Equilibrium fans: Kurt Wimmer's Ultraviolet (2006)

[Archivist]

I only just discovered this one.  For those of you who know Christian Bale from Equilibrium, you may like to know about Ultraviolet, where director Kurt Wimmer gets a bigger budget, Milla Jovovich, and a lot of CGI to play with.  Looks like a lot of fun!

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ultraviolet/

Opens now!  Gunkata to the max!

(Too bad it won't hit Australian screens for a few months, probably!)

~Archivist~

[Amanda]

I think it opens today, here.  I'm pretty sure at least ONE of our 3 theaters should get it.  

[Gerry]

I didn't realize Kurt Wimmer was directing this!  Now I am suddenly much more interested!

[plan9superfan]

I didn't like Equilibrium, and I don't like Ultraviolet.

Equilibrium was Fahrenheit 451 minus all the charm, the grace and the political statements of either Ray Bradbury's book or Francois Truffaut movie.

And Ultraviolet is Resident Evil with vampires instead of zombies, and RE Sucked big time.

[odinn7]

^^^^ Wow...I think we've found someone more bitter than I am.

I had no idea he was directing this. Now, since I thought Equilibrium was so good, I will need to check this one out too.

[Mr_Vindictive]

I hadn't heard much about Ultraviolet until yesterday when I saw a trailer for it, and saw an interview with Milla on G4.

I thought it looked like crap, but I will probably go see it now that I know Wimmer is behind it.  Equilibrium was fantastic, so I now have high hopes for this one.

Please, somebody post a review of this one soon.

[The Conqueroo]

Basically All The Movies Like "Aeon Flux";"Ultraviolet"and The Upcoming "V for Vendetta"roughly have the same kind of plot:Sometime in the future(#1)A Scientist creates an Army of Super Soldiers but this Genetically Enhanced Female escapes and kicks and takes names(#2)In A World Where Love and Human Kindness Have Been Outlawed,another Genetically Enhanced Female escapes and uses her powers on the corrupt Government and once again kicks ass and takes names(#3)A Malevolent Regime sets up a Dictatorial Police State while Young Girl and Masked Avenger wreak havoc upon the Regime!!FYI:in scenario#3,the Girl isn't Genetically Altered!!"Now To Begin My Most Foul and Evil Plan Yet!!To Wreak Havoc Upon Humanity!!"-Butters(As Professor Chaos):"South Park"."Quick Man!!Cling Tenaciously To Mty Buttocks!!".-Powdered Toast Man from "Ren&Stimpy".

[dean]

The Conqueroo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Basically All The Movies Like "Aeon
> Flux";"Ultraviolet"and The Upcoming "V for
> Vendetta"roughly have the same kind of plotometime
> in the future

On the outset, yes they do, but you could argue that about pretty much every genre film ever made.

I guess it's the differences that count.  I haven't seen any of the films you mentioned, but, for instance [from knowledge other than the movies themselves] V: For Vendetta [the comic] is based around more of a Nazi-like opressed society with a terrorist guy running around and generally being a brilliantly subversive bastard.  

Equilibrium [to change tact slightly since I don't know a thing about Ultraviolet] had a society which supressed it's emotions and therefore became an opressive, cold society against those who felt emotions.  Plus it had Gunkata which was alot of fun to watch, however impractical it would be in real life.

Aeon Flux [the cartoon] had a much more surreal, bent views on life than the other two.  The society and ways of that world was so twisted in parts, it's kind of hard to compare them unless you strip it to it's base levels.


Anyway this is all kind of meaningless since we all know that these elements can be changed when adapting/remaking, [leading me to become very frustrated and annoyed] so for all I know the films listed above may just go the same basic way in the end.

I just thought I'd point out some of the differences, albeit in a rushed, not very specific sort of way.

[Alan Smithee]

I think this speaks for itself.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004504-ultraviolet/

[Foywonder]

I liked EQUILIBRIUM but this one... I haven't walked out of a movie feeling this much disdain in a long time.

MY ULTRAVIOLET REVIEW

[Jim H]

Ultraviolet is..  Entertaining.  No, it is not a good movie.  It has some pretty terrible writing, mostly bad acting, no real emotional power, etc.  

What did I like about it?  SOME of the action is decent - probably the best sequence is where a ridiculous number of Chinese guys try to shoot Violet over and over.  Well-done.  Other action scenes were just blah.  The bad guy, played by one of those character actors I recognize but can't name, is amusing in a very shallow sort of way.  The final fight is somewhat satisfying and kind of neat looking.  

Some of the ideas were neat - like the way the gun transportation works, and the credit card bracelet.  

Most disappointing to me were the action scenes.  Equilibrium is a hard act to follow, but c'mon...

Anyways, comparing the two films is what some would like to hear..

Equilibrium is a film I quite enjoy.  I don't think it is a brilliant, eternal classic, but I was quite entertained by it and found it had great action scenes and some very good performances, casting, and music.  

I can see why some find it too derivative of other works (it plays out in many ways as a cross between Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451), but this didn't bother me.

Anyway, Equilbirum is much better written, has much better action choreography, much better cinematography, FAR FAR better performances and is just flat out a better movie in every way - even special effects, despite its much lower budget.  

My sliding scale gives Ultraviolet a 6/10.  I'd guess if I hadn't seen it expecting more, it probably would have gotten a 7.

If I was to rate it as a "serious" critic, the "I want substance in my films" type, I'd put it at a 3/10.

[Ash]

Were you able to get into an advanced screening Jim?

Are those screenings free or do you have to pay to get in like all other films?

[Jim H]

No, it's already out.  Came out on Friday, March 3rd.  

I have been to a couple advance screenings before...  Usually they're free, unless it is just a movie which is technically fully released but is in "limited" release (ya know, when movies come out in NYC and LA like two weeks early to build hype or what not).  Often free tickets to advance screenings are given away as prizes, like I got one from a radio show for Kiss of the Dragon - but they gave out too many, and we couldn't get in to the advance screening.  Sometimes, you'll just randomly get invited into one as part of a test audience while you're in a theatre or in a mall or whatnot.

[Neon Noodle]

Well, I just rented it. Let's just say that I was less than impressed. Yeah, the action sequences were similar to Equilibrium. So similar that I thought Kurt Wimmer just took the old sequences and put them into this movie. I mean c'mon, she waded through a bunch of footsoliders/meatsacks and then has a climactic fight with swords with a person who turns out to be the very evil they claim to be against?

This was the exact same plot he did in Equilibrium, just with Milla's abs showing in place of Christian Bale.

While I was intersted in the ability to conceal weapons, it wasn't enough to keep me entertained for the whole movie. Plus Milla can't act her way out of a paper bag, in my humble opinion. This movie managed to take every cliche from The Matrix, both of the Resident Evil movies, and even The Transporter (don't open the case, but I'll open the case).

Meh. I liked Equilibrium better.

[Amanda]

It was pretty to look at though.  Lots of color and bright flashy lights!  And of course, Milla's abs.

And it had Nick Chinlund!   One of the things I really enjoyed about the Chronicles of Riddick was that guy.  Great voice.

And William Fichtner!  Who was also in Equilibrium.   Of course, I've liked him since he was on As the world turns and I was about 6.  Invasion was a great show, and I'm rather ticked that they've cancelled it.

Anyway, the supporting cast was good.