by a highly mechanised army with control of the skies is not what I would consider authentic story telling let alone teenagers outwitting and outfighting trained professional soldiers. This film could have been so much more but seemed to me to be one of a number of different parts hence the disjointedness. Some of the acting was ok but more often than not it left a lot to be desired. For example the dope head character was unnecessary and poorly performed. Overall I would rate this film as an immature film school level attempt. Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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1
calacalaDec 15, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A group of dumb stereotype teenagers go camping while an invasion is taking place.
After finding that out, they take down several groups of trained enemy army soldiers and blow up the only bridge with a horde of cows...

Even worse than the books, terrible acting and low budget action. Dont waste your time with this really bad movie.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
sampson3121Jul 5, 2021
People were expecting a oscar winner or something? This movie is a FUN popcorn flick. The acting was good, the cinematography was exceptional, and the story was endering with some amazing fight aequences.

I don't know what people want in a
People were expecting a oscar winner or something? This movie is a FUN popcorn flick. The acting was good, the cinematography was exceptional, and the story was endering with some amazing fight aequences.

I don't know what people want in a action movie anymore cause this movie was great.
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 26, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an action adventure film, which features themes including the military, camping, shootouts and pacifism. I found this film a little underwhelming at first but it did become somewhat surprisingly engrossing after a while. There is a fairly decent variety of characters present - a religious girl, the 'high school hottie' girl type and numerous others. Its far from greatly original but I found the action scenes, the more faster paced ones to be relatively engaging regardless.

I thought the plot was a little confusing at times - I suppose it isn't one to overly analyse as such, although it is an adapatation of a well regarded YA (Young Adult, i.e. books written for teenagers) novel. I didn't find myself utterly losing interest in it, so it was still a semi-decent watch regardless. It is certainly pretty far fetched but then it is a dystopian/war based story, so it is somewhat inevitable. I've noticed that Australia have produced numerous examples of these kinds of rather dark toned films - on a smaller budget than your average Hollywood equivalent but some may be better for dealing with some subject material which may not naturally be covered by Hollywood equivalent films, although not so much this particular film due to its younger target audience. From a visual point of view, this isn't as gory or explicitly violent as other dystopian action/thrillers but yet I definitely did feel quite tense and gripped at times, which just goes to show that it isn't always the visual content alone that makes or breaks such films.

Cast wise, there weren't any members who I recognised by name from other films. A selection of these include Caitlin Stasey as Ellie Linton, Lincoln Lewis as Kevin Holmes, Rachel Hurd-Wood as Corrie MacKenzie and Chris Pang as Lee Pakkam. The films characters are 90% teenagers/adolescents, with a quite noted lack of named adults, other than one or two parents briefly shown at the start. There was something surprisingly eery/spooky about this, as the seriousness of the plot situation becomes more clear.

Content wise, the film contains drug references and some brief sex references, some relatively mild violence involving fast machine gun fire, arson and the like, although very little in the way of particularly graphic injury is shown on screen. There are a number of fast paced chases which bring with them an element of threat and peril, of course, which could upset particularly young viewers and there is some moderately strong language used at times as well. Due to this, the film has been given a 12a rating in the UK.

For what it is, its a decent watch but I imagine it won't overly appeal to everyone and while the plot felt a little flawed and the ending may well frustrate some, due to it leaving the viewer with many unanswered questions, equally some people may like it for leaving the viewer to come to their own conclusions. I mention this so that anyone who hates being left with unanswered questions knows to give this a wide berth.

Overall, if this sort of film appeals to you then yes, I'd recommend it. Its not exactly perfect as a film but I found it fairly gripping and engrossing at times, so you could do worse. The visual effects were neither amazing nor seriously underwhelming, the plot was interesting but I felt there were a few holes, yet it didn't stop me from continuing watching the film. Since I mostly enjoyed it, I imagine most people would probably find it reasonably good, so on that basis I would recommend it.
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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