Polished graphics and an exciting enough story but, even if it were fleshed out more, I couldn't imagine this being any more than the short story that it is. Very watchable though and reminded me to keep a torch handy at all times. 7.5/10.
29 Reviews
Metal head II
newpapyrus14 May 2021
Life Starsky and . . .
southdavid28 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Netflix's "Love, Death and Robots" series returns for a second run. Overall, I enjoyed the first season and wrote short individual reviews for each episode and I think I'll take the same approach here.
Terence (Michael B Jordan) crashes his star fighter on a lifeless planet in the midst of a space battle. Short on oxygen, he struggles to get too an automated life raft, a parachuted in room on the planet where he can radio for rescue and one with an oxygen generation facility. Barely making it, his situation worsens when the shelters maintenance droid is damaged and begins to attack him.
Like the episode in the first season with Samira Wiley, this penultimate episode is another ultra-realistic CGI effort where Michael B Jordan's likeness, as well as his vocal performance is used. It's not quite as staggering visually as the "Snow in the Desert" episode but it's not far behind.
Storyline wise it's solid, if a little underwhelming. It's never entirely clear why the robot is capable of doing damage it does or what's exactly has gone wrong with it. I also didn't really understand the need for the time jumps in the story, the back story didn't reveal anything that changed the present situation, we just cut back and forth for no reason.
Technically excellent, but a mediocre story.
Terence (Michael B Jordan) crashes his star fighter on a lifeless planet in the midst of a space battle. Short on oxygen, he struggles to get too an automated life raft, a parachuted in room on the planet where he can radio for rescue and one with an oxygen generation facility. Barely making it, his situation worsens when the shelters maintenance droid is damaged and begins to attack him.
Like the episode in the first season with Samira Wiley, this penultimate episode is another ultra-realistic CGI effort where Michael B Jordan's likeness, as well as his vocal performance is used. It's not quite as staggering visually as the "Snow in the Desert" episode but it's not far behind.
Storyline wise it's solid, if a little underwhelming. It's never entirely clear why the robot is capable of doing damage it does or what's exactly has gone wrong with it. I also didn't really understand the need for the time jumps in the story, the back story didn't reveal anything that changed the present situation, we just cut back and forth for no reason.
Technically excellent, but a mediocre story.
Worst episode of the series?
kviner-2829524 May 2021
It's kinda depresing how much work went into episode that didnt amount to anything. Was it supposed to be scary? Tell a good story and be impactful?
Because if the only goal was to show off the vfx and animations then in my opinion it was a waste.
The entire robot's design was so absurd it really shows it was only made this way to match the equally dumb plot.
Because if the only goal was to show off the vfx and animations then in my opinion it was a waste.
The entire robot's design was so absurd it really shows it was only made this way to match the equally dumb plot.
Don't move a muscle.
Pjtaylor-96-1380444 June 2021
'Life Hutch (2021)' is a non-linear short about a fighter pilot who crash lands on an alien planet and comes under attack from a malfunctioning member of his own maintenance crew. The story itself is very slight, padded with unnecessary flashbacks that sort of prevent it from having a proper sense of pace. It's not bad, just a bit underwhelming. The main situation is actually rather tense, as our hero must stay as still as possible (despite his injuries) in order to remain undetected, but it does amount to a movie in which our main character is ostensibly just sitting against a desk for most of the runtime. It isn't especially boring, per se, but it isn't all that dynamic, either. The thing works best when it puts its protagonist in direct conflict with his robotic assailant, as he has to come up with clever ways to tackle his physically superior foe. It's a shame that all the flashbacks feel unnecessary, as a non-linear approach could have been interesting if it was used to introduce information previously unknown to the audience. Still, the short is entertaining enough for what it is and (aside from a few shots) it's fairly graphically impressive, too. 6/10.
Too short
fibulator77716 May 2021
First: for those saying "Oh, he looked so real"... it's because that *was* a real person. Look at the cast, and notice the "(Voice)" is absent for animated character voice acting.
Second... LOVE the animation. Here kitty kitty!
Third: It really felt like it was missing too much to be an episode of anything.
Second... LOVE the animation. Here kitty kitty!
Third: It really felt like it was missing too much to be an episode of anything.
Finally, some robots this season!
noxaman11 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I feel like the "stuck in a room with a rabid dog" thing has been done before, but I honestly can't remember where. Either way, space robots is a good way to do it. I liked the brief flashbacks, they actually have a bit of texture to the story, as well as some limited context explaining who the protagonist might be.
Finally, the laser pointer was a pretty great idea. Well done overall.
Finally, the laser pointer was a pretty great idea. Well done overall.
Nice, uncomplicated story.
Del_Wares14 May 2021
Simple but fun. You may like the wonderful animation that resembles a live-action movie.
The plot is not too complicated, but it doesn't have to be that way. It is enough for the story to be engaging and entertaining.
The plot is not too complicated, but it doesn't have to be that way. It is enough for the story to be engaging and entertaining.
One of te best in Season 2
altug-gurkaynak19 May 2021
Intense!
thefoochie14 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was basically just about a guy trying to escape from a deadly robot, and he has to be as still as possible so that it doesn't see him. The robot reminded me a lot of a T. Rex. I like that the episode makes us think that the main character isn't going to live, because I did not expect him to kill the robot. Like "the tall grass", this was another thrilling and scary episode.
Two short movies in one.
parkrangerno714 May 2021
A wounded starship pilot needs to fight off a malfunctioning maintenance robot to get to safety, after his ship crashes after a space fight. The main character (who looks extremely real, which is not always the case for animated humans) only speaks two words in the entire movie. Not more is needed for an exciting thrill ride - both in an intergalactic space fight, as well as on the ground, mano a mano (or whatever the robot equivalent is).
Exciting little movie.
Exciting little movie.
As a critique on the state of frustrating design this is a solid 10
charvey-zoom30 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
IF (and possibly a big if) this is viewed primarily as a hyperbole of the frustration that can accompany having to wrestle with poorly designed/engineered tech and services then this rates very highly with me. The feeling of reaching out for help when in need (any level of need) only to be met with a series of additional challenges getting in the way of ones goal can be VERY frustrating and emotional.
However if this is the intent it isn't made to be conspicuous enough. If this is the end goal of this short than it is lacking something contextual in a similar way to the analogous content.
Either way, this was a frustrating short. Breaking up the sequential narrative did nothing to drive the plot (whatever it was supposed to be), and the individual demands to suspend one's disbelief number in the dozens. Not least of which is the practical valuation of the Life Hutch concept in and of itself-even with a functioning "maintenance" robot.
However if this is the intent it isn't made to be conspicuous enough. If this is the end goal of this short than it is lacking something contextual in a similar way to the analogous content.
Either way, this was a frustrating short. Breaking up the sequential narrative did nothing to drive the plot (whatever it was supposed to be), and the individual demands to suspend one's disbelief number in the dozens. Not least of which is the practical valuation of the Life Hutch concept in and of itself-even with a functioning "maintenance" robot.
It was ok.
lawrencelawrence8614 May 2021
Not the best
NordicSwan180417 May 2021
okay
tylervt2 June 2021
It was a bit too predictable, and the "story" part of this episode seemed to be just tacked on for the sake of time and did not feel natural or original.
The animation looked great and the space dogfights looked cool but felt pointless. Maybe if more time had been spent on the "before" and the malfunctioned robot was less important it may have been better.
The animation looked great and the space dogfights looked cool but felt pointless. Maybe if more time had been spent on the "before" and the malfunctioned robot was less important it may have been better.
I hate machines
00Yasser14 May 2021
Weakest episode imo
imxhill5 March 2022
It's an episode starring Michael B. Jordan. It is reminiscent of the "Lucky 13" episode of Season 1 due to various factors such as animation that cannot be distinguished from due diligence, and the main character in a spaceship and spacesuit.
Overall, it was not a bad and worth watching, but after I see the episode and think about it over time, I think it's the least prominent episode in season 2. In many ways, it seems to be a little less interesting than "Lucky 13" or "Snow," which also showed live-action animations in the same season.
Overall, it was not a bad and worth watching, but after I see the episode and think about it over time, I think it's the least prominent episode in season 2. In many ways, it seems to be a little less interesting than "Lucky 13" or "Snow," which also showed live-action animations in the same season.
Life Hutch - Educational Value
KynnieJames9 June 2023
Life Hitch doesn't necessary pose any connected story to the "Love, Death, Robots" series. It more poses a creative way the director has portrayed science fiction. A good way of using this short film is to compare it to another sci-fi film, and take into account that this shows us how humanity will develop in their technological advancements over time, and how this short film can inspire or warn us about the future of society. This short film wasn't exactly made for a story, more the purpose of the audiences understanding that this very well could be what society is like in the future, and how we can adapt this knowledge into the real world.
Very close to the short story
tig-9316325 July 2022
Another review laments that this was a waste of Mr. Jordans skills as an actor.
I felt that he portrayed an exhausted fighter pilot (Terrance) who finds himself in an unexpected and very unique life or death position very well.
The service robot is too sleek, large and catlike to be in such a small rescue hutch, but hey, its what the kids want and expect.
Read the short story and get the full picture.
I felt that he portrayed an exhausted fighter pilot (Terrance) who finds himself in an unexpected and very unique life or death position very well.
The service robot is too sleek, large and catlike to be in such a small rescue hutch, but hey, its what the kids want and expect.
Read the short story and get the full picture.
What a waste
parkersmitthy16 May 2021
Very simple
martin11049714 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was excited to watch this because of Michael B. Jordan's involvement in it, which made me expect one of the stronger episodes of the series. It was okay for what it was, but I never felt particularly invested and by the end of I just found myself thinking, ''That was it?''. The concept of it is incredibly simple. There is nothing really new about it, and in terms of survival stories, there are some much stronger ones out there and this one just fell really flat for me.
Spoilers:
Usually with survival stories like these, you would expect some meaningful backstory and some reasons to actually care for the protagonist. Michael B. Jordan however is just a nameless fighter pilot. We are shown some of the events leading up to his crash, but none of it really holds any meaning. It just happens, and doesn't tell us anything about his character. Like let's say, he has a fatal flaw in his personality and ways of doing things, that got him into this situation. But no, his ship is shot and he crashlands on a planet. There are no meaningful character relationships, either. Usually in a survival story, the character will try to survive for someone else's sake, like a love interest or a kid. Something in their life keeps them wanting to survive, but Michael B. Jordan just wants to survive and the entire event just seems more like an inconvenience than anything else. The events of the story are also incredibly random. The entire conflict is that an unfeeling maintenance robot is malfunctioning, which for some reason makes it want to destroy anything that moves. So MBJ has to feign death, so the robot doesn't kill him. During his flashbacks of events leading up to his crash, he remembers that he has a flashlight in his pocket, and thinks of a way out. He uses the flashlight to trick the maintenance robot into attacking itself, and manages to overpower it. The story then ends with MBJ calling for rescue, and the computerized voice confirms that rescue is on the way. Again, would be nice if everything didn't just work out in the end, and that they left us with some kind of ambiguity as to whether he would be rescued or not. But no, he most likely gets rescued and in the end, we have no reason to care at all.
Overall one of the weakest episodes, and I don't understand what the point of MBJ was. Why get a well-known and talented actor to play a character that has absolutely no character?
Spoilers:
Usually with survival stories like these, you would expect some meaningful backstory and some reasons to actually care for the protagonist. Michael B. Jordan however is just a nameless fighter pilot. We are shown some of the events leading up to his crash, but none of it really holds any meaning. It just happens, and doesn't tell us anything about his character. Like let's say, he has a fatal flaw in his personality and ways of doing things, that got him into this situation. But no, his ship is shot and he crashlands on a planet. There are no meaningful character relationships, either. Usually in a survival story, the character will try to survive for someone else's sake, like a love interest or a kid. Something in their life keeps them wanting to survive, but Michael B. Jordan just wants to survive and the entire event just seems more like an inconvenience than anything else. The events of the story are also incredibly random. The entire conflict is that an unfeeling maintenance robot is malfunctioning, which for some reason makes it want to destroy anything that moves. So MBJ has to feign death, so the robot doesn't kill him. During his flashbacks of events leading up to his crash, he remembers that he has a flashlight in his pocket, and thinks of a way out. He uses the flashlight to trick the maintenance robot into attacking itself, and manages to overpower it. The story then ends with MBJ calling for rescue, and the computerized voice confirms that rescue is on the way. Again, would be nice if everything didn't just work out in the end, and that they left us with some kind of ambiguity as to whether he would be rescued or not. But no, he most likely gets rescued and in the end, we have no reason to care at all.
Overall one of the weakest episodes, and I don't understand what the point of MBJ was. Why get a well-known and talented actor to play a character that has absolutely no character?
Red Planet
tenacdme30 May 2021
Clichéd, uninteresting
thebenjaminnunn4 June 2021
Style over substance
reaver-0551523 June 2021
Nice animation is really all this episode has. The story feels like it is essentially just two scenes cut from a larger movie, and packaged as a standalone tale.
Sadly, they don't even seem like the most gripping scenes from this non-existent larger movie!
Sadly, they don't even seem like the most gripping scenes from this non-existent larger movie!
See also
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