Displaying items by tag: Simu Liu

LAST BREATH

UK/US, 2025, 93 minutes, Colour.

Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar, MyAanna Buring, Bobby Rainsbury.

Directed by Alex Parkinson.

In 2019, director, Alex Parkinson, made a documentary about dangers and risks for engineers involved in repairing pipelines and cable connections in the North Sea, at great depths, outside the Scottish city of Aberdeen.

Now he has turned it into a feature film, going over the same drama, the characters, the situations, the dangers, the rescue. In this way it reaches a wider audience than did the documentary. However, the film critics were for praising the style and the impact of the documentary over that of the feature film.

The film offers the opportunity for Woody Harrelson to have a starring role, the older experienced diver, eccentric personality, interacting with the team, drawing on his experience, and supportive of the younger man. The two other drivers are played by Simi Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Finn Cole. And the captain of the ship is played by Cliff Curtis.

The film opens with the young man and his girlfriend, giving a human setting to the naval action and the diving. The teams are introduced, the audience getting to understand the issues of the ocean floor, the depths, the dangers, the routines, the repairs, the four days needed underwater for gradual adjustment and then being brought to the surface.

However, as expected, there is an accident, the young man being caught, his heart stopping for quite some time, this time the information continually on screen, the management of the rescue, the reactions of the crew on the top, the captain and his decision, the female second in charge and her interventions, the technological expert and his finding ways to communicate.

And, below the surface, the wise experience of the veteran, the rather reticent other member of the crew and his venturing out, the rescue, dangers and entanglements, the tension in bringing the injured man in, and the question of whether he was dead or alive.

While there is the human drama, there is still a strong atmosphere of the documentary.

1. The title and application, danger, death?
2. The work of the writer-directors, the success of his initial documentary, the decision to make a feature film, his contribution to the writing, his directing? Comparisons between the two films?
3. Deep sea diving, the UK, of the Scottish coast, Aberdeen? The Port, the facilities, the ships? The sophistication of the technical equipment?
4. The underwater task, international cables in the seabed, laying, repairs? The demands, the dangers, compression, preparation, equipment, physical skills, psychological readiness, the work itself, the depths, coming up, the period of readjustment?
5. The introduction to the ship, the captain and crew, the divers,, American, the Woody Harrelson type? Experience, coming to the end, relating to the men, memories, practical wisdom? Dave, his background, his skills, some reserve?
6. The introduction to Chris, local, family, his girlfriend, his skills, young, opportunities?
7. The three men, discussions, bunking together, preparation for the dire, the personal interactions?
8. The Captain, in command, the officer in charge of the dive, the equipment, connections? The assistant, her tough stances, decisions? The other members of the group?
9. The men going down, all going well, normal, preparations, going out? The detail of the swimming, the audience is immersed in the deep waters with the swimmers?
10. The difficulties, keeping in touch, accidents, Chris, his enthusiasm, the accident, his coping, manoeuvring, loss of consciousness?
11. The device of letting the audience know his state of health, last breath, the subsequent times during the rescue and his recovery?
12. Dave, going out, his skills, the details of the rescue, the dangers, the waters, and compression, the struggle to get Chris aboard? His personal commitment?, The encouragement, advice?
13. The scenes in the ship, the decisions of the Captain, the equipment, off-line, online again, life-and-death tension, the assistant and her decisions about manoeuvres?
14. The success of the rescue, coming to surface, the decompression? And the achievement of the crew and the satisfaction of the captain?

ATLAS

US, 2024, 118 minutes, Colour.

Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K.Brown, Gregory James Cohan, Abraham Popoola, Mark Strong.

Directed by Brad Peyton.

In 2001, Steven Spielberg directed the film, AI. While the reality of Artificial Intelligence was known, it was comparatively early days for the movies to explore the repercussions of AI, of robots, of collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence, conflicts.

This theme has continued very strongly through the following tickets.

In one sense, this is familiar material here. However, with computer-generated effects continually improving, this exploration has its spectacular moments, machines, robots, space travel, battles and conflicts.

However, this is a Jennifer Lopez film. She acts as Executive Producer as well as starring. While there are some supporting roles, especially from reputable actors like Sterling K.Brown and Mark Strong, the main focus is on Jennifer Lopez as a technology analyst, Atlas, is called on to confront a rebel robot threatening humanity through his knowledge, technological skills and the creation of a robot army.

While there is an introduction to the theme, especially the pursuit of a vicious robot, his being trapped and destroyed, yet his head surviving connected to machinery, challenging humans to confront his maker, Harlan (Simi Liu). There is a history between Atlas and Harlan, her mother having created him and the daughter feeling his being favoured over her and her resentment and action leading to potential disaster.

As an adult, Atlas is rather humourless, single-minded, agreeing to go on a mission to the planet where she has discovered Harlan is based.

The latter part of the film, Atlas is contained within the giant transformers -like robot was a very pleasant speaking voice (Gregory James Cohan) and a pleasant manner which she doesn’t respond to well. However, there has to be some kind of bonding for the success of the mission as well as for Atlas becoming more human herself. The interplay between Atlas and the transformer robot, whose name is Smith, bring some welcome lightness of touch to the serious proceedings.

So, a mission, a confrontation with Harlan, mission accomplished – and the world is saved until the next AI human-threatening movie.

1. The popularity of this kind of futuristic science-fiction? Advanced technology, space exploration? The development of AI, I created characters, skills and technology, overcoming humans, creating an army of robot warriors?
2. The photography, technology, space travel, the combat sequences, the transformer like armoured robots, the locations of different planets? The musical score?
3. The mood set with cascade, robot, confrontations, fight, destruction, Atlas confronting him, his body missing, but his head linked to the controls? His later reappearance, the multiple Cascas?
4. The credibility of the situation, the future, the scientists, creating the AI robots, the powers, codes, beyond human capabilities, the revolution, need for the pursuit of the Arch robot, the tactics, the expedition and disaster, at the centre survival, communication with Smith? Atlas and her background with Harlan?
5. The introduction to Gen Boothe, his plans, the discussion with Banks, the difference of opinion, especially towards Atlas? The decision for the expedition, the preparation of the Rangers? The issue of Atlas, her background, her mother is the scientist, her growing up with Harlan, her antagonism? Her role as an analyst rather than a warrior?
6. The introduction to the Transformer -like robots, the sequence with Zoe getting the cup of coffee? Importance of these robots?
7. The expedition, the flight, the attack, the disaster and destruction? Banks disappearing? Atlas, single-minded, humourless, being protected by Smith, Smith and his voice, programmed you human, the directions, wanted them to synchronise, her refusal, the searching of the remains, planning strategies, her being wounded, Smith’s methods of treating the leg? Language, humour, sarcasm – and Smith adapting?
8. There are ultimately bonding, working together, Atlas and her wariness, antagonism towards Harlan? The revelation of the background, her feeling neglected by her mother, her mother favouring Harlan, the antagonism?
9. Harlan, eventually appearing, his control, his abilities, his capture of banks, getting information after torture? Atlas captured, the collaboration with Smith, getting free, Banks and his help? The confrontation with Harlan and his robots, destruction?
10. Atlas, returning, mission accomplished, booths visiting her, her new robot protector – and the pleasant review acquaintance with Smith?
11. The popularity of this kind of futuristic AI scenario in the movies of the 2020s?