I love big adventure films. Give me a band of heroes and strange lands and weird creatures and difficult odds, and chances are that I'll be satisfied. These films are a treat, too, since they pose considerable financial risk and therefore don't appear often. In fact, I'm surprised that Roland Emmerich found sufficient backing to realize 10,000 B.C. How he pitched a prehistoric epic is beyond me, especially when you consider that last year's historical hits - 300 and Apocalypto - were still in production while this was being made. Picture him at a table surrounded by suited executives: "I see mammoths; lots and lots of big, hairy mammoths being chased by people with sticks."
Come to think of it, set pieces probably were the selling-point for this production. I doubt it was the story, which is so familiar that it can be summarized thus: man fulfills destiny and defeats the evil empire. The themes include friendship and love and responsibility and doing the right thing for yourself and others. With one notable exception, this is recycled material that serves as a structure to pin the pretty details onto. It fulfills this demand, and doesn't warrant the criticism that other reviewers have written. (Nor, for that matter, do these same critics need to point out such inaccuracies as wooly mammoths alongside Egyptian-style pyramids; great, you know some history - have a lollipop and find a job that requires petty cynicism). As for the exception: listen carefully to the explanation someone gives for the background of the pyramid-building people, for it has fascinating implications.
The filmmaking behind 10,000 B.C. also fulfills its responsibilities. The narrative moves with an economy that I would like to see more often in expensive Western productions; over a running time of 100 minutes, the film covers a lot of material, including some impressive action. The mood of the film is lofty and self-important, and though there are numerous moments that are silly, the filmmakers never back off and throw comedy or love into the mix to change things up or assure audiences that they really aren't that serious. The cinematography and editing ensure that all of the good stuff is in full view, while quieter moments are maintained in steady frames with a moderate amount of cuts and jumps. Happily, this is not an adventure film shot with a handheld. The overall impression I got is that the people involved in this film knew what they were about and got the job done.
At times this film reminded me of the Ray Harryhausen films that took on similar material with equal zest, if a bit more charm. I also thought of earlier Italian films in the genre, especially Umberto Lenzi's film about prehistoric warfare, Ironmaster. Like these predecessors, 10,000 B.C. uses the prehistoric setting as a source of adventure and fun. The caveat is that Emmerich and company had a lot more money to back them up - money which is put to good use. The monsters and landscapes and sets and battles look good most of the time, and wonderful some of the time. It was a fun film to watch, and the high points made me smile and think, This is great stuff to see in a theater. I only wish I could see such films more often.
3/9/08
