Ultraviolet

[Anonymous]

Yea I heard the writing blows for Ultraviolet.

Oh well I have V for Vendetta to look forward too and every review of screenings ive read seems like this movie is the real deal.

[Jeyk]

Well, me, Joaquin, and Tbone went and saw it today; Joaquin fell to sleep, Tbone looked bored, and I was waiting for it to end, but I did like some of the action scenes, particularly the motorcycle chase.

Download it or wait for the DVD.

[Styan]

Thx for the official Jeyk review... I nearly went to see it tonight.

[Anonymous]

lol, I don't know how you could fall asleep. I don't think it's the type of movie that you'd really fall asleep in due to all the eye candy. However, it is the type of movie that you just watch and doesn't engage you into the story or the characters. IGN said there's a rumor that Screen Gems kicked Wimmer off the project in post-production so that may explain some annoyances in the movie.

[Anonymous]

Then again the way this movie is sounding, it's Equilibrium 2... like I said, all flash and no substance.  Wimmer is down with Eli Roth in my estimations now

[Anonymous]

lol, Well [about Equilibrium] "I do not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it." But this movie is definitely nothing compared to Equilibrium.

[Anonymous]

Did you seriously enjoy the storyline in Equilibrium?  I thought it was totally caca to be honest.  The fighting was good, but the story sucked enormous ass

[Anonymous]

Yea, the story was a combination of classics like Farenheit 451, Brave New World, and 1984; all of which are great stories. The acting by Christian Bale, Sean Bean, and Taye Diggs was dead on. The action was amazing (can't deny the gun kata pwnage.) Lastly, the directing was top notch; lots of little artful subtleties that I doubt most people would notice but helped out along the way. I enjoyed everything about it.

[Styan]

I enjoyed Equilibrium to be quite honest, so did my best friend.

[Anonymous]

I grant you it did borrow from those great stories... but a society which bans feelings to prevent another war, and does it by removing all art from everyday life?  It's not the best plot ever really.  At least 1984 drew on fears of the people at the time it was written; of a totalitarian system, encroaching technology and a state-controlled media.  Equilibrium just felt like a story which hadn't been done yet for the sake of being done, not that they'd put any real thought into the process.  There's a fair review of it at IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/) which I agree with in the points it makes.

So back to the original subject at hand, I'd probably still be likely to class Ultraviolet in the same vein because it has flashy looks and a sub-standard plot.  That's not to say that either wouldn't be entertaining to watch, but they're still brain floss and neither would have you thinking about it after it had ended.

[Tbone]

Ah, that was Joaquin? How did I not catch that?

[Anonymous]

lol, way to stay on top of things T

[Anonymous]

I watched it on the plane from Maui to SF today, while trying not to punch the kid in the seat in front of me.  It was actually not that bad.  Milla was quite believable and I did like her portrayal of the character, though the other actors were quite wooden and it could have done without the kid to be honest if they could have made a better storyline.  But it did seem to follow the Manga it's based on quite well (it's not based on the Channel 4 TV series that only last six episodes, though it shared the name and was about vampires, they're different stories).

Not bad, but download only or borrow from a friend unless you're hardcore for Milla.

[Anonymous]

Here's the review I wrote for my school paper:

     Kurt Wimmer’s second project takes comic book movies to a very literal level.

     Ultraviolet is a comic book movie in every meaning of the term; the opening credits present this very clearly.  From the over-the-top visual style and action, to the cheesy, sometimes laughable, dialogue.  It’s all here and comic book fans may enjoy many of these points.  However, as a movie, it doesn’t have the same effect.

     In the 21 century, a subculture of genetically modified humans called Hemophages emerge with heightened speed, stamina, and intelligence.  The government considers the spread of this disease to be a hazard and seeks to rid the world of them.  Violet is a Hemophage warrior sent to steal what is supposed to be the final weapon against the Hemophages.  After the theft she discovers that the weapon is actually a small boy named Six and cannot simply hand him over for certain death.  With both sides after her, she must fight to protect the boy as well as herself and unravel the truth behind the war.

     The action is solid and worth of multiple viewings but that is all the movie seems to fulfill.  For fans of Equilibrium, Wimmer’s first project, there is plenty of upgraded gan-kata and sword fight sequences to awe at.  The climatic sword fight is one of the most interesting scenes, lit only by flaming swords, but the camera is jerky and there are so many quick cuts that you get lost in the dark.

     Wimmer continues with his message of anti-dictatorship governments just as in Equilibrium.  The movie even spends a great deal of time explaining back story, yet it never adds anything to the overall movie.  It doesn’t give much to relate to the characters or add much complexity to them.  Due to this, it doesn’t pull you into any aspect of the movie; you’re just dragged along for the ride.

     Towards the middle of movie, there are a few scenes where the film takes a dramatic shift and hints are given to some hope of complexity.  But, as soon as you start to enjoy Violet’s somber reflection of Six in her bedroom, the pace picks up and charges to the climax; abandoning all hope of character development.  The actors’ performances do not add anything either, except maybe a paycheck in their names.

     The dialogue is downright laughable on a few occasions.  With lines like “I can kill them” and “you’re not as pissed off as I am,” it almost feels like a recent George Lucas movie where the actors prefer to say, rather than show.  The cheesiest occurs before the final fight scene where the bad-guy proclaims “It’s on!”  After the fight is over, one expects the winner to shout “You got served!”
 
     Unfortunately, Ultraviolet is all flash and no substance.  It offers nothing other than cardboard cut-out comic book characters and adrenaline pumping action.  If that sounds like your type of movie, you won’t be disappointed, if not, go rent Equilibrium and see a complete action movie.

[Anonymous]

Damn good review.