Chicago hasn’t seen devastation like this since Ms. O’Leary’s cow. The massive destruction of this famous skyline is an impressive example of computer generated Imagery (CGI). For those of you that don’t know your American history, Catherine O’Leary was an Irish immigrant that lived in the Chicago area. She was famous for her cow being accused of starting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
This one time video game now comes to life and destroys a city near you. Rampage was a once popular 1986 arcade game created by Bally Midway that depicts three gigantic monsters (formerly human) trying to escape the massive assaults from armed forces. As in the film, these creatures are exposed to a genetic chemical that mutates its hosts’ DNA and makes them become dangerously violent.
George (Jason Liles) is a rare albino gorilla that was raised in a San Diego animal preserve and loves roaming the large jungle compound. His friend and primatologist, Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) the head of an anti-poaching unit out of Rwanda, saved George when he was a 2 year old infant from poachers. Together their bond is unbreakable as they continue to learn about each other’s species.
When an experiment goes bad, the samples of this new genetic serum leaks out to the population causing havoc on three animals and creating them into creatures that are now threatening earth. Claire Wyden (Malin Akerman), the company CEO responsible for the creation of this genetic serum for project Rampage, and her brother and assistant Brett Wyden (Jake Lacy), decide to keep things a secret. When they decide to deploy a private military group led by Burke (Joe Manganiello) to hunt down and capture these infected animals, things begin to go awry.
After George becomes infected, Davis tries to protect him by keeping the gorilla isolated, but his condition becomes worse and he is forced to let him go. With help from Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), a discredited genetic engineer and Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the government agent who assigned the task of overseeing the capture of these creatures, they begin trying to find a way to reverse the genetic condition.
Director Brad Peyton, does an excellent job presenting the storyline, but as usual with these type of stories many scenes look unrealistic. However he does a spectacular job presenting the special effects throughout the film. Especially the computer generated imagery (CGI) as the animals are magically formed into gigantic monsters and sometimes from deformed creatures.
But, when watching the 3D format, nothing seemed to standout. All in all, I feel Rampage is only an average film that’s entertains visually but looses its value in the storyline.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the production value with fantastic special effects, but was not excited about the story. (3 out of 5 stars)
Additional Film Information
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jake Lacy, and Joe Manganiello.
Directed by: Brad Peyton
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief language, and crude gestures.
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes.
Release Date: April 13, 2018
Distributed By: New Line Cinema
Released In: IMAX, 3D Real, Dolby Digital
