Jupiter Ascending

There is a point in time where I really thought Jupiter Ascending was going to be something special.

Much like Kingsman, it was pushed from a crowded 2014 summer to a much more open February 2015. When films do this, it always makes me a bit nervous, but sometimes it is done because the creators really believe they have something special here and they want more people to see it.

For some inexplicable reason, I had a good "gut" feeling about Jupiter for the past month or so. It's most likely because it comes from the Wachowski's, you know...the ones that directed The Matrix trilogy...and you can never fault them for being anything less than ambitious, even if it doesn't always work out. Personally, I think they have a much better track record than their Metascores or Rotten Tomato scores might indicate. For me, Matrix Reloaded was very, very nearly as good as the original, Revolutions was a decent wrap up to the story, Speed Racer was really just misunderstood, and Cloud Atlas was ambitious and based on some of the most difficult material you could hope to adapt into film.

Like I said, they always try hard to bring something new to the table and challenge themselves, and in a Hollywood that is known for reboots and sequels, you really have to give credit where credit is due wherever their ambition is concerned. It just so happens that my "gut" feeling for Jupiter was mostly proven wrong as it proves that ambition doesn't necessarily make a great film.

The most miscast part of the film?
Channing Tatum's blonde hair

"Don't fall, don't fall, don't fall..."

Jupiter Ascending is an original story that tells of Jupiter Jones (Kunis) and her ascent into royalty and the "owner" of Earth. It basically boils down to an enormous space opera, with various siblings of the Abrasax family competing for the planet as it is incredibly wealthy, in which way, I will not spoil. For me, it was this aspect of Jupiter Ascending that worked the best. It creates its own galaxy and the rules of that galaxy...its kings, queens, royalty, soldiers, etc. and all unfolds as a fairly Game of Thrones-esque operatic space tale. It's not perfect by any means, as there are several unexplained aspects to the world, and more than a few random interactions/subplots/events that are never fleshed out, but it is the part I enjoyed the most and from a high-level overview, it works. This is likely because, at certain times of the film, it suggests ideas that are much bigger than you might anticipate. Again, I don't want to spoil anything, but some of the notions entertained are of the same thinking that created many of The Matrix's biggest mind-blowers. There is no "mind-blowing" going on here, but the few ideas are ones that are fun to entertain outside of the theater.

Some truly impressive CGI and some very imaginative ships ^^

I found the biggest issue to be with Jupiter Ascending was the two main leads and their lack of chemistry. I love Tatum and Kunis, but they just weren't very good fits for these roles. While Kunis wasn't as horribly miscast as she was in Oz, she just doesn't feel quite right here. I've never really been able to take her seriously in an "action" role and I really think she is much better suited in comedy. One would think that Tatum would have been fine, and really he is, but it almost felt like he was too young for the character he was trying to portray. Not to mention the blonde hair just looked flat out stupid. The chemistry between the two is non-existent, but that's really a problem with the screenplay and script as any suggestion that they might become romantic seems to come out of thin air about halfway through the film. There is hardly any bonding between the two characters and before you know it, Jupiter is making passes at Caine (Tatum). Miscasts aside, I really enjoyed Sean Bean in his role, although he was an underused character, and Eddie Redmayne hams it up as a whispering madman. He isn't ever terrifying, but he is a fun villain.

"I want to put a shirt on..."
"I'm sorry Eddie, I can't hear a
word you're saying."
"I said I want to put a shirt on..."

The action in the film is also not up to Wachowski standards. Where they once were the masters of an action scene, the gun fights, space ship battles, and chases are all so hectic in Ascending that they become little more than a loud blur of special effects and shouting dialogue. They aren't horrible, just really hard to understand. Even more shocking is that out of the (this is an estimate) 10 times the film uses slow-motion, 8 times it does so at non-critical action junctures, meaning that it's useless. Slow-motion is supposed to be used when something amazing is happening, but often it is used randomly in this film. Again, shocking given that this is the duo that gave us The Matrix that pretty much invented modern-day slow motion usage.

On the flip side of some of my complaints, there is no denying that Jupiter is a gorgeous film. It's so good looking that, given the Wachowski's most recent "bombs" I question how they get the funding for this much special effects creation. Either way, it's a beauty and full of originality in the space ships, the fashion, the alien types, the planets, etc. It even comes packed with a mightily impressive original score! Yay!

At the end of the day (and subsequently this review) Jupiter Ascending isn't the film it could have and should have been. But as they always do, the Wachowski's put their best foot forward in order to create an original and creative property, which is something of a rarity these days. I give it points there. Unfortunately it all comes a bit undone due some script, pacing, and casting issues.

And that damn blonde hair...

CONS:

• Kunis and Tatum are miscast for various reasons
• The script and screenplay don't allow for Jupiter and Caine to have many "moments" and their romance, while predictable, is very "all of the sudden"
• Tatum's blonde hair
• There are several subplots and random events that aren't ever fully explained in the world and it all adds up to a somewhat overstuffed movie
• The action is decent but at times far too frantic to know what is going on
• Poor use of slow motion

PROS:

• The film's "space opera" angle works really well and I was thoroughly involved with the characters and the sibling rivalry
• Ambitious, original, and creative...not words that are often used at the theaters these days. Bonus points for the film here
• The film is gorgeous and features some truly fantastic special effects
• There are some "big ideas" posed throughout the film that are entertaining to think about after the fact
• Eddie Redmayne hamming it up and Sean Bean is solid
• Great original score

Rath's Review Score: 6.5/10