Review of Æon Flux (2005) by Panta O — 23 Apr 2011

OK... don't jump into conclusions seeing that everyone else gave low ratings... take seat back and read slowly!

First, a reminder: original Æon Flux was an avant-garde science fiction animated television series premiered in 1991 on MTV's Liquid Television experimental animation show as a six-part serial of short films, followed in 1992 by five individual short episodes. In 1995, a season of ten half-hour episodes aired as a stand-alone series, rated TV-MA. That was created by Korean American animator Peter Chung (also the man behind Phantom 2040, which used the same animation style as Æon Flux). This film is loosely based upon the series but it steel keeps that animated style (which seems it's very annoying for most of the critics on this site!).

For me, this story - which is placed 400 years in the future, after a virus decimates the world population and only one city on Earth remains - was very well done. Ruled by the Goodchild dynasty, it is a perfect society of peace and prosperity - except that its citizens keep mysteriously disappearing. I could not see major flows in the screenplay, Academy Award (R) winner Charlize Theron starring as Aeon Flux was a pleasant sight to watch as a secret agent/assassin/warrior whose mission is to bring down the regime.

It's a serious attempt at stylized, futuristic action and adventure (something of a female James Bond for the cyberpunk era) and taken for what it is, it is not bad at all.