Land of Bad (2024)★ 6.7/10

For a modestly budgeted production, the film looks and sounds surprisingly polished. Some of the explosive sequences, enhanced by dynamic camera work, stand out without relying on spectacle. The gunfire—whether from AKs, ARs, sniper rifles, or M2s—sounds authentic, a welcome change from the generic effects used in similar action flicks.

The acting is solid and the pacing holds tension well. The atmosphere in several key scenes is palpable. Yet there’s a jarring moment where, during a torture sequence, a teammate is executed and the protagonist abruptly loses a tooth—either a clumsy edit or censored violence, but either way it disrupts the flow.

This military action flick is a wild ride overall, with a well-paced plot that keeps you hooked. Some of the military stuff is a little rough, and the ending gets a bit dramatic, but it doesn't detract from how good the movie is. Liam Hemsworth plays the lead, and he looks really charming. In short, this movie blows many big, boring action movies out of the water with just a $25 million budget. Nice job.

This is a solid anti-terrorism action flick, with the smaller battles feeling pretty realistic. But the pacing is a bit hit or miss, with the first half dragging a bit; all that drone operator chatter really slows things down. But once the main characters start getting into trouble, the story picks up and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Luke Hemsworth is incredible in this role. I almost didn't recognize him at first.

I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10. It's a unique film that keeps up with the pace of modern warfare. Some scenes sacrifice logical coherence for critical commentary, and certain subplots are simplified. However, luckily, it's still a standout commercial film thanks to its good storytelling rhythm, impactful battle sequences that offer a sense of scale and entertainment value, skillful atmosphere-building, and effective use of the first-person perspective.

This film is a meticulously crafted educational piece about modern war. The pacing is good in the first half but relies too much on coincidences in the latter half. The parallel editing at the end falls flat, and the scene of Reaper strolling through the supermarket feels drawn-out. However, the actors deliver a decent performance.

It's actually alright, so it's worth watching. It may not have a big budget, but it still delivers without any dull moments. The way they kick off the storytelling is solid, with a great contrast between clerical officers and frontline soldiers, which feels fresh and interesting. The casting choices are intriguing, too. The director did a good job, and they're clearly aiming for big things with their low-budget genre films.

It's pretty rare to come across a military action movie that's so understated yet reliable. The storyline is straightforward overall, but the tight, thrilling action sequences immerse the audience. Some unexpected events disrupt the plans, and the explosion scenes no longer rely on cheesy post-production effects. It's a decent movie with a low budget but high production value.

Another military film. But now the drone is one of the main protagonists.

Para uma produção com orçamento modesto, o filme parece e soa surpreendentemente polido. Algumas das sequências explosivas, realçadas por um trabalho de câmera dinâmico, se destacam sem depender de espetáculo. Os tiros — sejam de AKs, ARs, rifles de precisão ou M2s — soam autênticos, uma mudança bem-vinda em relação aos efeitos genéricos usados em filmes de ação semelhantes.

Para una producción con un presupuesto modesto, la película se ve y suena sorprendentemente refinada. Algunas de las secuencias explosivas, mejoradas con un trabajo de cámara dinámico, se destacan sin depender de un espectáculo. Los disparos (de AK, AR, fusiles de francotiradores o ametralladoras) suenan auténticos, un cambio para mejor en comparación con los efectos genéricos utilizados en películas de acción similares.

La actuación es sólida y el ritmo mantiene bien la tensión. La atmósfera en muchas escenas cruciales es palpable. Sin embargo, hay un momento discordante en el que, durante una secuencia de tortura, un miembro del equipo es ejecutado y el protagonista pierde abruptamente un diente, ya sea producto de una edición descuidada o violencia censurada, altera el flujo.