RED FACTION: ORIGINS - BOSTON HERALD: Syfy plays the game right with ‘Red Faction’
By Mark A. Perigard
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Syfy’s original films tend to be some of the silliest bits captured on the small screen, involving the likes of bloodthirsty rocks or flying sharks.
So the idea of the cable network partnering with video-game developer THQ to create a film based on one of its titles sounds about as appealing as a recipe for Cheez-It Jell-O Salad.
Instead of being one of the lamest infomercials ever made (the new “Red Faction: Armageddon” video game just happens to come out Tuesday), “Red Faction: Origins” tweaks a familiar plot with some snappy dialogue, a reasonably adept cast and the occasional surprise.
Danielle Nicolet and Brian J. Smith from Red Faction: Origins
... Part “Searchers,” with shuttles by “Space: 1999,” special effects courtesy of “Lost in Space,” sets lifted from “Doctor Who” and a tone still raspy from “Battlestar Galactica,” “Red Faction: Origins” is surprisingly light on violence for a production based on a third-person shooter video game. The terra-formed Mars looks like a mash of Gotham City and Afghanistan. The towns are named after famous sci-fi writers (Asimov, Bradbury). The future is gross, dirty and smelly, and teenagers still like to tune out adults with mp3 players.
One running gag hinges on Tess’ insecurity about not being native. “It’s not easy being Earth-born. I have to work twice as hard to prove to everybody that I belong,” she says.
“Red Faction: Origins” is light-years brighter than the typical Syfy Saturday dreck.
Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.
Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.
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