At 5.9, the current overall rating for this film seems far better than it should simply from its many, many technical problems. Yet, inexplicably, many have given it reviews and scores of 10--which is NOT really possible given the unfinished and hastily slapped together look of much of the film. Sure, I could understand someone liking it--but a 10 for a film that is essentially incomplete?! No way! Before I even attempt to discuss the plot (no small feat, by the way), let's talk about the unfinished look. I assume that the film makers had serious financial problems and filmed part of the film using live actors AND state of the art CGI. Yes, many of these scenes are beautifully rendered by brilliant computer artists. And yet, although there are these lovely scenes, many, many other scenes are completed using what appears to be 1st generation computer graphics--like bad cut scenes from a Play Station 1 game. In these hastily slapped together scenes, the lips and facial expressions are so flat and unreal that it just looks cheap and awful. Watching the film inexplicably switch back and forth from great scenes to ultra-crappy scenes graphically was confusing and irritating. As I said above, it sure looked like they were running out of money and just decided to slap together rotten and exceptional computer generated images.
As for the plot....well, it stinks. That's because although many of the ideas and images are exciting, way too much in the film is unexplained--even though I adore sci-fi I just couldn't help but dislike it because it was so confusing. The film is set in a dystopian future (a concept I like in sci-fi) but why the future is so bleak and why people look like bizarre Mr. Potatohead (of a fashion) is beyond me. What I mean by Potatohead is that almost every one in the film has a face made up of bits and pieces of new parts--noses, chunks of flesh, etc. that are not original.
Here are some more plot ideas in the film that are never really explained:
There are "humans and non-humans" and yet they all appear humanoid--what did they mean?! And what's with all the medical experimentation and imprisonment of many of these beings?
What's with Nikopol?! What exactly is his revolutionary movement all about and if he's so freaking dangerous to the powers that be, why is he even alive? Plus, is the government evil or not--it's really not clear if it is and who you should root for in the film.
Why does Horus have to die? Why do Sekmet and Anubis get to live? Why inject the Egyptian gods into the film? And, if you do, why do it the way they did?! First, STARGATE already took on the Egyptian god angle so this part of the film seems "borrowed". Second, when the giant floating pyramid appears above New York, no one seems THAT upset by this even though they deny that space travel exists and the ship is responsible for a lot of chaos.
Who, exactly is the blue lady?! Where does she come from and who is her cloaked friend?! Is she a Smurf?
Why does the leader of whatever organization is chasing Nikopol have such a lumpy and bumpy head?! It looks like he was animated by a drunk man.
Who or what exactly are these creatures that look like a combination of hammerhead sharks and devils? They're called Dayaks but the back story is missing. There's some mention of them being wiped out in "the riots" many years before but that's all.
There are many, many other confusing elements of the film, but the main plot itself is also a doozy. Here goes my attempt to understand what I saw....The film begins with Smurfette (Jill) on a cargo ship heading for execution or medical experiments or I don't know what. She goes nuts and is restrained after she hurts a lot of people. However, inexplicably, a doctor insists this apparently dangerous blue lady be released to her custody and Smurfette behaves quite nicely for her. At the same time, the Egyptian gods Anubis (with a jackal head) and Sekmet (with a cat head) tell Horus (with a falcon's head) that he'll be dead in one week. So, he leaves the confines of their floating ship (naked) and wrecks havoc and destruction--blowing up helicopters and making people 'splode. Eventually he takes over the body of a revolutionary who is in suspended animation and makes him find Smurfette--at which time Horus makes this couple have sex repeatedly (making this a film you should NOT let your kids see--it's just too violent and sexual). Then, a lumpy-headed and Asian lady appear (complete with CGI done by a 3rd grader) and announce that "Nikopol has escaped" and they unleash some slightly annoying characters to kill Nikopol--though none of them seem to have a prayer to harm him, Horus or Smurfette. Then, Horus eventually dies after Smurfette is impregnated by him, Nikopol goes back to jail for one year and the bad guys snuff it--though you still aren't sure why these are the bad guys.
Sounds confusing?! You betcha! Had the film been a series or mini-series and actually not left a million and one dangling plot elements, it might have been worth seeing. As is, it's confusing, cheap and just not worth your time even if you are like me and love sci-fi. I only gave it a 2 because a few of the well made scenes were cool and the ideas (though poorly executed) were occasionally interesting despite the film makers' attempts to make the film unwatchable). Don't believe the ratings, as this is a bad and ultimately unsatisfying film.
As for the plot....well, it stinks. That's because although many of the ideas and images are exciting, way too much in the film is unexplained--even though I adore sci-fi I just couldn't help but dislike it because it was so confusing. The film is set in a dystopian future (a concept I like in sci-fi) but why the future is so bleak and why people look like bizarre Mr. Potatohead (of a fashion) is beyond me. What I mean by Potatohead is that almost every one in the film has a face made up of bits and pieces of new parts--noses, chunks of flesh, etc. that are not original.
Here are some more plot ideas in the film that are never really explained:
There are "humans and non-humans" and yet they all appear humanoid--what did they mean?! And what's with all the medical experimentation and imprisonment of many of these beings?
What's with Nikopol?! What exactly is his revolutionary movement all about and if he's so freaking dangerous to the powers that be, why is he even alive? Plus, is the government evil or not--it's really not clear if it is and who you should root for in the film.
Why does Horus have to die? Why do Sekmet and Anubis get to live? Why inject the Egyptian gods into the film? And, if you do, why do it the way they did?! First, STARGATE already took on the Egyptian god angle so this part of the film seems "borrowed". Second, when the giant floating pyramid appears above New York, no one seems THAT upset by this even though they deny that space travel exists and the ship is responsible for a lot of chaos.
Who, exactly is the blue lady?! Where does she come from and who is her cloaked friend?! Is she a Smurf?
Why does the leader of whatever organization is chasing Nikopol have such a lumpy and bumpy head?! It looks like he was animated by a drunk man.
Who or what exactly are these creatures that look like a combination of hammerhead sharks and devils? They're called Dayaks but the back story is missing. There's some mention of them being wiped out in "the riots" many years before but that's all.
There are many, many other confusing elements of the film, but the main plot itself is also a doozy. Here goes my attempt to understand what I saw....The film begins with Smurfette (Jill) on a cargo ship heading for execution or medical experiments or I don't know what. She goes nuts and is restrained after she hurts a lot of people. However, inexplicably, a doctor insists this apparently dangerous blue lady be released to her custody and Smurfette behaves quite nicely for her. At the same time, the Egyptian gods Anubis (with a jackal head) and Sekmet (with a cat head) tell Horus (with a falcon's head) that he'll be dead in one week. So, he leaves the confines of their floating ship (naked) and wrecks havoc and destruction--blowing up helicopters and making people 'splode. Eventually he takes over the body of a revolutionary who is in suspended animation and makes him find Smurfette--at which time Horus makes this couple have sex repeatedly (making this a film you should NOT let your kids see--it's just too violent and sexual). Then, a lumpy-headed and Asian lady appear (complete with CGI done by a 3rd grader) and announce that "Nikopol has escaped" and they unleash some slightly annoying characters to kill Nikopol--though none of them seem to have a prayer to harm him, Horus or Smurfette. Then, Horus eventually dies after Smurfette is impregnated by him, Nikopol goes back to jail for one year and the bad guys snuff it--though you still aren't sure why these are the bad guys.
Sounds confusing?! You betcha! Had the film been a series or mini-series and actually not left a million and one dangling plot elements, it might have been worth seeing. As is, it's confusing, cheap and just not worth your time even if you are like me and love sci-fi. I only gave it a 2 because a few of the well made scenes were cool and the ideas (though poorly executed) were occasionally interesting despite the film makers' attempts to make the film unwatchable). Don't believe the ratings, as this is a bad and ultimately unsatisfying film.