Tarsem Gets it Right Again with 'Immortals' Review by Best Geek Blog Ever
It’s difficult to put into words how much I have been looking forward to “Immortals”. Tarsem’s The Fall is my favorite movie of all time. The film is lush in both story and sight and features a unique approach to storytelling. Needless to say when I heard Tarsem was making another film (that is enough for me) that was to be set against the backdrop of a swords and sandals epic power battle between gods and men, I was sold.
I immediately starting daydreaming what a movie like Troy or 300 would look like with Tarsem at the reigns and my thoughts filled me with glee. He is a director that has very openly stated that he thinks about what the movie looks like before he starts to put a story together. That probably scares a lot of people but I think he has been successful in doing so three times now so I really don’t let that bother me. I don’t think Tarsem is a household name but I hope Immortals will help with that. In fact, that was actually one of my main concerns going into the film. I was slightly worried that the film would stray away from Tarsem’s visual panache and look more like your typical Hollywood blockbuster. After having seen the film, I am confident that Tarsem fans need not worry. The film very successfully straddles a fine line between typical fair that will draw a lot of new viewers in and still has enough of Tarsem’s DNA in it for his fans.
Theseus is a mortal chosen by Zeus to stop King Hyperion from obtaining the fabled Epirus bow and using it to unleash the titans. Hyperion, played manically evil by Mickey Rourke, has lost faith. After fruitless calls to the gods to save his wife and children from death by disease, he vows to releases the titans against the gods and to use his growing power to declare war on humanity.
Theseus, played by new leading man Henry Cavill, is a peasant who just so happens to have been dutifully trained by Zeus himself. As it states, gods are not to interfere in human affairs. But in this world, that doesn’t count if the gods take on mortal forms while they are on earth. Old Zeus (John Hurt) has watched over Theseus since he was a child, seeing something in him that no other mortal could. It’s the job of young Zeus(Luke Evans) to recruit Theseus. Theseus is thrust into the center of this age old battle after King Hyperion kills his mother. Soon after being captured by Hyperion’s men, Theseus encounters the beautiful virgin oracle Phaedra (Frida Pinto) and slave/thief, and comic relief, Stavros (Stephen Dorff). Together they seek the means to prevent Hyperion from releasing the titans.
The film spends a good amount of time setting up our characters. The first half of the film is filled with gorgeous exposition with a sprinkling of action thrown in for good measure. After learning that the oracles vision shows Theseus and Hyperion in victorious embrace, Theseus sets out to change the prophecy. We learn that theEpirusbow is the only weapon with the power to release the titans from their imprisonment withinMountTartarus. Hyperion will stop at nothing to see the gods fall at the hands of their prisoners. We meet Zeus and a mixing of gods including his daughter Athena, Poseidon and Helios inOlympus. The gods seem to be at an impasse on how to handle the Hyperion situation. I love the godly moments between Zeus and his subordinates. Their costumes are as beautiful to look at as they are.
I adore this film at the moment. I had such high expectations for Tarsem’s return to the big screen. In fact, like most people I have never seen his works in a theater. I didn’t see The Cell or The Fall until they were on home video, a tradition I will no longer keep as long as the man keeps making films. The film is bookended by wonderful Tarsem moments that are very evocative of his wild and vivid imagination. Don’t get me wrong the film is without a doubt his, but there is also a lot for non-Tarsem fans to enjoy. When I introduce non-believers to his work I am usually met with, “Oh this is just a bit too weird!” I doubt folks will say that about Immortals. The action scenes are beautifully choreographed and are high in intensity. Folks looking for action resembling 300 will not be disappointed. In fact, Tarsem takes your typical clash into a new stratosphere. He one-ups Zach Snyder in the speed department. As you’ve probably seen in the trailers gods and titans fight very differently and it’s a wonder to see on screen, especially because he makes you wait for that moment so when it’s time for the god’s to get involved, it’s totally worth it. If you are looking for a non-stop action romp you’ve come to the wrong place, however when the action breaks through it’s incredible. Unlike The Cell or The Fall, there is a very straightforward narrative to Immortals that many may find easier to enjoy than his previous endeavors. Nothing takes place within someone’s mind or told in a fairy-tale.
The production and costume design are breathtaking and gets a Tarsem Approved stamp right across the screen from me. The color palette for Immortals is definitely not as abundant as The Fall but I think they make it work really well. Another thing I noticed is the heavy use of CG in Immortals. CG was not a tool used in heavy rotation on Tarsem’s last two films. In fact, he utilized some nifty camera tricks in The Fall that could easily be confused as CG that were in fact practical. I think he has a good handle on how to effectively use CG elements and blend them with practical effects. The part where you’ll notice the strings is obviously and awesomely when the gods fight the titans. For those who have not seen the flick, do not let the trailers deceive you, this film is violent and extremely gory. You thought there was a lot of fake blood in 300? You haven’t seen Immortals yet. The gods dispatch the titans in a manner you’ve never seen in a movie before. It is wonderful to watch and will leave you wanting more I am sure of that.
My one complaint, and it’s my usual, is that the 3D is a huge distraction when scenes are dark. I think the film looks remarkable in 3D. I’ll give props to Tarsem for knowing where to put those cameras to maximize its effectiveness. However, whenever the moon is up, detail is down. In two specific scenes I removed my glasses completely so I could make out figures. Besides that I would recommend a 3D screening if your like me and will spend the money of the movie was shot natively. I will make the case that Tarsem is a filmmakers whose work lends itself beautifully to 3D. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing The Fall in 3D at some point. I believe 3D was a natural progression for him and I’m glad he embraced the tool. If only we could get those light bulbs ramped up a bit more.
I think Immortals really showcases the ability for Henry Caville to be a leading man. It bodes well considering he’ll be Superman next year. This film puts some of my trepidations about that project on the back-burner for now. I also think Mickey Rourke is a wonder to watch on screen. It makes total sense why his Whiplash character in Iron Man 2 was such a huge weenie; he was saving it all for Hyperion. He is a man motivated and that is what makes him dangerous. Stephen Dorff and Frida Pinto round out an excellent ensemble that makes the film so enjoyable to watch to the very end. In fact the last 15 minutes of the film are intense and staged perfectly to a rhythm only Tarsem could create.
My hope is that the name Tarsem will enter a lot of people’s vocabularies for the first time with Immortals and stay around to check out his earlier work. I think the film is fantastic and continues to showcase Tarsem’s unique voice. New fans and old will find a lot to enjoy within the film. Just in time too, he’s got another one right around the corner when he brings some color back into the world with his Snow White comedy adaptation, Mirror, Mirror.
Thank you to Charley Parlapanides!
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