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Movie Review - Aeon Flux (2005)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Karyn Kusama |
| Starring: |
Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller, and Frances McDormand |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for sequences of violence and sexual content) |
| Length: |
95 minutes |
| Genre: |
Sci-Fi/Action |
| Tagline: |
The future is flux. |
| Studio: |
Paramount Pictures |
| Website: |
Aeon Flux |
| Release: |
December 1, 2005 |
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PLOT
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The year is 2415. Aeon Flux (Theron) is the extremely sexy top operative in an underground rebellion (the Monicans)
against the dictatorial leaders of Bregna - a seemingly utopian society with no disease, no hunger, and no war.
Thanks to a virus that wiped out 99% of the world's population in 2011, it also happens to be the last city on
earth.
As ruthless as she is exquisite in black body suits, Aeon is a professional killer. In her mind she exists for no
other reason than to avenge the murder of her sister at the hands of government agents. Therefore, she meets her
latest assignment with much eagerness - assassinate Trevor Goodchild (Csokas), ruler of Bregna. However, she
uncovers secrets that challenge her beliefs about how the world operates. A generic sci-fi offering ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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"I hope the movie's better than the animated MTV series," my cousin scoffed as the opening credits played.
Since I had never seen the Aeon Flux short films (and I dare not judge them) I inquired, "Was it not
very good?" "No," my cousin informed me.
The fact that my cousin was asleep within 10 minutes tipped me off that he was as unimpressed with the movie
as he was the original series. I shouldn't be too surprised. It's usually not a positive sign when a movie's
only nationwide screenings are 10:00 PM the night before its release and press aren't officially invited. I
suppose it's a good strategy in one sense - lull people to sleep at this late hour and then they can't, in
good conscience, ridicule what they weren't awake to see.
Holding out hope that the movie would at least be mindless entertainment, I assumed the studio knew the critics
had their pun guns loaded and were ready to fire off such headlines as ... wait for it ...
"Aeon Flux? More like Aeon Sux!"
Therefore, I gave Paramount the benefit of the doubt. "Ah, this is just a case of the studio saying they don't
care what the critics think," I said to myself, trying to remain positive. "They're only concerned with how
much the movie will entertain regular moviegoers. This is a movie for the people, not the stuffed-shirt
critics!" How naive I was.
Now I'm not demanding the second coming of Star Wars whenever a new sci-fi film is released, but does it hurt
to do *something* to stand out from the pack? Earning the title of "2005's Most Generic Sci-Fi" does not count.
Uninspired acting, a lack of an imaginative story, no strong villain to root against, weakly-rendered CGI, and a
pace that my dead pet turtle could keep up with aren't my ideal ingredients for a fun night at the theater. Sure,
Charlize looks really good sashaying in her black outfit, but look where Halle Berry's ability to look smokin' hot
in black leather got Catwoman.
Speaking of the unimaginative story, I'm starting to feel a little guilty.
"About what? Being so hard on Aeon Flux?"
No, about my detailed plot description. Allow me to apologize. Reading my synopsis, you may be misled to believe
that the story is fairly intriguing. Admittedly, on paper the story looks to have promise, but the paper is where
the promise stays.
For example, you remember those secrets that my synopsis said Aeon would uncover? Sounds interesting,
right? Ooooh, deadly secrets will be revealed! Bring on the tense plot twists! If only. The most novice
of sci-fi fans will have the basics figured out within the first 10 minutes. Let me put it bluntly: Aeon
wants to kill Trevor Goodchild, she figures out that something's fishy, Trevor has a brother (Miller), and we
immediately see them at odds. Care to guess how this will pan out?
"Well, at least there was a lot of cool, fast-paced action and mesmerizing special effects, right?"
I wish. That's what shocks me most. I figured, "OK, I'll go ahead and assume I won't get much in regard to
story and character development. But at least the effects should impress." If you've seen the trailer where
Charlize barely stops herself from falling in the blades of grass then you've seen about the best the movie
has to offer in the effects department. That's not high praise. Everything else consists of Aeon showing
off her mad acrobatic skills. Whenever you see her jump you can take it to the bank that a flip will be
incorporated, and you can guarantee that the flip will serve no useful purpose.
The gunfights are of the "Charlize stands in one spot, turns around, shoots a bunch of guys, but doesn't
get hurt" variety, while the hand-to-hand combat is an extra mild "show extreme close-ups so people can't
tell that Charlize doesn't know how to fight" flavor. But the action sequences are only inserted whenever
the director decides it's a good idea to break away from long "Charlize slowly walking around looking
at stuff" sequences.
And if the slow pace isn't enough to make you regret shelling out hard-earned dollars for this ticket, then I
have a feeling the trite dialogue will force you to analyze future movie choices more carefully. We're
treated to such deliciously uninspired lines as "I'd keep off the grass," "I like my shoes," and "I've been
your brother for a long time." The actors deliver these lines with such a void of emotion that it's obvious
they know the lines aren't worthy of even a little mock passion.
I'm all for superhero films with a strong female lead, mainly because I love watching hot chicks wearing cool
outfits and kicking Kirstie Alley-sized buttocks. In my opinion, Kate Beckinsale in Underworld has set
the modern day standard. So I was actually looking forward to Aeon Flux (surely you can't go wrong with
Charlize Theron, right?). Unfortunately, its mediocrity falls somewhere between the levels set by
Catwoman and Elektra, and it'll simply
be known as another action/superhero movie that couldn't be saved merely because it boasts a sexy lead.
As for my napping cousin? When he awoke and noticed the closing credits were scrolling he asked (and you may
wonder the same thing if you decide to skip it), "What did I miss?" The most passionate answer I could come up
with was, "Not much."
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Budget: $55 million
- In 1991, Aeon Flux began as six two-to-three-minute short films on MTV's Liquid Television.
It reappeared in 1992 with five more three-to-five-minute shorts. In 1995, MTV aired ten 30-minute
animated episodes.
- Aeon Flux is the first role Charlize accepted after her Oscar-winning performance in the
overrated Monster. I'll sell my right bicep to science if she picks up an Oscar nomination for
this. A Razzie might be possible though!
- In an effort to lose the 30 pounds she gained for her role in Monster, Charlize trained for four
months prior to the start of production.
- Charlize's workouts combined gymnastics, trampoline jumping, acrobatic work, karate, judo, and Krav Magra.
She could've charged admission.
- Charlize herniated a disc in her neck while filming. She landed directly on her neck after botching a back
handspring. My cousin suffered a herniated disk in his neck while sleeping during the movie. He landed directly
on his neck after falling out of his seat.
- Despite her injury, Charlize continued to insist on pushing her physical capabilities to the limit. "For
me, the physical aspect is as important as any line of dialogue."
- Despite my cousin's injury, he continued to sleep like a baby.
- The movie was filmed in Berlin and Potsdam, Germany.
- Michelle Rodriguez was originally set to play Aeon Flux when the film was announced in 2003. Apparently,
when producers realized that she only had one facial expression - the Ice Cube Lip Curl - they had nightmares
of xXx: State of the Union and desperately went after Charlize
instead.
- Jonny Lee Miller was in Melinda and Melinda with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin
Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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The content is not very offensive. I don't remember any profanity. There's a lot of bloodless violence
associated with the gunfights and hand-to-hand combat. Charlize wears a lot of tight clothing, and one
outfit she sleeps in is quite slinky, but you can see more flesh at the beach.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer looked OK, but it didn't hold a lot of promise. I was hoping the movie would exceed what I
was expecting. Oh well. Here's to failed hopes.
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THE GIST
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I dare say Aeon Flux is only for diehard fans of the MTV series and those desperate for *any* Sci-Fi.
Yes, Charlize is marvelously pleasant on the eyes, but surprisingly that's not enough to make this all that
watchable.
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