Mortal Engines (2018). Rating: 12a.
Rating: 3/5 - worth watching
Synopsis
Set a thousand years from today after a global cataclysm has rendered the Earth virtually uninhabitable, killing the majority of humans.
Survivors from western states have grouped themselves into mighty city states, mobilised on enormous engines, scouring the world for resources and gobbling up smaller cities or towns for valuable energy and other resources. One of the biggest, most well armed and terrifying is London, previously restricted to raids across Britain, but now working its through a desolated Europe.
Hester (Hera Hilmer) is desperate to get on-board London and avenge herself against the benevolent Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving) a noted statesman recognised for the good he has done for London and his kindly treatment of the people his city ‘ingests’.
She fails and is thrown out along with Valentine’s admirer Tom (Robert Sheehan). The two dislike each other but must work together as Tom grudgingly realises his hero is not all he seems and London must be stopped before it destroys what they both previously thought was a mythical outpost community.
Review by @Reelreviewer
The run-up to Brexit is not so much highlighted for audiences in this spectacular futuristic fantasy, but megaphoned into their ears.
The unlucky actor tasked with delivering these blatant messages is Patrick Malahide, perhaps cast because of the sneering tone in his voice, or just as reasonably because he usually plays this sort of sneering villainous type.
He plays the Lord Mayor of London, who leads a mission as an incredibly mobile London chomps its way across a barren Europe, "ingesting" any other culture unlucky enough to be in its gastronomically monopolistic sights.
"We should never have gone into Europe" he notes as the mission continues "...the worst mistake we've ever made."
These plummy, hilarious lines pop-up throughout a movie that is as unsubtle in its political commentary as it is thoroughly preposterous.
Still, some decent acting and commendably full-on action keep the interest up.
For more, read the full review: http://bit.ly/mortalenginesfilm
Cast & credits
Director: Christian Rivers. 2hrs 8mins/128mins (12a).
Media Rights Capital/Scholastic Productions/Silvertongue Films/Universal/WingNut Productions.
Producers: Deborah Forte, Peter Jackson, Amanda Walker, Fran Walsh, Zane Weiner.
Writers: Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh.
Camera: Simon Raby.
Music: Junkie XL.
Sets: Dan Hennah.
Hera Hilmer, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Jihae, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, Andrew Lees, Ronan Raftery, Frankie Adams, Stephen Lang, Colin Salmon, Caren Pistorius.
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