Æon Flux
Starring: Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Sophie Okonedo, Frances McDormand
Director: Karyn Kusama
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Duration: 1hr 33mins
Rated: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and sexual content.
Plot: Set against the 2011 virus that kills 99% of the world’s populace, and in the last city on Earth, Bregna, the survivors, some four hundred years later, in the year 2415, are continuing to live in the Goodchild dynasty, the name of the scientist who developed its cure. All is not well in this utopia and it is not what lies beyond its high walls that protects its citizens from the never ending jungle but what unspoken, unwritten taboo that holds and binds these unfortunates’ together. Æon Flux is the assassin that has been assigned by the underground rebels to change the course of Mankind, forever.

My review: It’s been a long time since I watched Æon Flux on MTV, but I remembered it being interesting and unique, so I thought I’d give the movie adaptation a try. What worked in 23 minute blocks on TV didn’t translate well for me into a 93 minute movie. The backstory is quickly laid out with narration and titling, so if you missed the TV series you’ll be just fine with this storyline. The director did a great job initially of capturing the artistic and close-up detail that gave the original such an interesting feel. There’s the zoomed in eye with the tracing iris and fly-capturing eyelashes as well as the exaggerated tongue kiss meant to disguise information exchange. However, after a few of these shots it felt like the director was satisfied with checking that box and the style moved on.

Considering this was an action movie I found it overly boring. Not much happens, and when it does it doesn’t last very long. The futuristic weapons are neat and the fight scenes are well choreographed, but like I said, none of it goes on for too long. The lack of fast pace is accompanied by the lack of any sense of pressing need or urge to keep moving. Æon’s cool manner keeps her character from ever seeming like she really wants to keep fighting out of desire, but rather some sort of obligation. The script just didn’t provide much intrigue or opportunities to pull me in and make me care.

Other than Charlize Theron and the somewhat oddly placed Frances McDormand you’re likely to not recognize the cast. I doubt that really hurt the movie though as they all do pretty decently. I did enjoy Æon’s partner, Sithandra played by Sophie Okonedo, who has had her feet replaced with hands for additional dexterity. That was one of the few clever aspects of the film. The environment is beautifully designed and crafted as a back drop to Aeon’s events around the walled city. Other than that I’m coming up dry for positive aspects.

The trailer below is way more exciting than anything you’re going to get from the actual movie, so don’t be fooled. I might just recommend playing it 45 times in a row if you really feel like donating an hour and a half to this movie.

My rating: 1.5/5 stars
High point: Visual effects
Low point: Very slow for an action movie

Æon Flux Movie Trailer:

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