by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Jupiter Ascending , the newest science fiction piece from the Wachowskis (The Matrix) hits theaters this weekend. After many production delays, audiences will finally get to see if the film was worth the wait. The space opera focuses on the young Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis, Ted), who learns that she is actually “Space Royalty”. Jones is quickly thrown down the rabbit hole and finds that her the universe just got a whole lot bigger. With help from an alien mercenary named Caine (Channing Tatum, G.I. Joe), Jones begins to explore her new life amongst the stars. When she learns that a horrible fate is in store for the people of Earth, Jones risks her life (and her family) to save her world from imminent destruction.
Jupiter Jones had never found her true calling. Forced to participate in the family business (cleaning other people’s homes), she constantly hopes that she will find a way to escape her stake in life. Her wish comes to pass in an unexpected manner, when she finds herself under attack from aliens. With a little help from Space Marine Caine Wise, she escapes the initial threat via a stunning action sequence. Jones is informed that the Earth is owned by the Abrasax family, and that she is actually the reincarnation of a member of that family (yay DNA!). Jones, Caine, and the mysterious Stinger (Sean Bean, Game of Thrones) head out into space to help Jones reclaim ownership of the Earth before the evil children of the Abrasax family can steal ownership away forever. What do the Abrasax kids want with the Earth exactly? Oh…nothing special, they just want its resources. Which resources you might ask? Well according to them, the largest commodity in the universe is time itself, which apparently can be bottled up and sold. Now, when they say “time” they mean…
SPOILERS!
PEOPLE. IT’S MADE OF PEOPLE!!! Soilent Green style.
With this new information at hand, Jones and Caine must take action to save the Earth from being harvested once and for all.
Jupiter Ascending as a film has some big shoes to fill. Between the hype, the delayed release, and being written and directed by the people who created The Matrix, everyone is hoping for this release to be a sensational blockbuster experience. Cinematically speaking, the film is gorgeous. Jupiter Ascending features some extremely original designs for space ships and alien technology that we have never scene before. The designs for the ships allow for a fluid and action-packed series of action sequences that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Aside from the ships, Caine posses anti-gravity boots that allow him to gravity surf. While the film calls it surfing, the actual motion seems to be more like skating on air. I think this specific design element was my favorite inclusion in the film, and helped to create more intrigue to Caine’s character through his physical body movements.
While Jupiter Ascending has the visual imagery covered in a brilliantly stylist manner, the narrative and pacing of the story cause the film to fall a bit flat. The impending threat from the Abrasax family, beings who claim to have seeded life throughout the galaxy, never really reaches its full potential. As Jupiter is forced to interact with each of these characters, one fact became crystal clear: the Abrasax family members were bland. Sure they were all coming across as the pampered rich kids of outer space, but these three characters specifically were extremely two dimensional.
One big thing that Jupiter Ascending has in it’s favor is the fact that it is a completely original story. The story isn’t a remake, reboot, re-imagining, based on, inspired by, or a rip-off of a pre-existing concept. The film industry is currently bogged down with trying to re-invent the wheel by using existing properties and running them into the ground with remakes. Jupiter at the very least attempts to do something new and original, and in that regard, it does succeed.
Overall
Jupiter Ascending is without a doubt a beautiful and eye catching movie, but it falls short of being the blockbuster hit that the studio and fans hoped it would be. If anything, I would recommending seeing this movie at some point for the conceptual designs alone. I thoroughly enjoyed the ship designs and motion of the alien space crafts, and seeing how people in the larger universe travel from “Point A” to “Point B”. I think the largest element that this film was lacking was a certain level of fun. If Jones was able to explore her new paradigm with a bit more excitement and wonder, the audience would have been able to join in. Jupiter Ascending does a lot of things right, but I feel that the challenges with the narrative and characterization will cause frustration with audiences.
ComicsOnline gives Jupiter Ascending 3 Gravity Surfing scenes out of 5.
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