The Silent City (2006)

I feel the majority of the people leaving views on this short film (in the message boards) are missing the point. Projects like this are not made so much to entertain an audience (though it's an advantage to do so), but to showcase a director or film-making team's talents and abilities in the hope of being signed up to a full scale project.As with so many such short films we are shown on the UK's Channel 4, I am left disappointed at the resolution of the film, thinking, "Is that all there is?". But as a showcase of what the writer/director can do (and that he can interest a known actor such as Cillian Murphy into working with him), I'd say it was a success.I often feel cheated when there's no resolution to a short like this, even though I have seen many great movies where the viewer is left to ponder what the final result or outcome was, but I realise it was intended to interest a production company or perhaps a more established director looking for someone to handle second unit duties.In short (excuse the pun) this was an advert for Robinson, not necessarily entertainment for a regular audience, and in that sense it was successful in leaving people wanting more.I certainly wanted to know what the threat was to the soldiers, what was going to happen to them in the minutes following the end credits, but (even assuming Robinson himself knew) it was better for his purposes to leave things open-ended so that the aforementioned companies and directors would be intrigued enough to see what else Robinson can do.All the elements were well executed, assuming this was relatively low budget, from the opening moment where you wonder who the character is going to be, to the end where you wonder what is approaching, the lighting, decent CGI and SFX, and good camera work. this is one short where, although I am annoyed that I am left unsatisfied - confused even - I can appreciate it succeeded in its ultimate task - to create interest in the director.My score is based on what I believe the film's target was, rather than how much it satisfied me personally (for which it would have scored lower due to the "Is that it?" factor).

The short doesn't say much but it would have been a grate trailer for a movie based on the comic "Gone with the Blastwave".The movie in itself is very beautifully done, and while it doesn't do anything new or unexpected it is still worth looking at. The movie does resemble Enemy at the Gates a fair bit only in a future setting.It's hard to say what overall point of the movie is it seams to joust throw together some different scenes to make something happen and while successful it fails to make you attached in any way to the characters.The costuming in this movie is also very well done, the suits do actually look like futuristic combats suits if you are not to picky but i am surprised why Cillian Murphy was not given a larger role thou he is rly good and yet does not like say a single word. =(

I just loved this short film. The only thing I could say bad about this is... I WANT MORE!!!!!!!The feeling of being a soldier in a place that you could die in at any second was really well brought over. It reminded me of one of my favorite characters from 2000 AD, Rogue Trooper. I expected him to show up at any second :)The acting is also powerful. What a powerful statement for the troops now facing death in foreign lands.Brilliant - Please make this a full length film.Tony

The story revolves around 3 soldiers who are on the outskirts of a war torn city. They are patrolling an area when a bomb is accidentally set off and they have to wait for help. The short is, well, pretty short. Clocking in at just around 5 minutes, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot you can do in that amount of time but the imagery was certainly there. Well done cinematography and CG make for what could possibly be a full length ordeal if done by the same people.It took a bit, but while watching it I couldn't help but think that one of the soldiers looked a lot like Cillian Murphy. When the credits rolled, sure enough up came his name.Would definitely like to see more from this team.