Writer. director SImon Hunter brings us this sci-fi horror, set seven hundred years in the future, when the world is divided.
This is not Simon Hunter's first movie, however he is a reasonably new director. His 2000 movie Lighthouse, a British horror flick, recieved two awards at film festivals.
This story is based loosley on The Mutant Chronicles role playing game of the 90's.
The Mutant Chronicles is rated as an 18, and features intense scenes of violence.
The cast of the movie is littered with faces we know well, including Sean Pertwee, John Malkovitch, Thomas Jane and Ron Perlman.
The film is set in the year 2707, when the world has exhausted its natural resources, and relies primarily on steam as a power source. The world is divided into four factions, Bauhaus, Mishima, Imperial and Capitol, who battle one another for power, and world dominance.
In the midst of a war between Bauhaus and Capitol, an ancient seal is broken, unearthing an evil that threatens to aniolate mankind.
Sean Pertwee, who played Sergeant Harry Wells in Dog Soldiers, plays Nathan Rooker in this film, a brave soldier who fights in the bloody battle between Bauhaus and Capitol when the seal is broken. He fights alongside freind and comrade Major Mitch Hunter. (Thomas Jane)
When the seal breaks, mutant soldiers pour from the Earth, sweeping across the globe, assimilating all in their path.
Hope arrives as the world is evacuating to Mars, in the form of a holy book, that has prophesised the coming of the Mutants. The book also predicts the defeat of the Mutants, but someone has to make the prediction true. The keeper of the book, Brother Samuel, approaches the Corporations leader, and asks for permission to assemble a team who will go to defeat the Mutants at their heart, the Machine, buried far beneath the Earth.
Ron Perlman (Hellboy) leaves his red complexion and horns far behind to portray the wise and faithful Brother Samuel. He plays the part beautifully, bringing great maturity and grace to the part.
The commander, who appears briefly to assist Brother Samuel in his search for the perfect army, is played by the ever fantastic John Malkovitch, its a small part, but hes great nethertheless.
Major Mitch Hunter is recruited by Brother Samuel. His character is stubborn, loyal and couragious. He is played by Thomas Jane, who we recently saw in Stephen Kings The Mist, as David Dreyton. Thomas Jane is also known for parenting daughter Harrow, with Medium's Patricia Arquette.
The acting in this movie is brilliant, even when the blue screen moments are not. Unfortunately, many of the outside scenes are shot against blue screen, and this really lets the movie down.
The blood effects are awesome, and believe me that's good, because theres a lot of it.
Overall, i would say this is well worth a watch if you're a sci-fi horror fan. There is plenty of gore, flesh, murder and death to keep the viewer on edge, and the director has not been afraid to shock us with drastic plot twists.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Maximus-Qualitus 05.08.2008 (05.08.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Mutant Chronicles DVD
Maximus-Qualitus 05.08.2008 (05.08.2008)
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Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Mutant Chronicles DVD
Advantages: The score would work if it was attached to a better film. Disadvantages: The direction, performances, writing and effects are all disgracefully bad.
Oct 16th, 2008
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