Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “300” and “Clash Of The Titans”

"Immortals" has two things, the viciousness of Zack Snyder's "300" and the essence of Louis Leterrier's "Clash Of The Titans". However, different from the two movies, it has the thing that both lack - a solid plot and the fact that after the movie ends, people would want to know more and audiences will wish that a sequel will follow suit.

Watching "Immortals" is like watching a moving painting. The cinematography is so beautiful that one may wish that they can hit "CTRL + Prt Sc" to turn it into various still photos. It's like watching a combination of Caravaggio, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Nicolas Poussin and many more Renaissance art emerging into walking and talking human beings, and it was indeed director Tarsem Singh's wish to make it appear so.

"The Tudors" actor Henry Cavill is competent enough to play the lead role Theseus. Mickey Rourke, being the almost always depressed, vengeful and sadistic Mickey Rourke - is somewhat detached from the characteristic of Hyperion, as sometimes he looks and sounds like his "Iron Man 2" character, Whiplash. Nothing can be said about Freida Pinto as the Oracle Priestess, Phaedra. The character can be played by any actress and there will not be much difference. Phaedra in itself is too similar to "Clash Of The Titans", Io, or any other mysterious women character Hollywood has to offer.

"Immortals" does not play on the atheistic nature of men's frustration with God and the whole brouhahas about unanswered prayers like "Clash Of The Titans" did. It neither preaches nor asks you to choose sides, but instead only serve as a silver screen adaptation of the Titanomachy. As so, it would not annoy audiences with philosophies and the many unneeded rationality of Gods versus men in an epic re-telling of a famous story. It is also very graphic, with blood and gore equivalent to mob films.

In short, "Immortals" is what you want to watch if you want to watch a great fight scenes (albeit not a lot of it), great production settings (the background of the Hellenics society and the city of Koplos are breathtaking on their own), marvelous cinematography and dialogues that does not pretend to be superior and idealistic. Or if all else fails, the Gods' ridiculous helmets and fashion style may entertain you.

Caution to men especially, there are graphic scenes that may make you want to think twice about joining the dark side.


Cinema Online, 11 November 2011