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Æon
Flux
Directed by: Karyn Kusama
Starring: Charlize Theron
Genre:
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Run Time: 93
min.
Release Date:
December 2005
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Once again I find myself in
the minority. The Tomatometer's gauge at rottentomatoes.com levels off
at an extremely cool 10% approval rating; meaning 90% of the critics
DIDN'T like it.
Most of the bashing comes via comparisons to CATWOMAN (another bomb) or
the fact that the original Æon Flux was an animated feature on MTV and
the translation to live-action cinema didn't work. Not having seen these
animated versions — or Catwoman for that matter — I can't make any
comparisons. But what I can do is tell you how the movie flowed, how
well it was acted, and its entertainment value.
Charlize Theron (NORTH COUNTRY) stars as Æon Flux, a rebel in the 25th
century. A terrible disease has decimated humanity and its surviving
members hide behind an enclosure, cut-off from the possible devastating
effects of what lay beyond (think LOGAN'S RUN and you'll be close).
Within the confines of their home live the remaining five million
members of society thanks to the medical efforts of the Goodchild
Regime, named after Trevor Goodchild (Martin Csokas). Æon Flux belongs
to an elite group of resistance fighters known as the Monicans who's
goal is to topple the Goodchild Regime. People have been vanishing.
Police actions are resulting in deaths. And Æon Flux is going to find
out why.
As we move through the stronghold of humanity (the city is known as
Bregna), we learn and see much about this futuristic yet completely
alien-like society. Pills can heighten awareness and even send coded
messages to ones brain. Computers look like musical instruments or a
type of String Theory. Everyone feels that something is wrong with their
world ...and there is. Cloning and its effects on the power-base of the
Goodchild Regime are holding humanity back at a terrible price.
Catwoman comparisons aside (yes, Charlize looks fantastic in her
skin-tight leather outfit), this is a thinking person's film. There are
lots of little tidbits thrown into the film that give it a futuristic
look without trying too hard (the computers were a nice touch, as were
filming many external shots in Berlin, Germany where new construction is
the rage).
The pacing of the film was excellent. Never once did it get bogged down
in the minutia of the times or the science. If you can't keep up, oh
well. Leaping from action sequence to fight scene to action sequence
made the 93 minutes fly by. The acting was okay. Nothing special but
nothing horrible either. Charlize was the shining star, of course, and
gave a relatively fine performance.
For my time, this was extremely entertaining and sexy, and full of great
sci-fi scenery.
Only one question remains: What's up with the critics?!
(back to top) |
Image from Æon Flux
DVD cost: $14.99
Purchase:
Barnes and Noble
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
In the original cartoon,
Aeon was killed at the end of each episode, only to appear alive and
well at the beginning of the next. In the film, all the people in the
world have died and been re-born over and over in a most subtle
reference/adaptation of the original series.
Movie Quote: "We
are in the last city on Earth. Some call it the perfect society, but
others know better."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Æon Flux
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