Awful rental!!!
Added 11/8/2009
This movie is a steaming turd. It makes you wonder how much they are paying Amazon to promote this awful movie. The premise could have been good, however everything else about this movie is executed so poorly as to make this movie almost unwatchable. Rent at your own risk!!!
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Epic Viking Sci-Fi
Added 11/4/2009
An epic mythological chopper saga but with a plausible science fiction theme. It was the SF aspect which appealed to me most; the gore, of which there is plenty, not so much. I'd have given four stars for less blood. Caviezel is at his enigmatic best. Sophia Myles is a treat, both visually and as a powerful female character. She plays the fiery daughter (Freya) of the Viking chief (ably portrayed by John Hurt) and she has any man she comes across reeling, literally. Rival chief Gunnar, played by Ron Perlman is truly terrifying in hammer-wielding battle mode and only slightly less fierce than the monster itself!
The monster is all the better and more impressive, mysterious and scary for being only glimpsed and not fully seen until well into the film. This means that it benefits from the point of view that things scary are scariest when not seen, only imagined, and from being pretty fearful when it does finally appear. Possibly making reference to the `Alien' films, in one scene a monster drips saliva from glassy fangs onto Freya's cheek. Which brings me to special effects, here used in exactly the right proportion to generate the suspense and excitement required at the right moments, without being over-used or obtrusive.
More of what keeps the film moving, apart from the action, is the use of an inspiring sequence of locations: low earth orbit, desert planet landscapes, underwater, underground, and mist-shrouded forest with sunlight shafts stabbing through in anticipation of what is to follow. The SF special effects are excellent also and do a fine job of depicting an advanced civilization making a terrible error.
Plot treats include: wily norseman captures well-armed starman, using his horse; the boy with the bread; and of course, `shields'.
The film is well-paced and the entire narrative 'lavishly envisioned'. The costumes and weaponry are spot on for creating atmosphere.
Finally, the bonus features are excellent, especially the deleted scenes. Although I can understand why some of the scenes were cut to maintain the momentum, they are particularly worth watching because they add humanity and soul to the story.
A breath-taking action ride. Incredible it wasn't widely distributed at the cinema, watch it now!
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Outstanding movie, Just one metalurgical error.
Added 11/3/2009
This was certainly better than the cartoon version Beowulf. It was fresh and fun. Full of adventure and action. My biggest problem was when Canaan said we need stronger metal. Well viking age technology used carbon steel in their weapons. A piece of metal was recovered from Canaan's ship. To be stronger or harder than carbon steel the piece of the ship would have to be Titanium or Beryllium. Both of which have a forging temperature well beyond what a charcoal air driven forge can produce. I guess it could be some kind of space metal not yet discovered. Well, still a great movie.
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Surprisingly Good
Added 10/31/2009
Its interesting how some movies can really not be promoted much at all and be better than some of the big budget, heavily marketed movies out there. Outlander was a movie I had never heard of before I saw it on Amazon so I figured I would try it out since I'm a sci-fi fan. The movie was definately not a let down and was enjoyable all the way to the end. If you enjoy science fiction and action movies this one is worth watching.
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Something very familiar here. Let me see...
Added 10/21/2009
Ah yes, I remember. The name of the king is Rothgar and his kingdom (a small walled village really) is Heorot. Why this is a Science Fiction origin story for the Beowulf legend and none the worse for it.
This is the sort of film that gives Science Fiction Action movies a good name. Why do I like it so much? Let me count the ways.
The Viking society of the period looks authentic. I'm not saying that it is authentic, but it certainly looks it.
There's a good rationale for the alien looking like a human being. That's because he is human. There's a good reason why he's crash-landed on Earth and why he's hunting the monster. Also why he's quite morose for much of the film. But tough, this is an action movie and our hero can kick bottom with the best of them. The monster is a terrific creation slightly resembling Marveldog the man-eating monster from Alan Moore's Miracleman series. If you've seen the trailers you might think it's a dragon breathing fire but it isn't. It uses an intense bio-luminescence which looks great and is a good idea to boot.
Great cast. Jim Caviezel makes a good hero and is well-supported by British actress Sophia Myles as King John Hurt's sassy daughter, Jack Houston as the man who would be the next king and marry the ex-king's daughter -you can see the tension already- Ron Pearlman doing gruff, tough and aggressive, and a plethora of character actors with a variety of accents, most of whom get eaten, minced, maimed, and deaded in a variety of ways.
The monster is used sparingly and some time is spent with Viking/hero interactions which some people see as a flaw but I enjoyed. The action sequences are convincing as are the excellent special effects. I've a teensy problem with the satisfying but predictable end but that's really the worst I can say.
So, not the greatest movie ever made, hence the 4 star rating, but one hell of a good time. Loved it. Going to watch it again soon. Buy it. Now. Stop reading, go and buy it. Okay, I'm finished.
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Enjoyable Cross Genre Flick - Recommended
Added 9/11/2009
Mutant Chronicles is an entertaining and well produced movie that has Sci-Fi, Steam-Punk, Zombie, horror, and Post-Apocalyptic elements. This was a lot more enjoyable than I expected it to be.
No plot spoilers from me; the movie's back story is a little weak, but it doesn't really detract much from the movie as there are hints (both verbal and visual) that help to fill in some of the questions. Once the action starts, it is fairly easy to get into the story. The world of the 2700s is divided into four corporate blocks, each fighting to control the few remaining resources of the planet. This is literal fighting with armies battling the old fashioned way, which leads to a very surrealistic opening scene. The story follows a band of soldiers who attempt a last ditch effort to save the earth from zombie like mutants that the fighting has inadvertently unleashed. There really isn't any subplot and there is minimal character development beyond what's needed to build some viewer rapport with the main heroes.
The fighting action is very good and the special effects are decent enough to sell the futuristic steam-punk technology. The outstanding cinematography uses effective camera angles, lighting, and desaturated colors (except on the blood and certain uniform colors) to enhance the mood and feel of the very gritty environment.
This was a very watchable movie that crosses quite a few genres, but if you like zombie\monster movies, then you will likely like this one as well. There is also a possible hook for a sequel.
Recommended!
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Not the WORST movie ever, but...
Added 5/23/2009
I honestly couldn't tell you *how* I exactly learned about Mutant Chronicles, but I had no idea what the movie was about except it had Ron Perlman, a character named Jesus, and there were probably mutants in it. I'm a huge Ron Perlman fan, and will typically watch his stuff - even the most terrible - without much of a question. Having gone into this movie with no expectations whatsoever I can tell you it's not a horrible film, but it's definitely something that has incredibly limited appeal. It would do well as a made-for-DVD/TV movie, maybe something you'd watch on a particularly rainy afternoon on the Sci-Fi channel but probably not something you'd want to pay a whole lot of money for.
The movie's closest thing to a strong point is its steampunk setting. The opening scene, involving steam-powered trench warfare in the very distant future, was what got me hooked initially. This is where the setting is most prevalent, and unfortunately, it doesn't really get explored a whole after this with the exception of a scene involving a flying machine. It's a shame really, because the rest of the scenes in comparison are all pretty much the same, digital backdrop - desloate city. In general the special effects are none too impressive, and the film doesn't come off as gritty as it probably intended.
The acting is at points laughable and other times cringe-worthy. Had the actors, like Thomas Jane seems to take it for the most part, treated it in camp fashion this would probably be acceptable. Heck, there were times in the film that the horrible acting and terrible dialogue combined to make it pretty entertaining and I found myself enjoying the B-movie quality of it all. Sadly the film does not go this route, and some scenes (anything involving Devon Aoki, for example) are just brutal.
These are all nitpicky, however. The film is what it is - a mindless, 100 minute or so adventure movie about mutants. In that respect it's successful. Not the greatest movie about mutants, but if you're in the right frame of mind it can be fun to watch. The plot is predictable, the characters one-dimensional, and the action mediocre. But more than likely if you're even considering watching this movie you already knew all of this, and if you're just looking for a simple diversion with a different setting, Mutant Chronicles is worth a look. I'd highly suggest watching this with a few friends over a case of beverages of your choice when you've got nothing else to do and time to waste.
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Mutant Chronicles
Added 5/18/2009
It's pretty good for what it is. I suppose that's because I did not go into the movie expecting something spectacular, had I, I would of been disappointed.
Decent action flick for a boring rainy day, or a boring day.
I enjoyed it.
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