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Cube 2 [2002]
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Awful
Review date: 2008-08-29 Rating: 2 out of 10
I don't care how much you know about HS (that's hyperspace to all those that don't), this film is an absolute mess. It is simply a poor imitation of the first film consisting of a few lazily crafted ideas that are weakly strung together. As with all sequels of this nature the successful aspects of the original become overblown and the more subtle ones disappear completely. In this case, a well-paced story and believable characters are sacrificed for wacky plot twists and futuristic nonsense. This film series, in its entirety, is on par with the saw series: a highly original and enjoyable first film and a string of terrible sequels. Overall, this film is shocking!
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Reviews
A WEAK ENTRY
Review date: 2007-10-26 Rating: 6 out of 10
Waking up alone, Kate Filmore, (Kari Matchett) Simon Grady, (Geraint Wynn Davies) Sasha, (Grace Lynn Kung) Max Reisler, (Matthew Ferguson) Jerry Whitehall, (Neil Crone) Tom McGuire, (Bruce Gray) and Mrs. Paley, (Barbara Gordon) each find themselves trapped in a large structure together. Trying to determine a way out of the structure, they find it is a series rooms with weird numbers scratched all over the walls. Discovering that they are in a hypercube, which has four dimensions across it and can fold back in on itself, which forces them to believe that an alternate reality is inside, as well as their self. Forced to take action, they try to solve the riddle of the cube and escape before they're killed off.
The Good News: There isn't a whole lot here to really like. The hyper-dimensionality allows for a lot of fascinating ideas to play around with. Gravity operates at a different angle in some rooms, time operates at a different pace in other rooms so that at time, they see other people alternately sped up or slowed down, and of course, doors open up into alternate realities and points in time, which allows them to constantly meet different versions of themselves. In one simply fascinating scene, one of the characters opens a door and sees them-self staring back. Reaching out to grasp the hand, another character appears from behind, kills the parallel version before being wiped out by a wall of crystalline shapes. It's a compulsively fascinating moment that works quite effectively for it's creativity. Another scene shows on of them stabbing a character in the eye, only to then turn around and encounter them on the other side of the room a moment later, having aged several years and seeking revenge. Outside of these great ideas, the film is pretty hollow.
The Bad News: There's a lot here that doesn't work. As a whole, this is a mess of a movie. It differs so much from the original that it's almost in a different series, with only the main premise and the cube structure remaining. Gone are the numerous, and quite cool, traps from the original, replaced here with a trap that will spring only if too much time is spent in a room rather than being the structure of the room itself, and in their place is a much too talky, confused, and poorly written movie. Not once does it fall together so that a simply answer can be arrived at that will explain everything, and instead, it just chooses to get more and more incoherent ending up being way too complicated for its own good. Even the traps that do spring up aren't that great, being simply a multiplying square that morphs into a spinning shape, not at all that creative or impressive. The laser-wall isn't that bad, but otherwise, the traps in here are barely worth mentioning, not being that great at all and nowhere near the inventiveness or cruelty of the originals. The extreme amount of down-time in here is also a problem, since it takes nearly forever for the film to get going. After introducing themselves, it takes nearly forty minutes before the first trap is sprung, and that's far too long to be standing around arguing with each other. That's the main gist of the middle of the film, long sequences of everyone arguing about what each clue supposedly means or where each person came from. This is a downer and makes the middle seem like it takes forever, and coupled with the weak, confusing story and lack of inventive traps, really brings this down.
The Final Verdict: With a couple of decent scenes and ideas thrown in, this is a really hard movie to recommend to anyone. Fans of the original might like it, but it only has to be the most forgiving fans to do so. If you want to really watch it, watch it before seeing the original or not back-to-back, the differences will be quite startling.
Is There Something Wrong With Me? I Loved It!
Review date: 2006-12-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
I first saw the original Cube on the Sci-Fi channel and was absolutely bowled over by it. Some weeks later they screened Cube 2 and I really wasn't expecting much from it. After all, sequels are always rubbish aren't they? This sequel, however, I thought was at least equal to, if not actually better than, the original. Don't get me wrong, I think Cube is absolutely brilliant, but Cube 2 is brighter, more complex, and with some fantastic special effects (I really don't see how they can be described as "cheap"). The big disapointment for me is the "prequel" Cube Zero, which, as far as I am concerned, was simply an attempt to squeeze a bit more cash out of the franchise.
The whole idea of people finding themselves inside a cube, with no idea of how they got there, and surrounded by lots of other cubes, some of which are lethal, is really surreal, and puts me in mind of Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner," (or Franz Kafka's "The Trial"). Perhaps the thinking behind all of these creations is the idea that we are not really in control of our lives. Our lives are being controlled, in various ways, by "Big Brother," "Big Business," "The State," etc., over which we have very little, if any, real or actual control ourselves.
Please don't be put off buying Cube 2. Don't try to be too sophisticated or intellectual. Just watch it and enjoy it.
Abysmal.
Review date: 2006-02-14 Rating: 2 out of 10
I bought the cube box set a few weeks ago. I watched the origional cube, and found it different, and rather creepy. Ten minutes later I put this one on and was completely dissappointed. The film was definately under budgeted, there was hardly any relation to the first(, apart from the fact that the rooms were cube shaped). It tries to be too clever, like using time speed-ups to kill off a couple of people. The ending was thoughtless(, shooting the main character, what's that all about,)and there wasn't really any plot atall. OK, the origional didn't have much of one either, but it made up for it in everything else!
Basically, 8 people wake up in cube shaped rooms, and need to get out of the cube, which is operated in the 4th dimention(, which in the film is VERY UNCONVINCING,)and is unstable. I nearly didn't watch the prequel(,which is amazing), but I did. DO NOT BUY THIS.
hyped-cube
Review date: 2006-02-04 Rating: 4 out of 10
The original Cube was a great film - different, edgy and gripping. I'm afraid that the sequel just doesn't work, though it has nearly identical ingredients. The film tries to be too clever and modern, failing to use hyperspace, extra-dimensions or anything else in a way that would make sense. Its more like a bad-remake of the original, with an absolutely dire and unrelated ending that seems to have been tacked on without any thought. A bit of a shame, when you consider the quality of the original. The female lead makes the best of the poor script however.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Matthew Ferguson
Barbara Gordon
Geraint Wyn Davies
Neil Crone
Kari Matchett
Creators:
Kari Matchett (Primary Contributor)
Neil Crone (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Mosaic Movies
Manufacturer: Mosaic Movies
EAN: 7321900938365
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2003-04-21
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002
Language: English (Original Language)