'Jupiter Ascending' Movie Review

Jupiter Ascending Review:

Matrix Duo Gone Stale

BY IAN TAN

Jupiter Ascending is the Wachowski siblings’ latest sci-fi epic since Cloud Atlas in 2012 and their first original film since The Matrix in 1999. With the latter two films being spectacular and thought-provoking pieces of sci-fi cinema, how does the Wachowski’s latest work fare?

Unfortunately, Jupiter Ascending is a clunky film with a weak script and poor pacing coupled with an uninteresting story and plot. The film starts out promisingly, with some backstory that seems to foreshadow greater things ahead. However, after about the 45-minute mark of the film, I began to lose hope that the film was going to get any better.

The basic premise of the plot is that Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), an unsuspecting toilet cleaner on Earth, is claimed to be entitled to Earth. In space you see, wealth isn’t measured by money, but rather, in the currency of time. In order to be paid with said time, space business lords call dibs on planets and their profit values and other space trade negotiation mumbo-jumbo that really isn’t all that interesting to listen to. Balem (Eddie Redmayne) and his siblings Titus and Kalique all fight for claim over planet Earth, which happens to be intergalactic prime real estate. In order to inherit the Earth, however, the three engage in sibling rivalry where each tries to prevent Jupiter from claiming her title as heir to Earth.

Jupiter ascending

The performances in the film are nothing to shout about, with Channing Tatum’s Caine Wise being about the best character in the film. Tatum just brings a sense of gravitas and likability to the role that adds to the overall film. Mila Kunis as Jupiter tries her best to make her character as strong of a female protagonist as she can, but the movie’s script by the Wachowski’s tends to sideline her to damsel-in-distress status for most of the film, which is rather disappointing given that the titular character doesn’t really feel like a hero in her own movie, but rather a plot device to keep the story going. Sean Bean is fine as well (Will he die in this one?). Eddie Redmayne however, is sometimes laughable as Balem Abrasax. He tends to whisper a lot before suddenly bursting into a Dane Dehaan-like spoilt brat scream.

Nyeahh!

Performances aside, the action and visuals Jupiter Ascending has to offer are quite a delight to watch. Spaceship designs, intergalactic architecture and cinematography are all quite splendid to look at, and the score by Michael Giacchino that accompanies it is a good listen as well. Technically, this film gets an A. However, given the overall sense of how draggy the film feels (it clocks in at 2 hrs 7 mins but feels like a 2 hr 30 min movie), an increased ticket price for 3D or IMAX 3D cannot really be justified.

So pretty

Overall, I really can’t recommend you seeing Jupiter Ascending, whether it’s for the stars (whose performances are so-so to mediocre) or for a big, fun blockbuster spectacle (which it could have been if not for all that space business talk and the pacing issues), because Jupiter Ascending is a pretty but boring and draggy sci-fi film experience that I do not wish to revisit.

Final Verdict

Jupiter Ascending gets 5.4 out of 10 stars – Don’t see it, but if you really want to, just download it when it comes out online.