Aeon Flux (2005)

Directed by Karyn Kusama. Starring Charlize Theron; Martin Csokas; Jonny Lee Miller. Running Time: 93 mins.

I don’t know why this was so universally reviled by the critics. Sure, it’s no masterpiece, but it is by no means the worse sci-fi film made. There are in fact some really nice touches that mark it out from the crowd.

Charlize Theron as Aeon is strangely neither as funny or sexy as the cartoon version of the character, which is strange considering we know she is more than capable of both these things.

The problem, and it is something that happens with most cartoons that try to make the leap to a larger format — the original medium that they existed in, and the strictures based upon said medium, are often what made the whole thing work and hang together so well. With the MTV series each episode could deal with a single idea and didn’t need to bother with too much exposition. The film makes the mistake of over-explaining itself sometimes, instead of allowing the history of the characters to become evident by the way in which they react. The film also has less fun with the idea and loses some of the perversity that Peter Chung’s original had in spades.

It also missed the boat as far as the popularity of the genre went. The cartoon inspired much of what came after, much of what made it into the cinema, so by the time it arrived, what was once seminal seems old hat. But as stated, this is not a bad watch. It’s only 93 minutes long, you get a lot for your money in that time, and it’s not the worse way to pass those moments.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (2005)

I’ll start this by saying that I love Tim Burton. I wanted to love Planet Of The Apes despite what the critics said but they were right — despite the visuals it was not a good film. This is something of a kindred spirit in that the visuals far outweigh what the rest of the film brings to the table. It is a meringue: it looks pretty but it is lacking in substance. What it lacks is a soul. Which is odd — we know he can do this. Why does it seem empty though?

There are wonderful touches, wonderful flourishes of imagination, wonderful set pieces and wonderful actors. Strange then that it should still seem that there is something lacking, but that is the sad truth. Whereas Edward Scissorhands seemed a complete world and had a spark, aagh, how many ways to say it? Visually exciting, a technical marvel, but no heart beating at the centre.

V For Vendetta (2005)

Directed by James McTeigue. Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt. Cert: 15. Running Time: 132 Mins.

Alan Moore is not happy with the way the film world treats his books.

I have just seen V For Vendetta and I have to admit that it is a while since I read the graphic novel, but I enjoyed the film for it’s own sake and did not sit there obsessing over how faithful it was to the book. That a mainstream film even attempts to deal with political ideas is noble and somewhat rare.

Yes, League Of Extraordinary Gentleman was a major league disappointment and Swamp Thing, well what more need be said? But this film far outstrips them. You get drawn into the world, into the story — the points come across without being hammered home. There are differences to the book, sure, but the essence has translated. Sometimes the purists and the creators need to let go.

V For Vendetta has wonderful set pieces, a compelling story, actors bringing it all to the table. The running time disappears as you get pulled along on a great ride; a great ride with a serious message, and what could be better? Will McTeigue come away from this with much credit? Maybe, maybe not. But the Wachowski’s have answered the critics who lashed out at the Matrix sequels with a confident vision. It may not be Moore’s, but it works just as well.