ThedevilChoose
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Derry Herrera
Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
SnoopyStyle
Ben (Jeremy Irvine) is hard up for cash. He's hired by wealthy, ruthless businessman John Madec (Michael Douglas) to be his hunting guide in the desert. Madec has an expensive new truck with all the gadgets and a high powered modern rifle. However, he doesn't have a permit to hunt the bighorn. He bribes Ben with a wad of cash. He carelessly shoots and kills an old prospector. It's a start of a deadly game as Madec tries to cover up his culpability. He leaves Ben in his underwear to die in the scorching desert.It tries to be a hard-edged modern western. Michael Douglas tries too hard to be the villain which borders on camp at times. He needs to tone down the performance which would elevate the tension. The point is to avoid a B-movie sensibility. This does not do that completely successfully. It could have worked a little better as a strict human hunt. Instead, there are lots of little questionable turns. It could have been better.
juanmuscle
I mean Michael plays some dark angel of death in the latter half and in the beginning he plays a business savvy sociopath with zero feelings, not much of a stretch but really parallels the dichotomy very well. I guess you really have to be an insensitive jerk to really enjoy having either one of those characteristics define your persona. Personally, I thought Mr. Douglas really enjoyed acting like he was acting like a jerk, so makes me wonder, lol, jk... (What a really cool thespian!) But man was this a cool premise, makes me think what would I have done. I mean here is a guy with all the wherewithal in the world do do almost whatever he likes yet entrammelled somewhither wholly out of his element with his nemesis, a really sweet angel who can't be bought out, (save the cash advance in the beginning), but we all fall, then later sees the error of his ways and begins his penitent journey back to reconcile with his good true nature. If Michael's character was ever any good and just simply sold out or are some people just born "not all there" as he refers to Charlie, who knows... You kind of get an impression that if Charlie accidentally shot someone he would make amends within the boundaries of the law without skipping a humdrum beat. The theme really hits home when it comes to never really being able to truly give yourself wholly to the nonce such that we might make a start to enjoy what we have, whether copious or a miserly dearth.
Argemaluco
Beyond the Reach might evoke memories of films such as The Edge, Surviving the Game or any other one which borrowed the "human hunt" concept. Inside that narrow sub-genus, Beyond the Reach isn't the best one or the worst one, because despite offering good performances and impressive natural settings, it didn't leave me very satisfied due to a screenplay which loses credibility as the actions of the characters get more absurd, until reaching an absolutely forced and improbable ending. Or, better said, "endings", because Beyond the Reach is one of those films which don't know when to end, and need to throw us twists until the last moment in an effort to seem more ingenious or transcend the simplicity of a formula which didn't need such a flourish to leave the spectator satisfied. Needless to say, the result is exactly the opposite. On the positive side, we have the competent performances. Michael Douglas shows charisma and absolute credibility in his role, while Jereme Irvine also makes an efficient work, while being able not to get darkened by Douglas' overwhelming presence. I also have to mention the amazing Merecedes Benz G63 AMG 6x6 driven by the character John Madec; its design is imposing, like the son of a trailer and a Humvee, with so many functions and compartments that it's the closest I have seen to a Batmobile in the real world... even though I don't know whether Batman would have a kettle integrated to his vehicle. He would probably prefer to inject himself vials of caffeine, or something like that. Anyway, going back to the point, Beyond the Reach didn't bore me, and Douglas and Irvine make a solid work in their roles, but the whims of the screenplay and its absurd conclusion avoid me from recommending it with too much enthusiasm... except as a commercial of Mercedes Benz. I was truly left impressed by the G63, but I prefer my Volkswagen for the urban environment.
lathe-of-heaven
Okay, if we were rating this film directly against ALL movies of all time, clearly it isn't THAT big of a deal. BUT... and, I'm NOT going to go into the OBVIOUS story details like EVERY other stink'n reviewer REPETITIVELY mentions in EVERY bloody review... I would THINK that you have the basic idea by now... (GEEZ...) Anyway, as I was 'saying'... In all honesty, although the film is not a brilliant masterpiece or work of breathtaking art, I felt that it was a very simple story that was well told and well acted. And, even as predictable as EVERYONE bloody knows it is going to be, I still genuinely enjoyed it and found it entertaining. I'm pretty SURE that the fact that Michael Douglas was one of the main stars probably had something to do with that.One thing that I WILL mention, without giving too much away... is that I kind of liked the REASON why things came about the way they did. Normally, with this type of familiar story, the motivation is different. Again, without saying too much, I found it a bit or a surprise that the reason was not as premeditated as I had expected it to be.Another thing too. I was bloody SHOCKED at how frigg'n OLD Ronny Cox looked. I'm thinking, 'GEEZ, this is the Bad@ss guy in 'ROBOCOP' and 'TOTAL RECALL'...??? This is the guy who kicked TOTAL @ss playing Captain Jellico in STAR TREK: TNG? How very sad...So... with such a COMPLETELY simple and familiar story, what really can you say...? Except, is it done well? Is it entertaining? Is it worth watching...?Sure... as long as you KNOW what kind of movie it is and you LIKE these types of films.ANYONE even slightly contemplating watching this film pretty much knows what it is going to be about, so.... IF knowing that, and you still are interested, and if you also happen to like Michael Douglass, sure, I think you might very well find it fun and entertaining, as long as you are realistically NOT expecting Shakespeare, 'CITIZEN KANE' or 'BLADE RUNNER' (sorry, I HAD to include 'BLADE RUNNER'... :)
