Films > Film Reviews

Jupiter Ascending

29/01/15

The movie world is currently dominated with buzz about which films will be collecting shiny, golden statues at this years Academy Awards. However, between the dramatic story of one scientist’s shouty struggle to be accepted in a sepia-tone world at war with Nazis and gays, and the dramatic story of one musician’s drummy battle to be accepted in a constantly night-time world at war with tempo and temper tantrums, not all of the nominated movies will not be everyone’s flute of champagne – and that’s ok. I cater for all tastes, which is why this month, I will not be looking at the Oscars. I will be looking at upcoming sci-fi adventure, Jupiter Ascending.

Starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne (who’s also Oscar nominated for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the fantastic Theory of Everything) and written/directed by the Wachowski Brothers (the Matrix), this is the story of Jupiter Jones (Kunis). A young woman destined from birth for great things, but currently stuck in a dead end cleaning job. That is until she meets intergalactic hunter, Caine (Tatum), and suddenly splashing a bit of Domestos about is the least of her worries.

This movie may not have taken twelve years to film, and it may only work on one level, but that level is visually stunning action scenes, and this is something the Wachowskis excel at. Indeed, the Matrix swept the Oscar board in the effects categories all those years ago, and that was in boring old 2D, so this should look amazing. It is also one of the only recent films in this genre that isn’t a remake, a reimagining or based on a comic book which, these days, is also pretty amazing.

So there you go. If flash, loud sci fi adventures that you don’t already know the ending to are your thing, this should fill a gap until the summer, and I barely even mentioned the Oscars. Brilliant.