Review of Immortals (2011) by Joanna B — 01 Mar 2016

In a time when the gods were more than legend, Superman and Whiplash go to war in a 3D graphic novel style hyper reality Greek mythology inspired epic. Where are the gods of Olympus when you need them to explain this convoluted offering?

Focused on style over substance, Director Tarsem Singh and the producers of 300 and The Figher have teamed up to create Immortals, a 3D stunner with massive sets and a resounding score that is missing the key element, a compelling narrative.

This bastardised version of Hellenic history gives new meaning to the term choreographed pain. Through a blood soaked cloud of unimaginably vicious and unsavoury ways to inflict human suffering is an overtly complicated and dreadfully mangled recounting of the ethereal Gods vs. the zombie-like Titans whom see barley any screen time whilst two diametrically opposed humans duke it out Conan the Barbarian style.

Disillusioned with the gods, the disfigured and callous self-proclaimed King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) leads his brutal Heraklion army on a murderous rampage across Greece declaring war not only on man, but on the gods of which he so detests.

Ancient law states that gods are forbidden to intervene in human affairs, bound to watch from above while they rape, pillage and plunder. However, Hyperion knows of a loophole to ensure their involvement, if he can uncover the whereabouts of the Bow of Epirus he can release the banished gods; known as Titans.

Encapsulated in a slave-state prison hidden on earth, the unleashed Titans would be unstoppable, wreaking havoc on earth and forcing the gods into confrontation. The Titans are the only ones with the power to rob the immortal gods of their invincibility.

Village after village is obliterated by Hyperion in the search with minimal resistance until he captures a selfless and fearless stone mason Theseus (Henry Cavill). Vowing to avenge the slaying of his mother and put an end to Hyperion's raids; unbeknownst to the moral peasant, he has been receiving secret tutelage from Zeus (Luke Evans) under the guise of an old man (John Hurt) his whole life in preparation for if a dark situation like this should ever arise.

Held in the same quarters, Theseus is aided by the beautiful virgin Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto) who forsees through disturbing visions Theseus' importance as the key to stopping the Hyperion's destruction. Escaping with a small band including Stavros (Stephen Dorff), a thief, Theseus embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

As leads, Rourke's naturally imposing persona and gravitas teamed with theatrically nightmarish armour makes him a formidable and wonderfully malevolent villain to oppose Cavill's magnetic, earnest and sincer slave-hero. Supporting, Evans shines as Zeus and not just cause of his gold loin cloth, Twilight's Kellan Lutz is a drastically untapped source as Poseidon, Dorff is always great to see back on screen even as a lowly thief and John Hurt as Zeus incognito adds pedigree to the mix.

The Verdict: Big, bold and violent this word and sandal epic is steeped in grandeur. Enriched with inspiration From Baroque artists like Rembrandt, the Sistine Chapel gold-toned vistas and sumptuous multi-coloured Arabian night style costumes this movie manages to maintain a grounded grittiness; all at the same time. Although graphics and attention to design detail is Immortals saving grace, sadly with the story lacking the same attention it's all to no avail.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 02/12/2011.