Customer Reviews

Aeon Flux

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The HD DVD version of this film (the only version I've seen) is easy to look at - the film is very well done by all parties involved.

The story is definitely worthy of the big screen. The 5.1 audio tracks are very clean and captivating. The great HD picture comes through crisp and bright, clean and awesome.

I have never seen the animated series so I have no comments about its similarities, but I consider this film a keeper for the collection that I can watch again in the future and still enjoy it.

"Aeon Flux" offers a nice variety of well executed, pulse quickening action sequences, coupled with brilliant performances by a great cast. What you end up with is an hour and thirty-two minutes of excellent action-packed film!

I'm glad I bought it.

If you enjoy TV's "Alias" (please no comparison follow-ups, I'm not comparing) you may likely enjoy "Aeon Flux" - not that they're the same thing, but there is this mission...with a captivating female lead...this one's a bit more on the sci-fi side, though...I don't want to blow it for anyone, just go out and get it if that kind of premise piques your interest in any way. If you're curious so far, you can pretty much count on enjoying the movie.

There are a plethora of reviews of the movie, but my review is mostly a comparison of the BD vs DVD version. I won't discuss its merits as movie.

I saw Aeon Flux on 2 DVD versions and finally BD, as different releases were made.

This movie is best in BD. Video is noticeably sharper. However, in colors and audio, the DVD was very well made, its not that far from the BD version. So if you already own the DVD version, its not that big a leap in quality.

Where it matters most are what you expect from BD, more resolution so the lines are cleaner versus jaggy in DVD. A good DVD player will 'smooth' the jagged edges when possible, so no where is the lines of any image as tack sharp as in BD.

This very visible as there are many 'sharp' and contrasting colors used in the movie: the blades of grass, the needle popping out of the grass, Theron's chiseled features, the straight lines of her hair style.

The audio is not that striking either in channel separation or dynamic range.

Overall, I bought this disk for $10. I'm not sure its good value at $16. In contrast, there are many BD releases that truly take your breath away and are a huge leap in quality over its prior superlative DVD version, such as Band of Brothers [Blu-ray]. Clearly the format can offer more than demonstrated by the Aeon Flux's BD.

Aeon Flux (2005) is a slick science fiction adventure, with Aeon being a sleek, attractive, and athletic heroine. The character is taken from an animated MTV short, created by Peter Chung. Substantial changes were made in order to develop a suitable full length story, and to allow for the adaptation of an animated adventure, to a real life format. The story is complicated, but holds together pretty well, and features various futuristic sets, numerous action sequences, and impressive special effects.

In order to survive a deadly plague, drastic measures were required, and the last remnants of humanity live in a city with walls along its perimeter, called Bregna. Life seems ideal, but a small organization, known as the Monicans seeks to destroy the government structure. Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron), is an elite guerilla operative for the Monicans, who receives instructions telepathically, from the Handler (Frances McDormand). Her next mission is huge, to assassinate the head of the government, Trevor Goodchild (Marton Csokas). Tragically, before she is about to embark, Aeon's sister Una (Amelia Warner) is shot, apparently for being suspected as a Monican.

Oren Goodchild (Jonny Lee Miller), is also a member of the Government, believing his brother Trevor is not with the program, he hatches a scheme to eliminate his older sibling using the Monicans. With the help of Sithandra (Sophie Okonedo) another elite operative, Aeon enters the Cidadel, the seat of the government, and gets into position to complete her mission, but when face to face with Goodchild, Aeon hesitates, and is captured. Things take a dramatic turn when Aeon learns the truth about Trevor, and the work he has been involved in. The two team up to try and survive the Bregnan government, and the Monicans, who regard Aeon as a traitor.

The film shifts into a high action mode in the final stretch. There are some shaky, over the edge moments, but the result are exciting, stylized, and dramatic. Whether the resolution is palatable, is another matter, as Aeon makes a decision that all humanity must live with.

After Charlize Theron won an Oscar for Monster (2003), by her own admission, she did no major physical training, and needed to get in top shape for her physical demanding role as Aeon Flux. Theron and Sophie Okonedo, both tall and athletic, underwent similar training regimes, eventually training together. Remarkably, Theron did almost all of her own stunts, and amazed the production crew with her physical ability and timing. Her acrobatic performance, in a skin tight suit, is quite impressive, as is that of Okonedo whose character has hands for feet.

The future world of Aeon Flux is intriguing, and semi-understandable, but with many mysterious elements. There are theatrical show pieces like the cathedral where the Handler gives directions, a and blimp that flies over the city, and interdimensional transitions, that are really not explained. The unique architecture of Berlin was featured, and helps give the film an certain ambiance and futuristic look. Director Karyn Kusama (Jennifer's Body), whose only previous experience was Girlfight (2000), does a quite remarkable job in a challenging project. The screenplay by Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, apparently covered much more ground, and may have filled in some of the gaps. Some 30 minutes was reportedly deleted from the director's cut, for the theatrical release. Some may feel that the liberties taken with the character, had already gone too far. Creator Peter Chung, apparently had some problems with the film.

The blu-ray disc does not contain the director's cut, but appears to contain the same 92 minute version of the film, as well as the extras from the Special Collector's Edition. This includes two separate commentary tracks, and a number of informative featurettes. Graeme Revell contributes a cool score for the film. Although perhaps an incomplete vision, for some thoughtful science fiction, with some stylized action, Aeon Flux is worth a look. Based on her performance here, Charlize Theron has great potential in the action genre, and hopefully she will pursue this avenue at some future time.

This is visually one of the best movies I've ever seen. The director, Karyn Kusama, whom I never heard of before, did a great job of visual composition. The photography is also exquisite. Too bad the story and the plot are kind of weak. Charlize Theron does a very credible job as an action hero, but lets face it, this movie is all about looking great in tights and not about great acting. She definetely got the "looking great" aspect right. Of the HD DVD's I've watched so far, only King Kong matches it for color depth and detail. The Berlin and Potsdam locations shine thru. Those lucky enough to have visited this amazing city know how many more achitectural marvels await to be exploited in film. If you enjoy eye candy and can appreciate the beauty of architecture, then this film is for you.

I had a life.
Now all I have is a mission

The year is 2415; it has been seven generations since the industrial plague whipped out 99% of the people. The few remaining survivors are all huddled into one city with walls protecting them from what ever is outside. It is an ideal city of Bregna ran by Trevor Goodchild (Marton Csokas) and a council. And as with any such city there will always be rebels that thinks something is wrong with lack of freedom and mysterious disappearances. Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron) belongs to such an organization. Her mission as the most ept agent is to dispatch the so called benevolent ruler. Can she do this or will circumstances and chance encounters change the situation?

The film does not boast of any thing really extraordinary except maybe an exceptionally rich architectural back drop. Shot mostly in Berlin we see many popular places that for some reason they though would not be that familiar to the audience. Evidently they must not know how popular Berlin is, especially key locations. The original location on their wish list was Brasilia because of its 1050's futuristic look; however that proved to be economically unfeasible. See if you recognize Sans Souci, Potsdam built in 1745 by Frederick the Great, one of the world best know orangeries.

Although this movie had nothing extraordinary it is a perfect example of the genre and will hold your attention as you anticipate where they are going with the story. Only someone that anticipates that it will stick to the animated series may be disappointed.

The DVD rendering adds some background commentaries that make rewatching the film more enjoyable.

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]

I'll leave the review of the plot to others, many of them do a much better job. Suffice to say that I enjoyed this movie, and while it might not be the best movie ever made, it is visually stunning. I thought so even when I saw it in its standard DVD format. The film goes out of its way to have bold colors and beautiful architecture.

All of this means that it has huge potential for high definition, and WOW does this HD-DVD deliver. It is crystal clear all throughout. There are scenes where you see the characters' eyes, and you would swear that your television is a window you are looking through at them. If you enjoy this movie and are hoping that it looks even better in HD, let me assure you - it does!

This movie is an excellent adaptation of the original animated series. What makes this such a great movie is the fact that although it is based in the original anime, it has a more solid plot and storyline. Charlize Theron makes a very believable performance, as well as the rest of the characters, and the plot of the story will have science fiction fans whooping. Excellent movie!

I read all of the reviews by the nay-sayers and I don't get it. I really enjoyed the concept and the special effects. Plenty of action imaginatively told.

If, however ,you are a huge fan of the MTV show, you won't like it. Anyway, I thought it was great.

I was skeptical walking into this film, I thought it was going to be one more mindless action film where the good guy stops the bad guy and it's one big happy ending.

But I thought this film had a lot more to say than its "paper-thin" plot had to tell. It's a meditation on chaos and order, on what it means to be human, on love and shows the world a glimpse of a future where man does not overrun the planet.

A lot of flack is leveled at the performances in this film, but I felt that by the end of the film its dreamlike quality had been fully embraced and earned.

Try and give it an unbiased chance. Don't compare it to the show. Think of it as a love story with a Sci-Fi backdrop NOT a Sci-Fi film with a love story thrown in.

Oh, and it looks beautiful on Blu-Ray.

If you are a Science fiction fan you'll love this movie, it kept my attention all the way through, and that is very hard to do. Any fan of the cartoon version from MTV will love the way that they brought it to the silver screen.