Review: Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Reviews

The Ruins

Vegetation and gore

By TOM MEEK | April 9, 2008

1.0 Stars

The Ruins

In Carter Smith’s adaptation of the popular novel by Scott Smith (A Simple Plan), a group of archæologically minded twentysomethings check out an ancient Mayan temple in the Mexican jungle and wind up with hell to pay. So does the audience. At first the trouble’s with the angry Indians (no English, no Spanish), who won’t let our heroes leave the confines of the temple. Then the young hotties (Jonathan Tucker and Jena Malone among the disposable) realize they’re quarantined because of the killer ivy that shrouds the ancient structure. Via spores, the vegetation can invade a person from the inside out; its buds can even emulate a cellphone call to lure a victim to his or her doom. It’s an inane and boring concept — imagine Little Shop of Horrors played straight. The scenes of impromptu amputation and self-mutilation do jolt, but that and some egregious T&A aside, Smith’s film just vegetates. 91 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle + suburbs

Related: Pulse, Disorientation 2007, Review: Milk, More

Topics: Reviews , Scott Smith, Simple Plan, Carter Smith, More

| More

ARTICLES BY TOM MEEK

REVIEW: GOD BLESS AMERICA | May 17, 2012
The latest dark comedy from Bobcat Goldthwait tackles both vapid celebrity culture ( i.e. , Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, and American Idol ) and the indignity of being an office drone.

REVIEW: THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS | April 24, 2012
Peter Lord, animator behind claymation staples Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run , directs this very British, very dry romp on the high seas during the time when Britannia did indeed rule the waves.

REVIEW: GOD BLESS AMERICA | April 18, 2012
The latest dark comedy from Bobcat Goldthwait tackles both vapid celebrity culture (i.e., Paris Hilton, the Kardashians and American Idol) and the indignity of being an office drone.

REVIEW: UNDEFEATED | March 15, 2012
Dan Lindsay and T. J. Martin's Oscar-winning documentary about an underequipped high-school football team competing against big-time programs across Tennessee offers a potent contemplation on race and opportunity.

REVIEW: DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX | March 01, 2012
Regrettably, this team loses a lot of Seuss's quirkiness, though not the message about corporate greed and slash-and-burn imperialism.