After Earth

In the distant future, the earth becomes uninhabitable. Strange creatures, bad environment … let’s just say we really mess things up. Mankind goes to another planet to live, which probably costs a ton in gas, but it beats the alternative, which is certain extinction. Well, years after the exodus a commander and his son (Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden) find themselves in the earth’s vicinity and tragically crash land. The commander is critically injured, and it’s up to the brave son to traverse across hostile territory (i.e. anywhere on earth) to save his father, mankind and the whole universe. Or something like that.

ClearPlay In Action!

ClearPlay cleans up about three instances of language in After Earth, which received its PG-13 rating mostly for science-fiction violence. Also trimmed are scenes of alien violence, disturbing images, and some carnage relating to the crash landing. Is the ClearPlayed version fine for the whole family? Sure, if the whole family is made up of young teenage boys.

So After Earth, what?...

This movie isn’t really about much of anything, leaving many of its possibilities unaddressed. Oh, young Jaden comes of age, and there are cool visual effects. But the big question for me is, why do you pay millions of dollars to cast Will Smith, and then not let him play Will Smith? Smith’s character is grouchy, humorless, and kind of a drag. Without a dose of fun, After Earth is a bad place to visit and worse place to live.

Marty Nabhan - ClearPlay Master of the Universe

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images; 100 min; Directed by M. Night Shyamalan