Doom

Doom

Scott Manning
October 22, 2005

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Release Date: October 21st, 2005
Rating: R (for strong violence/gore and language)
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The PC game of the 90's
In the mid-nineties, you could find my dad, my brother, and me fighting for a seat at the computer to play Doom. For years, the various releases of this game kept us occupied. It got to the point that while one of us was playing, the other two would pull up a chair and watch.

I recall how my brother and I would attempt to use strategy by using different guns on different demons. My dad's technique involved a gatling gun, jumping into the middle of a room, and blasting his way through whatever came in his path. This was certainly more entertaining to watch, because my dad would talk trash to the computer screen.

A video game that causes you to yell back at it, is a good video game.

With its 3D design, extensive weapon choice, and blood squirting demons, Doom was a new step in gaming. At the time, it was the most popular PC game. In 1995, Doom was estimated to have been installed on more than 10 million computers.

Since that time, Doom has become a part of pop-culture among anyone involved with games or computers. Doom III was released for the PC in 2004 and its selling point was that it required the latest in video card technology to run properly.

Zero pre-excitement about Doom the movie
Even with all the history, a movie about a game that was originally released 12 years ago is tough to get excited about. The previews touted a first-person scene in the movie that would emulate the game, but how cool could that be?

Nevertheless, when a friend and I had a choice to see In Her Shoes with our wives, or catch Doom in another theater, we did what 95% of guys out there would have done.

Didn't I see this plot in 1986?
The intriguing teaser plot reads, "Something has gone wrong at a remote scientific research station on Mars. All research has ceased. Communication has failed. And the messages that do get through are less than comforting. It's a level 5 quarantine and the only souls allowed in or out are the Rapid Response Tactical Squad - hardened Space Marines armed to the teeth with enough firepower to neutralize the enemy... or so they think."

What more could you ask for in a guy-movie?

A group of futuristic, military grunts
A scientific expedition gone wrong on a remote planet
The group of grunts going to check everything out and discovering monsters that are eating everyone

It's a great concept, but since Aliens, it has never been done as well. It's amazing that nearly 20 years later, movies are still living in the shadow of this movie.

You're probably wondering why I'm comparing this movie to Aliens when Doom was made from a video game with a similar plot. One of the big aspects of the Doom video game was that it involved killing demons from Hell. Yes, actual soul-sucking demons. At the time, this made the video game unique on all levels.

In Doom the movie, the monsters are genetically mutated humans who have one too many chromosomes. No threat of the gates of Hell opening. No threat of Satan and legions of demons invading Earth. Lame.

By changing this part of the story, this movie has become nothing more than weak imitation of Aliens.

The Rock's Adult Vocabulary
For the first time in his movie career, The Rock learns how to use the F-word multiple times. He also turns into a believable villain that flips out and starts killing people. It's entertaining to watch the transformation, but not worth a theater visit.

The "super cool" first person view
The highly anticipated first-person view that lasted for a whopping three minutes was actually impressive. It was exactly like watching someone play Doom and was even freaky at times as the camera would edge around corners.

With this being the only forward-thinking piece of the movie, its impact was diluted because every trailer for the movie jumped up and down about this filming technique. I remember the The Rock and other stars of the movie sitting in an interview chair saying, "It's just like you're in the game."

Had this part been kept a under wraps, I could see a grass-roots discussion slowly growing over it. Fans would have been surprised and would have pushed for others to check it out.

Overall, Doom is a violent, cursing movie with zero surprises and a lame plot that shames the video game. It might be worth a video rental, but only if you have a coupon.