Immortals

In order to discuss the film Immortals you must talk about the visuals. In fact it is impossible to talk about this film without mentioning them. As I was sitting there watching, it reminded me of being in a museum gazing at Renaissance art. I’ve had this experience before, sitting on a bench, staring at a religious scene or a setting of Greek mythology and being transfixed by the beauty. The art is so detailed and complex and the colors are vivid and striking. You get lost in the vision and are given a sense that there is more there than meets the eye. There is a magnificence and grandeur to everything you see. That is how I felt watching this film.

As far as the plot goes, it is very simplistic; a classic tale. King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is trying to destroy humanity by acquiring the mythic Epirus Bow which is the only means available to release the Titans, warriors enslaved by the gods and entombed in the mountain Tartaros. The gods are forbidden to interfere, but Zeus (Luke Evans) has been secretly tutoring a peasant boy into manhood.  He has placed all his hopes in this young man (Henry Cavill) and believes that Theseus will rise to the occasion. Only a mortal with strength and conviction can stand up to the evil King Hyperion. But Theseus is only interested in protecting his shunned and persecuted mother. As a son with no father, he is loyal only to his own.

When King Hyperion attacks their village and murders all the remnants left behind. Theseus must witness the death of his mother and is taken prisoner after a valiant fight. Here is where he meets the oracle Phaedra (Frieda Pinto) and the thief Stravos (Stephen Dorff) his new fighting companion. Together they escape and look for ways to foil the king’s despicable plan. Theseus assumes his leadership role and the gods, defying their father, help them along.

Mickey Rourke is quite intimidating as King Hyperion. He is so menacing that anyone would want to stay out of his way. But I do believe that he overdid it with the eating. In his first scene he is devouring some kind of fruit in a masculine brutal manner with red juice and pulp dripping from his hands and beard. It is quite effective and conjures up imagines of blood or an animal feasting on his prey. But by the time you get to his third or fourth eating scene you say to yourself, okay, this guy is just a pig. When I start wondering what he is eating instead of what is going on in the scene then you know that the device is overdone.

Frieda Pinto is radiant in this film and I felt that her tone was just right. She is supposed to be a virgin and has been protected all her life for her prophetic gifts, but she also has a little fight in her. Esthetically she belongs in these gorgeous settings. She is like a princess with warrior DNA. Henry Cavill is also nice to look at with his strong features and muscular body.  I only wish that he had a voice to match. Voices like Charleton Heston’s are rare. You can see why he was so successful in these kinds of films. The voice is a big part of the package.

When it comes to the fight scenes there are a lot of special effects in the mix. Those familiar with 300, Suckerpunch, or other films of that ilk will recognized the distortion of time and how certain characters are separated, featured or highlighted for effect. It is kind of like a pop-up book where the director manipulates your gaze. It is all done for impact and esthetics and somehow it makes violence beautiful. As I said before, this is a very visual film and without the techniques employed by director Tarsem Singh this movie would fall flat. As directed it is a splendid mythic tale of gods and men; brave, beautiful, brutal, and fierce. It is good against evil both in heaven and on earth. Like the tales of old, virtue triumphs and evil must be put down.

Rating: First Run A film that deserves the big screen