MOVIE REVIEW - The Grey

Over the past few years, Liam Neeson has reinvented himself as an action hero and had some real success. Taken, and Unknown come to mind, both very good and this week it's The Grey.

The Grey is a story of survival in the Arctic against all odds. Neeson's character and a bunch of what has to be called "thugs" are working for a major petroleum company high above the Arctic circle. As a plane load of them are leaving to come back down to the mainland, the plane crashes in the frozen tundra of what is either extreme northern Canada, or Alaska. A group of 7 men make it through the crash, and they are going to try to survive.

But in no mans land, they are confronted by terrible weather, blizzards, and cold. Plus giant man eating Northern Timber wolves that stalk the men endlessly. These wolf packs start picking off the men one by one as they try to leave the wreckage and somehow find help. Of course, there is conflict not only with nature, but the men with each other as they fight for control of their own pack. As the wolf pack gets in their heads, so do each other. Will they make it?

I wish they could get a do-over with this movie, because the idea is interesting enough. Just not the execution. The Grey is way too long, and way too elongated. Sandwiched between some real compelling movie making are some really long, drawn out scenes that don't make this better. Plus, a big thumbs down to the actual wolf attack scenes. They are extremely hard to see and follow. I know, this is maybe what a wolf attack would be like, highly chaotic and all, but as a movie goer we are having a difficult time following it. Has the feel of wanting to take a safer, less expensive way out in the movie making.

The Grey also loses some momentum a real lack decent character development. It simply is a series of semi-action scenes, and we are really not cheering for anyone at all. They are simply characters on screen. Plus, The Grey has an ending that may leave many cold. No pun intended.

Neeson is good as always,but it's a shame that most elements that surround him are adequate, or average at best. Yeah you can feel the cold, and but you really aren't drawn in to feel the terror. This is a pretty good idea, that falls short.

The Grey. Not bad by any means, but certainly not what it should have been.