Immortals - Thoughts

I do believe that I saw the trailer for this movie recently, but amidst all the new releases it didn’t make my priority watch list. It surfaced again when a friend watched the movie and told me that it was pretty average and not worth the watch. In Immortals, the merciless king Hyperion, driven by rage embarks on a journey to recover a mythological Greek weapon of immense power. Using this weapon, he hoped to free the Titans who had been banished by the gods several centuries ago, prior to their ascension to power and dominion over mankind. The only obstacle in his path was a mere mortal man named Theseus, who knew no fear and was mankind’s only hope.

I went into Immortals with little expectations, others opinions being questionable and the trailer forgettable. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. From the get go, Immortals was relatively engaging. Though the pace wasn’t break-neck, it was sufficient, leading audiences into elements of discovery. As the plot unraveled, strong Greek Mythological essentials packaged with gratuitous quantities of hard hitting action ensured flourishing narrative and entertainment respectively. Be warned that blood and carnage are the cornerstones of every confrontation, so if ultra-violent isn’t your sorta thing, then this flick may not be best suited for you. While 3D has quite become the norm nowadays, its use in Immortals was noteworthy, adding a level of depth and realism to some of the most normal scenes. 3D being emphasized in action sequences is quite passé, but its elaborate use and the attention to detail in the very run of the mill scenes was a nice touch. If you’re in the mood for an epic period extravaganza, where the action is stylized to the point where every blood splatter is possibly choreographed like in 300, then look no further as Immortals certainly fits the bill.

Henry Cavill plays the lead role of Theseus; his character being young, fit and able, well taught in the arts of wielding a weapon, knowing no fear, and having little faith in the gods. From the early scenes, he is shown as someone who is courageous and valiant, who fights for the people, and stands for what is right. For the most part he looks and plays the role well; nothing exceedingly special though. Freida Pinto plays Phaedra, a virgin Oracle with the gift of visions of the future. Her role is not very well defined, but takes shape as the movie progresses. Worth mentioning is her neutral accent, better than those before her, including Aishwarya Rai and other Indian actresses in Hollywood movies. Mickey Rourke played King Hyperion and did so astoundingly. He was ruthless, evil and with an agenda that questioned sanity. His rugged physique and scarred visage gave a suitably grim image to his selfish cause and the plot.

Unusually (for me), I sampled this one in the theatre as part of a division wide movie outing from my organization. Video was clear with the usual darkness and dual composition of images common with 3D presentations. Picture favored deep rich reds and browns, with most daylight shots favoring warm tones; with sands being the bulk of the outdoor shots. Sound was presented by means of a 6 channel 5.1 surround soundtrack. Surround stage usage was good and especially notable in the 3D fight sequences.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Exchanging blows, Greek style, in 3D)