Reviews

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/movies/03aeon.html?8hpib

Ebert and Roeper gave Flux the 'Wagging Finger of Shame' because they were not invited to see it beforehand; (confirming my suspicions about critics) http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/today.html

I don't know... I feel the "Wagging Finger of Shame" is well-deserved, because, honestly, the practice of not allowing screenings of the movie to ALL critics in the country implies that that they're trying to put one over on the moviegoing public by selling them a turd. It's a terrible practice which affects more than the egos of some critics.

Which, let's face it, they did pull a trick. The movie was advertised as a straightforward, enjoyable action flick with a sci-fi setting. It wasn't. With the heavy advertising push, they got a minimum opening weekend box office number that they needed by hiding this fact. And what's sad is, I don't even think the reviews would have been much worse than they are now, with the critical backlash.

Personally, I didn't think the movie was absolutely terrible, and at times, I was entertained. Some of the visuals and special effects were nice, and many of the ideas (usually the ones ripped right out of the show) were pretty cool and fun to see "homaged". I even liked the general story - at some point, I think the screenwriters tried to create a serious science fiction film.

But the directing (disappointingly, because Girlfight was a solid film), the action sequences, dialogue, and overall storytelling was clumsy and unsatisfying. It wasn't arty and abstract enough to be a willful interpretation of the animation, and as a simple action movie it was slow and over-explained. Even Charlize Theron (who was fantastic in Monster and a recent series of Arrested Development episodes) was boring, with little dimension. It was a pain to sit through, and even worse for the two friends I dragged with me to see the movie with little to no knowledge of the original series.

But, hey, I got my DVDs, I supported the show. Maybe I'll buy those comics, next... Sadly, I doubt the movie will do well enough to fulfill our hopes of new shows.

I agree that Paramount really made a mess with the marketing. I mean I remember a Tv Spot in which they were suggesting a storyline that certainly wasn't the movie (those declaring something like "she was the Govenrnment top agent until they left her for dead..........").
I don't really get the "boring" thing, unless one was expecting something in the The Island or The Matrix vein.
The movie is more Logan's Run, and not an action movie, and I found the cloning theme to be well thought out.
I thought that Charlize's interpretation of Aeon was different but interesting. She's an Aeon with pain inside and self-doubt. She doesn't go into her missions enjoying them.
I think the film is more humanistic science fiction, which is something today's audiences are not really accustomed to.

I can see your point about the 'nonscreening' hurting more than the critics egos. I guess the movie industry has its own way of working and to try and sneak around it might not be a good idea, but in the end the people decide. After all it opened next to Potter, and came in second. I'd love to know how it's still doing. This is a nice review I think.

http://www.filmfodder.com/scifi/archives/2005/12/aeon_flux_the_h_1.shtml

"Perhaps Chung will get his wish".

With all the press I'm doing, my position on the movie officially is: "it's meant to stand on its own. I would have done things differently, but the writers and director have their own take on the material and I respect that and want viewers to give it a chance."

The reporters who have seen the film are sometimes not satisfied with that reply and press me to say what I personally thought of the movie. I'm not sure it is my place to criticize the efforts of fellow creative individuals in public. Yet I mustn't endorse a process which delivered a result which clearly fell short of even the studio's own goals. It's a strange dilemma.

With that in mind...

http://narcogen.com/taxonomy/term/100

http://www.latinoreview.com/films_2005/paramount/aeonflux/review.html

God, something must be really wrong with me since I really enjoyed this movie. I'm starting to wonder..

Peter, I really liked that first review, at narcogen.com. I got a kick out of the fact he referred to one of the films characters as Scaphandra, which was in fact the characters name from the series, and expresses probably a subconscious wish...well I won't go there.

I sympathize with your dilemma. I'm not sure the wider audience is the best place for Aeon Flux, really. Although the movie was waay better than expected. It was enjoyable but to see the film you would've made would be an artisticly charged jolt. Like the first cup of coffee in the morning or more in fact like the feeling I get whenever I hear that incredible song, Bohemian Rhapsody. I still sit there, impressed, mystified and intrigued, wondering about the meaning of the song and dying to talk to Freddie Mercury about it. Unusually lucky in this case, I and others got that chance, and I hung on every word you spoke about it on our forum and elsewhere. You delivered many a fantastic response, too. Fluxing creativity in your comments, fabulous.

I can't help but feel that is the essence of their questions. Looking for that jolt.

the latino review hinted at the fact that the original episodes hinted at the fact that trevor and aeon were married... did anyone else get this message from the original?

No, not at all. If anything, it's the opposite -- that they were married to different spouses (Aeon, to herself -- Trevor, to his sense of responsibility to Bregna; or, to himself), and they're seeing each other on the down low. It's as if every once in awhile, their spouses would catch them cheating, and punish them, and then they'd return to their marriages and try to make them happy... but they'd always find a reason to cheat again.

I don't think that made sense, but...

Well I went into the movie trying to forget the animated series as much as possible to just take it in for what Paramount decided to make of it. The fact that they did not have Peter involved was just plain stupid. Why not use him? It would be like making Lethal Weapon 4 and not having Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. You have to have those that are originally involved to have something that will even be close to the original magic any series creates for itself.

The movie had an interesting twist. It left itself no possible way of being made into a sequel so maybe we can get some more animated series out of it if we scream loud enough. Even if it is like Shrek, I would take it. Theron was an interesting choice. Frankly I am shocked she wanted to do it. It bothered me that her hair was off, it bothered me that someone as hot as Theron hid her body behind some pathetic jump suit, and that the whole movie was just not sure of where it wanted to go. I can only imagine what the editing room floor looks like. I would guess the dvd will have more footage "never before seen" than was in the original movie.

The effects were ok. Typical of most movies made now, the scene of her fighting everyone while being backed up by those on the tower was just dumb. The flying control center was interesting. But why was it so hard for her to get off the damn thing the second time. We don't see her escape from it the first time so was that one just so much easier to pull off or did we lose footage that was somewhat redundant or left for us to wonder why it was so easy the first time and now suddently its a major obstacle.

So what is out there behind the wall? We wont ever see and who really does want to anyway.

Ok my rant is over. Paramount you are just stupid for trying to improve on something that needed no improvements. Shame on MTV (which is hardly a music station anymore or much worth any entertainment value) for not allowing someone who other film makers trust to do as he pleases and not include Peter was a huge error.

But I guess look what Peter Jackson did with King Kong. Clearly he had an open book and he was allowed to do whatever he wanted. Big mistake this time and hopefully wont be a sign of what they are doing with The Hobbit. Pray he hires an editer with some balls who will tell someone to cut a scene by 45 minutes instead of using every inch of film shot.

Happy New Years everyone....

Just saw my first Aeon Flux ad here in Tokyo, she's spread-eagle all over a wall in Shibuya station. I guess I'll get to see this on the big screen after all...