King Hyperion has declared war on humanity. He is searching all over Greece for the Epirus Bow, a weapon of great power that would allow him to free the Titans imprisoned by the gods on Mount Tartarus. The laws forbid the gods from intervening directly in human conflicts. But Zeus has been secretly training Theseus, a mortal who will lead the battle against Hyperion…
What have we got?
- A big-budget production.
- Highly polished effects and rarefied cinematography.
- A director, Tarsem Singh, known for the visual effects in his films (The Cell and the magnificent The Fall).
- A very free adaptation of Greek mythology.
What haven’t we got?
- An intelligent script or a consistent story.
- Historical accuracy (traded for a gain in aesthetics).
How does it turn out?
A visual spectacle held up by striking images and colours rather than by a story or script. The starting point is simple and clear: the good guys, the bad guys and those who control everything are all easy to spot. The characters are well played, but the script doesn’t have much to give. In fact there are moments that border on the ridiculous, saved only by the choice of colours. That’s its strong point, the look: it’s dressed as a major production and visually it’s spectacular. It revives the style of 300 (same producer), adding a few novelties in the action scenes, slowing down the pace and shooting in higher definition. It falls a long way short in terms of story, empathy with the characters or pace. Immortals is a visual film re-created from elements of Greek mythology, in which aesthetics trump every other factor. The cinematic results are spectacular, but the cost in interest and script consistency is heavy. As if the film had been conceived around a preconceived aesthetic, and not the other way round. A mediocre result.
Watch it if you’re a fan of the director, if you’re a graphic designer or if you want to be dazzled visually. If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, don’t expect a faithful, accurate story. In the vein of Clash of the Titans or even Prince of Persia. If the visuals matter to you above all, it will interest you.
Watchable, dark and colourful.