Race Against Time (2000)

James Gabriel needs money if he's to pay his son's medical bills. If he doesn't find the cash promptly then the boy will die. It's the future, so there are ways, but there are also consequences – the big business type!
Without changing a single thing in the screenplay, if RAT had been made by someone like Cameron or Scott and starred whoever flavour of the month is at Hollywood Towers then it would've made millions at the summer box office; not because those guys are considered better directors than Geoff Murphy, but because it would've received more hype and more distribution. The script has everything in it that a typical, cleverer than usual, summer science fiction blockbuster has – even an amped-up action movie ending that sullies most of what came before it. As it exists, by TV standards, which is where it found a home, it's a better than average flick.

3 resource bracelets out of 5

Species II (1998)

A poorly received sequel to the poorly executed original that completely ignores the ending of the first film, which is something we all wished we could do. It brings back two of the lamest characters (Lenox and Baker) and attempts to offset their blankness by spicing things up with Natasha Henstridge in various states of undress.
There’s more depth to the story this time but the bulk of it is essentially a rewrite of the original. It’s pretty terrible, but it has some really great creature effects; the kind that the first film should’ve had.

2 natal nightmares out of 5

The 6th Day (2000)

Arnie gives what may be his worst performance since Hercules in New York (1969); he was dubbed in it and it would've improved matters had they followed the same tactics here. He's awful.
The script probably read like a Philip K Dick adaptation on paper, specifically Total Recall, and I suspect it was exactly that kind of kinetic, twisty sci-fi experience the producers wanted to replicate. Instead, they got two hours of bad acting and bad one-liners from the King of bad one-liners.

2 restore points out of 5