Jupiter Asending

Jupiter Ascending, released February 6th, can be added to the list of box office failures that sare seemingly hitting theaters nonstop in early 2015. Directed by the Wachowski Siblings(Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski), this film was expected to be a must see sci-fi action adventure for moviegoers, with the latest visual effects and all-star cast. Sadly, this was not at all the case. The first week was an absolute disaster for the film. With an estimated 200 million dollar budget, opening weekend brought in under 50 million dollars in both domestic and foreign theaters.

(Here comes the plot summary. Try to bare with me)
This film is about a woman named Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) who is a struggling cleaning woman for rich residents of the city of Chicago. One day, during a routine surgery operation, she is attacked by aliens that are posed as human doctors. Luckily she is saved by an alien adventurer by the name of Caine Wise (Channing Tatem). We then find out that an alien prince by the name of Balem (Eddie Redmayne) wants Jupiter dead so that he can inherit a production plant on the planet Jupiter and rights to the Earth. If she is left to live Balem will not receive his inheritance due to the fact that Jupiter is a genetic reincarnation of his mother, the recently deceased matriarch of his house. The movie follows the many attempts made by the royal family to kill Jupiter or trick her out of her ownership of the Earth. The movie concludes when Balem is killed by Jupiter and she returns to the Earth. We then realize she is going to continue living her life as an everyday house cleaner, not at all acknowledging that she is the supposed queen of Earth.

The plot is outrageously hard to follow while watching the movie. Even after I saw the film I needed to read multiple plot summaries from various websites to try and half understand what was going on. Another aspect of this movie that had a negative impact on the overall quality was the ridiculous dialogue. There were many scenes that were supposed to either be epic or romantic but if the viewer paid any attention to what the characters were saying the effects were ruined. For example, in one scene that is supposed to have a mystical effect a side character by the name of Stinger Apini (Sean Bean) is explaining to Jupiter how she is the Queen of the Earth. During this scene a swarm of bees surrounds Jupiter without touching her. Apini then says that bees were put on Earth to sense royalty, and that is why she was not stung. Seriously?! This is an actual interaction between two characters in this movie. The dialogue is poorly written and is only interesting in a shocking humorous way.

Sure, this film looks really good. The animation and visual effects are spot on, but that is quite honestly all this film has going for it. The acting was also slightly underwhelming. I was really hoping that with such a star studded cast there would be something to look forward to, especially from Eddie Redmayne who is nominated for an Oscar for his performance in The Theory of Everything. Those hopes were crushed when he began speaking in a ridiculous and dry voice that he maintained for the entire movie. Tate and Kunis did not do a terrible job; however, their performances in no way added to the film.

To be quite honest I was very disappointed with this movie as a whole. Besides the expensive budget and flashy visual effects there was not much going for the film. Yes, there were big name actors; however, their performances were all adequate at best. The plot was extremely confusing. Every time there was an advancement in the story it was forced and usually made little to no logical sense, even for a science fiction film. I would not recommend wasting the money to see this film in theaters.

3/10

V for Vendetta

As today is the fifth of November, I feel that I have to be the film student to post about V for Vendetta. What was originally a graphic novel published in the 1980's (written by Alan Moore and made into art by David Lloyd and Tony Weare), was adapted into a film in 2006 (staring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, featuring John Hurt and Stephen Fry).  This 2006 British action thriller follows the story of a masked tragic hero, known only as "V".  The story takes place in a totalitarian Great Britain in the year 2020, the people of Great Britain have allowed themselves to be completely ruled by their Chancellor and his Norsefire party.  This Great Britain is essentially a police state.

V (Weaving) comes into the picture, wearing his Guy Fawkes mask, ready to take down the High Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by famed British actor John Hurt) and his regime.  In an act of chance, he manages to meet Evey Hammond (Portman), who he gets out of a dangerous situation.  Over time they build a very close relationship, and the past of the mysterious V is revealed.  This is not just the story of V though, this movie can also be described as Evey's journey out from the unenlightened masses.  We do tend to see a lot of things from Evey's point of view, in particular our revolutionary, V.  Unfortunately it is incredibly difficult for me to get much further into the plot, without creating serious spoilers, as this film really gets its power from the reveals we get throughout the film.

The original writing by Alan Moore is really pumped up by the writing of Andy and Lana Wachowski, who also produced the film (made famous by their direction and writing of the Matrix trilogy).  The best moments in this films are the moments where V is delivering some of the most quick and beautiful monologues.  Throughout the film the writing consistently keeps the energy vibrant and the pace very much alive.  Which is helped significantly by the skilled oration of Hugo Weaving (who played Mr. Smith in the Wachowski's Matrix trilogy)  We see one monologue here, where V meets Evey:

The significance of the mask simply being that Guy Fawkes was a British revolutionary who attempted to destroy parliament on November the 5th of 1605.  We learn later, the much more in depth reasons as to why V wear a mask in the first place.  This mask winds up being the symbol for V's revolution; Guy Fawkes day (November 5) also winds up having serious significance to his revolution as well.  We also see the traditional British poem used as well:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot. 

I know of no reason, 

why the Gunpowder Treason 

should ever be forgot

One extra thing to note, is that this film is getting extra attention this year in particular, as we move through NSA wiretaps and other questionable acts by our government.  One such article can be read here.  Overall this thriller will have you at the edge of your seat.  You still have two hours left to watch it on the fifth of November, so stop reading and get to it!  That is where I am headed!