"One thing's for sure, change is gonna come"
Yup. Right there. Its certainly different and I honestly enjoy that. I was afraid the film would be too cliché but in my own opinion it did enough to stand out. We are dealing with a Michelle Rodriguez Warpath flick and it's fun to watch if you're into gunslinging vendettas where everyone is a bad guy.
That is also where the film stands out. There are no saints in this film. Our main character is dislikable, cruel, and full of hate assassin. We have no reason to care about the fact that he was wronged because he himself is hardly a saint. Its just a tale of underground vengeance.
Now that would be cliché and in a way this film is partially as well. But luckily we get Sigourney Weaver to portray a rogue doctor with a very particular vision of a better world. Who also has it out for masculinity, viewing it as a prime source for evil very roughly stated.
After having lost her brother to Frank Kitchen ( Our main character) and decides to not only get back on him, she plans to do an experiment to assess how much physical identity matters to us. By turning Frank into a woman perhaps that would remove the masculinity dominating his mind and have him start over, as a better man.
It of course doesn't work out that way and to our benefit we get an okay action flick with Rodriguez killing pretty much almost everybody.
The film stand attempts to be diverse by not just being a run of the mill shooter, by including psychological and philosophical theory as well as in depth dialog with primarily the doctor to paint us a picture of either how much of a wicked visionary she is... or completely arrogant and egotistic. Thats up to the viewer to decide.
It find it to be a mix personally, making it all so much more satisfying to see her being brought down at the end because she really didn't see it coming. Its worth pointing out one could mistakenly view many of these scenes as poorly acted but it's really not the case. Weaver is trying to portray a woman, full of herself, very smart, sophisticated, philosophically intrigued and more. And in doing so she adopts the attitude of supreme arrogance and almost a god complex in a way. Sense of superiority. Because her vision allows her to to possess something greater than those around her. Something she actually states in the film by highlighting shes held captive by those lesser minded.
Oh she's truly antagonizing. I found it hilarious because Weaver portrays the character really well. Cold, calculated, sarcastic and pragmatic with a touch of "I'm better than you and you're mentally incapable of comprehending it"
Oh it's good.
Aside from these cool aspects primarily causing the difference in the film we got Michelle kicking butt, killing, destroying and being equally as cold and stern. However the film has one problem.
Its core concept of centering the film around a dislikable character isn't to everyones liking. Nor is it intended to be. Its telling a specific story. But what would have been interesting would to have seen more character build or background or something to make us care more.
But then again. That would be something not at all intended for here. And that brings me down to what this really is.
This is an action packed vendetta flick consistent of violence, hatred, deception mixed with psychological and philosophical elements to diversify our villains intentions as well as trying to prove a point.
In my opinion being that of identity isn't just what we look like. Its as Sigourney Weavers character even states. Something we deeply believe.
Regardless of out physical appearance. Of course the film isn't a masterpiece in the sense of portraying a grander scheme of things but as a film goer that enjoys psychological, and/or philosophical plots I enjoyed this.
As for seeing it twice, probably wont. But it's worth your time if only to enjoy Sigourney Weavers spitefulness of other characters, let alone just relaxing as Michelle Rodriguez is leaving behind trail of dead bodies.
The film ends ironically. Doctors plans backfiring, Rodriguez vanishing and thats that. Not much to say. Its an ending. I personally felt it would have been better if it had ended before it ended and in more grim fashion but well. Personal prefference and all.
6 out of 10. I found it to be above average. It's progression is very typical and doesn't have much depth at all, but its plot and characters is what's saving it from a lower score of 5. Credit to the actors? Of course. But also to the writers for including a bit of character depth and good dialog. Putting it closer but not entirely to a psychological thriller than just action.
Final thoughts: Watch if you enjoy action that isn't mindless and appreciate psychological and philosophical aspects in your films. While not as present as I would like considering it is its definitive strength, it is present to some degree.
It's an okay film.
Yup. Right there. Its certainly different and I honestly enjoy that. I was afraid the film would be too cliché but in my own opinion it did enough to stand out. We are dealing with a Michelle Rodriguez Warpath flick and it's fun to watch if you're into gunslinging vendettas where everyone is a bad guy.
That is also where the film stands out. There are no saints in this film. Our main character is dislikable, cruel, and full of hate assassin. We have no reason to care about the fact that he was wronged because he himself is hardly a saint. Its just a tale of underground vengeance.
Now that would be cliché and in a way this film is partially as well. But luckily we get Sigourney Weaver to portray a rogue doctor with a very particular vision of a better world. Who also has it out for masculinity, viewing it as a prime source for evil very roughly stated.
After having lost her brother to Frank Kitchen ( Our main character) and decides to not only get back on him, she plans to do an experiment to assess how much physical identity matters to us. By turning Frank into a woman perhaps that would remove the masculinity dominating his mind and have him start over, as a better man.
It of course doesn't work out that way and to our benefit we get an okay action flick with Rodriguez killing pretty much almost everybody.
The film stand attempts to be diverse by not just being a run of the mill shooter, by including psychological and philosophical theory as well as in depth dialog with primarily the doctor to paint us a picture of either how much of a wicked visionary she is... or completely arrogant and egotistic. Thats up to the viewer to decide.
It find it to be a mix personally, making it all so much more satisfying to see her being brought down at the end because she really didn't see it coming. Its worth pointing out one could mistakenly view many of these scenes as poorly acted but it's really not the case. Weaver is trying to portray a woman, full of herself, very smart, sophisticated, philosophically intrigued and more. And in doing so she adopts the attitude of supreme arrogance and almost a god complex in a way. Sense of superiority. Because her vision allows her to to possess something greater than those around her. Something she actually states in the film by highlighting shes held captive by those lesser minded.
Oh she's truly antagonizing. I found it hilarious because Weaver portrays the character really well. Cold, calculated, sarcastic and pragmatic with a touch of "I'm better than you and you're mentally incapable of comprehending it"
Oh it's good.
Aside from these cool aspects primarily causing the difference in the film we got Michelle kicking butt, killing, destroying and being equally as cold and stern. However the film has one problem.
Its core concept of centering the film around a dislikable character isn't to everyones liking. Nor is it intended to be. Its telling a specific story. But what would have been interesting would to have seen more character build or background or something to make us care more.
But then again. That would be something not at all intended for here. And that brings me down to what this really is.
This is an action packed vendetta flick consistent of violence, hatred, deception mixed with psychological and philosophical elements to diversify our villains intentions as well as trying to prove a point.
In my opinion being that of identity isn't just what we look like. Its as Sigourney Weavers character even states. Something we deeply believe.
Regardless of out physical appearance. Of course the film isn't a masterpiece in the sense of portraying a grander scheme of things but as a film goer that enjoys psychological, and/or philosophical plots I enjoyed this.
As for seeing it twice, probably wont. But it's worth your time if only to enjoy Sigourney Weavers spitefulness of other characters, let alone just relaxing as Michelle Rodriguez is leaving behind trail of dead bodies.
The film ends ironically. Doctors plans backfiring, Rodriguez vanishing and thats that. Not much to say. Its an ending. I personally felt it would have been better if it had ended before it ended and in more grim fashion but well. Personal prefference and all.
6 out of 10. I found it to be above average. It's progression is very typical and doesn't have much depth at all, but its plot and characters is what's saving it from a lower score of 5. Credit to the actors? Of course. But also to the writers for including a bit of character depth and good dialog. Putting it closer but not entirely to a psychological thriller than just action.
Final thoughts: Watch if you enjoy action that isn't mindless and appreciate psychological and philosophical aspects in your films. While not as present as I would like considering it is its definitive strength, it is present to some degree.
It's an okay film.