Even in 2004, this adaptation was a step in the dark-- the CGI FX were a little cruder back then, plus there was less experience with the mixing of real actors with animation on the scale that was attempted here.
Plus, the movie is colored Bleak. Dystopian to a degree that will turn off a lot of people.
That aside, younger (Though you are now adults) reviewers have to take into account that Enki Bilal comes from a wholly different milieu. (note: I purposefully use the french word-- it applies with distinct aptness) This graphic novel was serialized in Heavy Metal back in the day of the Early 80's. And in that time, the Graphic Novel took its lead from a European-French wave of Sci-fi writers and illustrators with all the 'NON-American' sensibilities entailed.
What I remember of this story when I read it in Heavy Metal-- was only VAGUELY coherent. The Story wasn't the reason I read it-- it was the ART. And the ART was the artist's insane and bizarre vision of a future reproduced in lurid color and detail. The notion of a "Story Plot" is grafted onto the panels to tie them together-- the way LSD and Nightmares seem to have continuity. Nikopol just happens to be the central character to tie everything together. He's in a weird place at a weird time and all sorts of weird and bizarre things are happening around him. The fact that the movie makers could even re-craft a SCRIPT out of that is . . . a miracle in itself.
The New York you see is NOT the New York of the future as we would imagine. This is a Frenchman's panorama of New York as HE re-envisions it. The Police and politics and society more resemble a Dystopian Paris than NY-- but hey, the man is French! The patchwork faces and people was Enki's trademark. Don't ask WHY. That's just the way he draws. If you want to know why, you're welcome to read biographies and go down that dark road on your lonesome.
Will it stand up to other complex Sci-Fi movies is Dependant on the viewer. I say it can't.
SO for this movie there are Three types of viewers:
1) Older Graphic Magazine fans who want to see the ART they remember attempted on the screen.
2) Viewers who are willing to see a Weird, Different take the Future. Don't expect it to make SENSE. That just ISN'T Enki Bilal. If you can roll with the bleak dystopian colour, it's a panoramic ride.
3) Viewers expecting something like "Fifth Element" You will be disappointed. Though both artists came from the same era-- Bilal and Moebius may both be FRENCH, but that's all the similarity you get. They are worlds Apart. Plus, even though "Fifth Element" preceded "Immortal" by 7 years and seems more colorfully alive by comparison-- remember that Moebius and Bilal saw the universe differently. Think of this movie as a historical record of this particular artist.
This movie will be an interesting Saturday afternoon viewing by Serious aficionados of the Graphic Genre. Wine and Cheese is mandatory.
Plus, the movie is colored Bleak. Dystopian to a degree that will turn off a lot of people.
That aside, younger (Though you are now adults) reviewers have to take into account that Enki Bilal comes from a wholly different milieu. (note: I purposefully use the french word-- it applies with distinct aptness) This graphic novel was serialized in Heavy Metal back in the day of the Early 80's. And in that time, the Graphic Novel took its lead from a European-French wave of Sci-fi writers and illustrators with all the 'NON-American' sensibilities entailed.
What I remember of this story when I read it in Heavy Metal-- was only VAGUELY coherent. The Story wasn't the reason I read it-- it was the ART. And the ART was the artist's insane and bizarre vision of a future reproduced in lurid color and detail. The notion of a "Story Plot" is grafted onto the panels to tie them together-- the way LSD and Nightmares seem to have continuity. Nikopol just happens to be the central character to tie everything together. He's in a weird place at a weird time and all sorts of weird and bizarre things are happening around him. The fact that the movie makers could even re-craft a SCRIPT out of that is . . . a miracle in itself.
The New York you see is NOT the New York of the future as we would imagine. This is a Frenchman's panorama of New York as HE re-envisions it. The Police and politics and society more resemble a Dystopian Paris than NY-- but hey, the man is French! The patchwork faces and people was Enki's trademark. Don't ask WHY. That's just the way he draws. If you want to know why, you're welcome to read biographies and go down that dark road on your lonesome.
Will it stand up to other complex Sci-Fi movies is Dependant on the viewer. I say it can't.
SO for this movie there are Three types of viewers:
1) Older Graphic Magazine fans who want to see the ART they remember attempted on the screen.
2) Viewers who are willing to see a Weird, Different take the Future. Don't expect it to make SENSE. That just ISN'T Enki Bilal. If you can roll with the bleak dystopian colour, it's a panoramic ride.
3) Viewers expecting something like "Fifth Element" You will be disappointed. Though both artists came from the same era-- Bilal and Moebius may both be FRENCH, but that's all the similarity you get. They are worlds Apart. Plus, even though "Fifth Element" preceded "Immortal" by 7 years and seems more colorfully alive by comparison-- remember that Moebius and Bilal saw the universe differently. Think of this movie as a historical record of this particular artist.
This movie will be an interesting Saturday afternoon viewing by Serious aficionados of the Graphic Genre. Wine and Cheese is mandatory.