KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: *
Director Roland Emmerich likes big ideas and generally he does them well.
He competently froze the world in The Day After Tomorrow and convinced us a large alien mothership had destroyed the White House in Independence Day, but he misses the mark with this prehistoric romp, churning out a confusing, mildly entertaining, television movie.
10,000BC is the story of D'Leh (Steven Strait), a young hunter who becomes a brave warrior when his love, the beautiful Evolet (Camilla Belle) is kidnapped by an evil warlord.
As he tracks Evolet and others taken from his village across mountains and desert, he encounters tribesmen he never knew existed, uniting them together to fight against this superstitious oppressive ruler.
It sounds epic and it was probably meant to be, but with a cliche-ridden script, lacklustre action and the lack of an A-list big name star, 10,000BC falls disappointingly flat.
A touch of humour might have worked in its favour, but that still wouldn't be enough to make us feel any compassion for these characters and their quest.
On a more positive note, thanks to some impressive special effects there are exciting cameos from large, savage, bird-like creatures, a sabre-toothed tiger and woolly mammoths.
The scenery is beautiful and expansive, from the snow-covered mountains and lush rainforest to the stunning desert, but unfortunately it's the human element that lets this film down. If half-naked men with dreads, dirty faces and immaculately white teeth is your thing, then you're in luck. Just don't expect them to say anything worthwhile.
Cast: Cliff Curtis, Steven Strait, Camilla Belle
Director: Roland Emmerich
Running Time: 108 mins
Rating: M (Medium Level Violence)
Screening: SkyCity, Hoyts and Berkeley Cinemas
Verdict: Falls very short of its lofty ambitions.
