Jaden Smith battles monkeys and tigers in two 'After Earth' clips

One of the big questions surrounding the success of M. Night Shymalan's After Earth was whether audiences would be willing to show up for a film that seems to focus less on Will Smith and more on his son, Jaden. As the release date rapidly approaches, Sony has released a pair of clips that show how Will is going to be very much a part of the story, even as it's Jaden's character who undertakes the perilous journey at the heart of it.

Jaden is Kitai Raige, who must trek miles of treacherous territory to signal a rescue beacon and save his father Cypher Raige after their ship crash lands on a ruined, evacuated Earth. The first clip features Kitai in a fierce standoff against a bunch of angry monkeys, but we see that he's in close communication with Cypher, who can see everything that's going on and dispense information. There's an interesting dynamic at play in that Kitai may be trying to live up to his father's expectations, and that could get him in even greater trouble. The second clip appears to take place immediately after and involves a prowling tiger.

Frankly, these clips don't impress me much, and the idea of watching Jaden climb trees and run from zoo animals sounds incredibly dull. After Earth opens on May 31st.


After Earth Clip by Teaser-Trailer.com