Movie Review: Immortals

Somehow, I was really expecting Immortals to be very mediocre, with wooden acting, terrible script and an overkill of visual effects. But while I got some of it right, there was something about the film that's rather compelling.

No, I'm not talking about the plot. The storyline, to me, was serviceable at best and was obviously simplified so that it contained as much visual  spectacle as possible rather than a good amount of character development. Not complaining though because it surely had enough story to keep the characters moving and motivated - that's of course, if you don't think about it too hard. Besides, I appreciated the fact the this movie never sank to the generically dull depths of the recent Clash of the Titans remake, even during its slower moments.

But what really made Immortals much more interesting than other films of its ilk was the visuals. Seriously. This was one visually spectacular film! There were criticisms that it looked too 300-ish, but I somehow thought that it has its own look and tone. The set pieces were amazing and the characters were visually memorable.

The fight sequences were also brilliantly choreographed and the epic clash between the hordes of Hyperion and the Greeks led by Theseus were bloody and well-staged. But, it was the battle between the Olympians and the Titans and the last final scene that completely stole the show!! Really. The execution of those sequences were just outstanding.

And all of this would not have been possible without Tarsem Singh's direction, who I thought did remarkable things for this movie. The images down to the set pieces were incredible and I liked his use of color that stood out repeatedly - particularly the red dress that Freida Pinto wore, which to me was a fantastic contrast to the atmosphere the director created.

As for the actors, I thought everyone did a decent job. Henry Cavill, the future Superman, though a bit inconsistent had enough presence to pull off the lead character. His physicality fits well with the role and I wouldn't say he was anywhere near being a bad actor. Mickey Rourke was effective as the sadistic villain, and I would say the supporting actors were equally decent.

My main gripe though was Freida Pinto who gave an underwhelming performance. It was hardly a demanding role and yet, she seemed like she was struggling to be in character. In contrast, Gemma Arterton of Clash of the Titans did an excellent job of portraying a mystical quality of character, Freida Pinto looked ordinary. I don't know.

Immortals, despite some flaws, had an exciting and epic feel to it. It's a plethora of action with little substance behind it, but that's kind of fine with me. As a story, it was lacking in numerous respects, but as a visual experience it was quite a marvel.

RATING: 8/10