'Attack the Block' – 5 out of 5 stars

Posted to Arts & Entertainment by Ali Colwell at 4:16 p.m., Sept. 12, 2011

Director Joe Cornish’s film “Attack the Block” is by far one of the top films of 2011. This sci-fi whirlwind comes from many of the great minds behind “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” so going into this movie, one should expect great things. With Edgar Wright as an executive producer and Nick Frost playing a drug dealer, my interest was piqued from the very beginning.

“Attack the Block” is an inner city battle between extraterrestrial life and South London teenage thugs. It is engaging, fun and wildly creative. In the first few minutes, I thought to myself, “What was I thinking coming to see this movie? It’s so strange.” Fortunately, the pace of the film makes perfect sense as it goes on.

The acting is truly incredible, and the dynamic of the characters is something unseen for a long time in movies. Many of the actors are unknowns, with the exception of Nick Frost, but the talents of Jodie Whittaker and John Boyega along with the rest of the gang is something worth noting. Although the film had strong dialogue and writing, much of the success in this cast is simply from the chemistry and ability of each member.

On top of fantastic directing, production, acting and writing, the editing of “Attack the Block” really makes it stand out. Jonathan Amos, also an editor for "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (one of the best-edited films of 2010), worked this film to its core. His editing is flawless and flows perfectly from scene to scene. For a somewhat low-budget film, the alien designs were very inventive and unique. It was definitely an unexpected look, yet I found myself entranced with the design’s simplicity.

Overall, “Attack the Block” stands out from other stereotypical alien films. It brings alien life to a place where the characters will fight to protect their stomping grounds by any means necessary. This film is gritty, subtly humorous and more than worth watching. It would be hard to be disappointed with this film; the talent mixed with off-the-wall creativity gives it a fresh angle and something of an “X” factor.