Ken The Critic/Attack The Block

Alien movies are popular this summer, but none of them are unique as Attack the Block. From the producers of Shaun of the Dead, this action comedy comes to America with the same smart banter, yet has more of a serious side to it. A teen gang from a South London housing project fights against an alien attack. Director and writer Joe Cornish was inspired to write this film when he was mugged and recognized that his attackers were as scared as he was much like the opening scene where a white nurse is jumped by a bunch of inner city guys.

In Attack the Block, Moses (John Boyega) leads the gang and even though he may be considered a hoodlum, he takes charge when the aliens start invading. He and the gang even get help from the lady, Sam (Jodie Whittacker), that they mugged as she helps bandage one of the gang members up after being attacked. They come together and step up to the plate to defend their block against aliens that look like black cats with glowing green teeth. Ron (Nick Frost) is the housing project's marijuana dealer and adds a lot of laughs to the group.

Joe Cornish has been a writer for quite a while, but does an excellent job on this directorial debut. This is a smart and savvy story that in the midst of fighting off aliens, also overcomes racial barriers and class differences. Cornish says most stories has a kid in the inner city starting out good and spirals down in his life. He wanted to have the opposite with kids that are tough and actually redeem themselves. And redemption Cornish does! We get to see more of his skilled writing in Steven Spielberg's upcoming The Adventures of Tintin.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ken The Critic
• Attack The Block
• KEYE TV
• Joe Cornish
• John Boyega
• Jodie Whittacker
• Nick Frost

[JonasPolsky]

"They're bein' a-vaded by aliens"