Review of Chrysalis (2007) by Rajneel S — 04 Apr 2009

The problem with mainstream French cinema is that you always get the sinking suspicion that its more concerned with emulation rather than innovation. This low-budget, highly stylized, near-future sci-fi thriller with martial arts elements (sort of like a comic book take on Spielberg's "Minority Report") has a lot TO like - the interesting, monochromatic, visuals and the movie's quieter moments which embue REAL drama and cyberpunk aesthetics.

But at the end of the day this film (like much commercial French cinema) doesn't try to disguise the cliches, but simply strips the film down to its most basic genre elements and making it all about the cliches - presented in hip, cool, French nuanced, style.

There a moments where this film becomes a "real" movie, but for the most part this is a series over-pretty pictures and contrived excuses to have martial arts fights in cool, futuristic rooms.

Hell even the SCIENCE of this film makes no sense! Well-made for its low budget, but would've been better if they tried to tell a ripping yarn instead of impressing the audience with unrelated action and visual effects.