Apr 24, 2019
Hi everyone!
I know, I know. Why? Why would I want to subject myself to today’s film? A film almost universally hated by the critics and fans alike? Well, partially because I’m a completist when it comes to writers and directors I enjoy, and I certainly have enjoyed the Wachowskis. I’m actually hoping to finally finish watching “Sens8” during this upcoming summer break in June. I’m also a fan of space opera, and this certainly meets all the criteria.
For a few other films in the same vein, check out “Metropolis” (Episode #014), “Thor: The Dark World” (Episode #057), “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (Episode #082), “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” (Episode #201), and “Godzilla: The Planet Eater” (Episode #377).
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Here we go!
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Today’s movie is “Jupiter Ascending”, the epic space opera written and directed by The Wachowskis. The film follows Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who finds herself the heir of an intergalactic dynasty that controls a disturbing industry. With the help of a genetically modified werewolf soldier named Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), the two must work together to prevent the destruction of Earth.
No spoilers.
I was warming up before Aikido one morning, when one of the more experienced practitioners, who is also into the big and small screen, asked me an honest question: How do you watch a movie that you’ve heard bad things about, or you start and just cannot stand one bit? I think it’s a question every critic gets asked, and the answers vary by the critic. Some folks like to hate watch films like that, and I’ve done my share of that with some truly horrific films, but the last few years, I’ve instead challenged myself to either find the good parts within a bad film, or to be able to articulate why I don’t like the film. And with most bad films, there’s a little of both columns in today’s film.
The first major hurdle for “Jupiter Ascending” is that it is a space opera, which most people are not fans of on the big screen, outside the “Star Wars” franchise and some hits like “The Fifth Element”. A great deal of pulp science fiction from the 1950s and 1960s leaned heavily into space operas, imagining a neo-feudalist future where we’ve regressed into familiar authoritative systems, using classic stories and conflicts to make up for a lack of special effects, and generally influenced by the creator’s contemporary politics. “Jupiter Ascending” continues that vein, extrapolating today’s corporate systems which promote a form of economic feudalism, and throwing in advancements in genetic engineering and extending life expectancy for good measure. It’s a well-structured world, retreading previous space operas and dystopias for common elements, and making great use of special effects and background cinematography. And you can tell from key scenes that it is meant as an honest indictment of our current corporate and wealth culture. A great concept, but then things start to go very wrong.
I feel like at some point, difficult decisions had to be made regarding this film, likely due to cost overruns. The casting is almost categorically awful, with Mila Kunis well out of her element (and not in a way that helps her character), and Channing Tatum not bringing much of anything to his character, even as a romantic interest. The rest of the cast is full of underutilized A-list actors and Wachowski alums, but can’t make up for the lacking lead duo, especially with canned dialogue. As much as I love the world design, I found the costumes and action scenes did not complement the overall art direction, nor did the painfully long scenes of bureaucratic nonsense help add to the overall message. Much like yesterday’s review for “The Silence”, great ideas are not enough to make a great, or even a good movie. And whereas I found “Cloud Atlas” to be an amazing film that pushes the boundaries of storytelling, “Jupiter Ascending” feels like the Wachowskis forcing something to meet corporate expectations for “the next big thing”.
“Jupiter Ascending” is the Wachowski space opera that deserve to be better, a film that promises more than it can deliver. While the world design and ideas are quite interesting, the overall execution leaves a lot to be desired, along with the lead characters. Space opera fans, or fans of The Wachowskis, should definitely check out the film, but know going in that it has flaws that you’ll need to forgive to enjoy the film.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26%
Metacritic: 40
One Movie Punch: 5.8/10
“Jupiter Ascending” (2015) is rated PG-13and is currently playing on HBO.