I really think Hollywood needs to set some rules in place when it comes to making films that are ‘based on true events’. Sanctum is a good case study, whereby we have a film that is cliched and cheesy but apparently based on events that actually took place. Of course, in preparation for writing with review, I did a little research into the real life story behind the film, and as with the recent action thriller Unstoppable, the truth is quite often a very foreign concept to Hollywood.
Sanctum when witnessed on a large screen, 3D cinema screen may have looked every bit as awesome as Avatar is rumoured to have looked, but in the same way Avatar felt flat and uninspiring on BluRay, so does Sanctum.
Sure, for some cheesy Saturday afternoon fun, this tale of explorers trying to find a way through an unexplored cave system, only to find themselves trapped by a freak storm and in a battle for survival, Sanctum will fit the bill. But so would the original The Poseidon Adventure. They’re both similar plots to some degree.
As an action packed story of real life survival it’s just a little to much by the numbers Hollywood schmuck. Cameron who made a name for himself with great films like Terminator and Aliens has certainly lost his edge since sitting back and basking in the undeserved glory of Titanic, and sadly, looking at his filming schedule, I don’t think he’s ever going to make anything worth seeing again.
If you want real thrills, check out Neil Marshall’s US$5.6 Million dollar underwater caving thrill ride, The Descent. It runs rings around Cameron’s US$30 Million Sanctum. FILMGUIDE rating: Reviewed by: Jonathan
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