‘Immortals’ is Mortal, But Still Does the Gods Proud

Entertainment

 

By Tim Posada, 11/17/2011

You won’t proclaim, “This is Sparta,” afterwards, but “Immortals” is far more lasting than many of its predecessors (I’m lookin’ at you “Prince of Persia”). What director Tarsem Singh lacks in original storytelling, he makes up for in visual spectacle. Few films are as gorgeous, with costuming and sets worthy of the gods.

Henry Cavill stars in Relativity Media’s “Immortals”. (photo by Jan Thijs © 2011 War of the Gods, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) despises the gods, and he’s got the sadomasochistic army to exact his revenge on the supernatural beings who did nothing to stop the murder of this family. Like all celluloid warlords, the Hypes (or as I will remember him, King Lobster Claw, due to the fantastic headgear he dons) blames the forces behind nature, and he’s on a quest to locate the Epirus Bow, the only device able to free the Titans — those pesky vermin the Olympians overthrew to establish their dominion — imprisoned in Mount Tartarus. Gods fall, and quite a few human heads roll.

But fear not: for every dictator who exists, a hero stands in the way. A commoner, Theseus (Henry Cavill), rises from the burning smoke of his quaint ocean side home, ready to end the twisted ruler’s campaign. With the help of noble thief, Stravos (Stephen Dorff), and an oracle named Phraida (Freida Pinto), Theseus races after the bow, all the while unaware of the aid provided by gods like Ares (Daniel Standard), Poseidon (Kellan Lutz), Athena (Isabel Lucas) and the god of the gods, Zeus (Luke Evans).

For those who know their Greek mythology, this one’s an epic of disastrous proportions. Theseus was a king and founder of Athens, and he never fought the Hypes, who was not a mortal ruler but a Titan himself. Plus, Poseidon is actually the father of Theseus, making him a demigod like Perseus and Hercules. But Theseus only engages with Zeus in the film. That said, rewritten mythology doesn’t negate the possibility of well-crafted narrative.

This might only be director Singh’s third film (following similarly abstract endeavors, “The Cell” and “The Fall”), but he’s developed a knack for filmic eye candy through lavish sets, intricate costumes and colorful digital effects. Don’t confuse “Immortals” with “300”, even if both films have some of the same producers (Mark Canton, Craig J. Flores and Gianni Nunnari). Singh’s contribution to Greek mythology is 180-degrees different, with emphasis on beauty over machismo and much less heavy metal in the background.

It’s easy to dismiss this film for many reasons — trivial plot line, lack of an ending or too little focus on the gods — but the performances are not among the weaknesses. Rourke plays an adequate villain, though he’s due for a change in character type (he’ll always be Marv from “Sin City” until he tries out some new emotions). Pinto, while underused, is similarly decent, though she hardly does more than function as the object of desire for the protagonist. Dorff proves once more he can act, even if he’s no longer in the limelight. John Hurt, as an old man who mentors Theseus, provides yet another strong performance as a sage.

Major praise for Evans as the god of the sky. Hardly the unremorseful entity of record, Evans portrays a broken king of Olympus, bound by the rules in place regarding interfering with human affairs. Rather than depict him as an old god tiredly slouched on a throne, akin to Odin in Asgard, he’s a young, almost tragic figure who cares about his subjects and knows how to handle himself in battle.
After making a name for himself on Showtime’s “The Tudors”, Henry Cavill takes his love of the period piece to similar heights here. And thank the gods he can fight (he’s especially good with a spear…and yes, yes, the bow too) since his next high-profile project places him in similarly spectacular garb when he becomes a modern-day replication of a Greek god: Superman.

Luke Evans stars as “Zeus”, leader of the gods, in “Immortals”. (photo by Jan Thijs © 2011 War of the Gods, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

A film like this exists for the iconic splendor it offers, and the final product is stylistically rich, even if it’s void of plot. The marketing campaign alone was a breathtaking matter, and the film itself is riddled with risky sets and costumes. In the wrong hands, this all could’ve been one big cheese-fest. The final result is more like “The Fountain”: a beautiful idea that half works.

“Immortals” is far from a perfect film, veering into mediocrity (too much talkie; not enough sword and bow) and predictability (what war film doesn’t include a cliché motivational speech by the hero?), but it could definitely take Percy Jackson or those clashing Titans in a fight. Like the rock that secretly hides the gods-ordained bow uncovered by Theseus, this film has much to offer, even if it ends more like an under-sized meal that tastes great but leaves you wanting.

Beverly Hills Press