Jupiter Ascending – 2015 – United States
Everybody I’ve ever talked to about this movie has one of two reactions. One: They have never heard of it. Or two: They think it’s a pile of crap. The Wachowskis (directors of The Matrix) are the sort of directors that wear their influences on their sleeves, and Jupiter Ascending is a good example of that. Someone once described it as “Stars Wars mixed with an anime”. I don’t know if that is a perfect summary, but it gets close.
Jupiter Ascending tells the story of Jupiter, a custodial worker from Russia who doesn’t realize she is actually the princess of Earth. An alien noble family wants her dead so they can claim Earth, harvest all its people, and process their bodies into a drug that makes people immortal. These aliens are some really bad folks. They are cruel and decadent, and they wipe out entire civilizations for the purpose of creating their life-giving elixirs. Coming to the aid of Jupiter is a super-soldier with pointy ears and cool boots that let him skate on air. Apparently he is half wolf. Also featured are alien greys, dragon people, and many varieties of rubber forehead-type aliens.
Jupiter Ascending creates a whole, big, sci-fi world. In this space opera-like setting, the wealthy are insanely powerful, and they live forever in extravagant palaces. Genetic manipulation is ubiquitous. There are mecha. There is a lot of lore too. Apparently, the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by aliens so that Earth could be seeded with genetically-engineered human life. Groovy! Lots of the world-building details are sort of interesting, but none of it feels especially original, and the result is a highly detailed but still generic setting.
The special effects are pretty good, I suppose. There are lots of fast-paced aerial battles between spaceships and Jupiter’s boyfriend and bodyguard who skates around with his anti-gravity boots. The battles are probably too fast-paced. As the characters whip through the air, destroying buildings with their lasers, I felt sort of lost. However, there are plenty of flashy, dazzling moments. The set design is pretty cool too. I like the impossibly vast, cathedral-like mansions of the alien nobles.
Jupiter is an appealing character. The idea of a regular Earthling being thrust into a galactic conflict is compelling, and I like her flippant attitude. However, I was a little disappointed that she didn’t do much aside from get rescued by her boyfriend over and over.
Rating: 7/10 Shrunken Heads
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