(2.5 out of 5 stars)

10,000 B.C. is entertaining. It has some cool special effects; the woolly mammoths, the under construction Egyptian pyramids, and it has some decent action scenes, but acting like it is a historical epic, this movie falls flat. With mostly unknown actors, the movie provides entertainment and is big enough to command a theater viewing, but if you want to take it serious at all, just stay home.

The movie follows the adventure of a civilization trying to survive until a future fulfilled prophesy. Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla) directs with his usual flare for larger than life sets and occurrences. The huge pyramids, the massive sails on those boats, and the woolly mammoths give the viewer an awesome visual, but does nothing more than that. This movie’s plot follows this prophecy being fulfilled, which even though it moves along, it is predictable and kind of boring especially with that horrible narrator. Thank goodness this movie is not another Godzilla, but it is certainly not as great as Independence Day.

How about that saber tooth tiger from the previews. The scene is not all that great really, and the tiger is too CG. The tiger was not as believable as the woolly mammoths and I can’t seem to figure out why. Less is more, and this movie proves that more can be less. If they could have simplified things, the attempt to wow us with special effects could have rather been focused on the story and mood. This movie is very similar to Peter Jackson’s King Kong. It was too much special effects and not enough attention to the smaller things.

This movie is a Saturday afternoon viewing, but nothing more than matinee faire. With a larger television, the movie should play decent in the house too, just don’t be too sleepy or you may start wondering if you can curl up next to one of the mammoths and take a nap.

Similar recommended titles: Apocalypto and The Day After Tomorrow