Aeon Flux vs. Ultraviolet vs. Domina vs. Underworld: Evolution vs. V for Vendetta

I haven't caught up on the previous posts yet, but I'll say this much: Ultraviolet is a terrible movie...

TERRIBLE...

redowl90 said:I haven't scrolled through all the posts yet, but I'll just say that Ultraviolet is a terrible movie...

TERRIBLE...

Elaborate... 🙂

Do you at least like the clips or the trailer or something? 🙂

Or maybe those kinds of movies just aren't your thing 😈

Underworld is airing on ABC this Saturday around 10 PM. 👍

I sat down to watch Equilibrium and Underworld. Honestly? Equilibrium is just pure, heavy-duty trash. You've got these painter-assassins, sloppy directing, a weak script, and those derivative Matrix-style fights... it feels like a total amateur, low-budget production. Maybe there was a spark of potential somewhere in there, but no. On the other hand, the trailer looked pretty great, but the actual movie is a completely different beast and I didn't stick with it long. Regardless, I'm actually looking forward to Ultraviolet.

As for Underworld, it’s just a poorly directed, boring mess. I have zero interest in seeing a sequel. I spent even less time being engaged with that one than I did with Equilibrium.

You sound like someone who thinks these movies are too highbrow for us mere mortals and our "bad" films. I certainly hope I don't run into you at the theater during the sequels so I can enjoy my movies in peace.

bluebison8 said:You sound like someone who thinks they're way too sophisticated for us mere mortals and our "bad" movies, so I really hope I don't run into you at the theater during the sequels so I can just watch them in peace.

Us versus them, right? Look, you're taking your own personal taste a little too personally here, and honestly, you seem to be missing the point that other people have their own opinions too. Okay, fine, this is a total tangent, but whatever. "Oh, EQsomething is trash," or "Yeah, Underworld is garbage." The more people weigh in on a specific project, the more its actual objectivity and true "value" start to surface... everyone has their own taste and their own unique way of watching a movie, whether they've realized or developed that perspective yet or not. And yeah, if you want to know if these movies are crap to me? Yeah, they are. 😁

Equilibrium is incredibly overrated. For such an amateurish project that doesn't even look particularly special—and I haven't even watched it that much—it was actually a breath of fresh air to read the "hate it" comments on IMDb after seeing all those unrealistic glowing reviews... let's just say it puts things more in "their" place and lets you promote them from different angles... 😁

Underworld really doesn't offer anything new (and what it does offer isn't even well-done, which is a big deal), the story is dull, and Blade (II) is better; the action sequences are poorly directed compared to something like The Matrix, where they were handled much better... it's just a totally boring movie that I personally see no reason to watch... maybe someone else will, which explains the positive comments, but not me. So, if anyone out there shares a similar view, I'd definitely appreciate some blunt criticism or similar takes on the film... 🙂

I honestly think Ultraviolet might actually be the best one—I mean, the director is Kurt W., the guy behind Equilibrium. That said, the trailer was a total letdown; I’m half-expecting it to turn out like Resident Evil or some other load of mindless garbage.

@Brian Williams/">@@Brian Williams: So, you only care about movies like The Matrix or Lord of the Rings? Is everything else just beneath you? I mean, if films like Equilibrium and Underworld—which aren't necessarily masterpieces, but they're solid and fun to watch—are considered garbage by your standards, then your criteria are honestly pretty bizarre.

It looks like the reception for Ultraviolet has been pretty brutal. From what I've heard from people who caught an early, unfinished cut, they ended up slashing about 30 minutes of footage, leaving nothing but pure action behind. Honestly, if that's the case, you might be better off holding out for a potential 'unrated' DVD release rather than wasting your time now.

northerncrane4 said:Yeah, and "From Hell" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" could have been solid too—not even mentioning The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.

"From Hell" is actually great 😠 😠 😠

Jose Chase2 said:From Hell is dark 😠 😠 😠

Really? So—what, you actually read the graphic novel?

Nah. I'm talking strictly about the movie itself. You know—it’s totally possible for a film to go in a completely different direction than the comic and still absolutely rock. I’m judging it as its own standalone piece, regardless of the source material. And yeah, it rocks.👍

Jose Chase2 said:No. I’m talking about the movie strictly on its own merits. You know, a film can be completely different from the comic and still rock. I’m judging it as a standalone piece—unconnected to the source material—and yeah, it rocks.👍

Sure—except it didn't just spawn out of thin air. It was built off a masterpiece used for propaganda, and from that blueprint, the movie kept basically pr nothing. Given that, it doesn't "rock"—it’s just boring and cliché.

northerncrane4 said:Given that, it doesn't rock—it's just boring and cliché.

It does. It rocks. 👍

bluebison8 said:@Brian Williams/">@@Brian Williams: So, you only care about movies like The Matrix or Lord of the Rings? Is everything else just irrelevant to you? I mean, if films like Equilibrium and Underworld—which aren't exactly cinematic masterpieces, but they're solid and fun enough—are considered "trash" by your standards, then your criteria are honestly pretty weird.

Look, I'm not saying I "only" watch movies like The Matrix (and I definitely didn't mention Lord of the Rings or give my take on it), and honestly, I have no clue which "other" movies you think I shouldn't be interested in. I already shared my thoughts on those other films. If you're into them, that's totally fine by me.

As for Lord of the Rings—totally off-topic, I know—I’ve never really been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. So, honestly, Lord of the Rings didn't do much for me. Don't get me wrong, the production quality is absolutely top-tier, but for me, once was more than enough. When it came on TV, I couldn't even bring myself to sit through it... and parts two and three? That was pure torture. I found myself skipping through scenes constantly, only to rewind them a second later because I thought I'd missed something important. 😂 Battles and raids? Yeah, that's just not really my thing. 😉 Honestly, I actually found The Matrix Revolutions way easier to sit through than Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. I barely made it to the end of the third LOTR movie, if I'm being real. :uf:

rapidviper54 said:I honestly think Ultraviolet is going to be the standout here. I mean, we have Kurt W. directing, the same guy behind that killer Equilibrium trailer, so my expectations are actually pretty high. To be honest though, the trailer for this one left me feeling a bit let down. I’m worried it might end up being total garbage, like Resident Evil and all those other mindless movies that just aren't worth the time.

cosmicraven2 said:It looks like the reactions to Ultraviolet are pretty brutal. From what I've heard from people who actually caught an unfinished cut, they ended up hacking out about 30 minutes of footage, which basically stripped away everything except the action sequences. Honestly, if that's the case, you might be better off just holding out for the "unrated" DVD release.

So far, Ultraviolet is getting slammed by critics left and right, but the people who actually dig it tend to point toward things like:

Look, let’s be honest: this wasn't exactly a deep or sophisticated piece of filmmaking. To be fair, it didn't even really push the boundaries of imagination. If there is one legitimate reason to sit through this, it's purely out of curiosity to see what kind of wild, unhinged nonsense is going to pop up on screen next. We're talking stuff that bears absolutely zero resemblance to actual reality. But hey, that's fine. The movie isn't aiming for realism, and it certainly doesn't make an attempt to be grounded. It’s all about those massive, over-the-top—and I mean *way* over-the-top—action sequences. Honestly, it feels less like a traditional film and more like a choreographed dance centered around a very attractive lead, peppered with plenty of death but surprisingly little blood. It honestly plays out more like a high-octane video game... or maybe just a vivid comic strip.

The movie is honestly great, but I can’t help feeling like the studio took way too many liberties with what Kurt W. originally envisioned. The vibe is significantly lighter than Equilibrium; if anything, it feels more like The Fifth Element in terms of tone. That being said, for a $30 million budget, you won't find better special effects anywhere else. They look absolutely flawless for this specific story—those comic book-style backgrounds are exactly what the film needed. My buddy's only real gripe was that Ultraviolet was just too overpowered, but let’s be real... how many movies actually pull that off? Hardly any. Honestly, it’s such a breath of fresh air to see something that breaks away from the usual Hollywood status quo. You can definitely tell this isn't quite the version Kurt W. intended, though. I’m really hoping the director's cut eventually hits DVD. Until then, just go out and enjoy the ride.

"I honestly haven't seen anything quite like this. And i Love The fact that People can't compare this to Aeon Flux or Resident Evil or The Matrix anymore. I mean, the only real comparison is Equilibrium, and even then, that’s mostly just because of Wimmer and a few stylistic choices—like the gun kata, for instance. Still, us die-hard fans caught a few little nods here and there. Personally, I don't think the special effects look cheap at all. In fact... they looked stunning. It’s easily one of the best movies I’ve sat through lately. I’ve always felt that art is totally subjective, whether you're talking about fine paintings, comic book ink, costume design, video games, or CGI. I just have a massive soft spot for vibrant, highly stylized visuals. So when I saw those projectiles tearing through the sky toward that skyscraper at the beginning.... man, I was on the edge of my seat. Anyone claiming the CGI in this is bad is just kidding themselves."

"First off, let me just say I'm writing this as a huge fan of both Kurt Wimmer and Milla Jovovich. I've always enjoyed their work, but this one really missed the mark for me. It was a pretty massive letdown. While I found some of the intentional cheese fun—lines like 'It is on!' or 'Are you mental?' actually worked for me—a lot of it was just painful. Like that moment where Violet tries to pull Six down from the ledge of the building? The delivery was just tragic. There are several scenes like that that just didn't land. On top of that, the plot was far from great. It was overly simplistic, and the twists felt predictable, cliché, and just subpar. To make matters worse, the ending felt incredibly rushed and lacked any real climax. Now, the action? That was solid. That was the one thing keeping me engaged through the clunky dialogue: knowing a great action set piece was coming up next. The only sequence I couldn't stomach was the motorcycle chase, which was completely undermined by poor CGI. The effects in that specific part looked amateurish—for a moment, it reminded me of something out of a low-budget horror flick. It really pulled me out of the experience. By the way, while Wimmer is definitely capable with fight choreography, I still think Yen Wo Ping holds the title for the most stylish combat in cinema. There’s a ton of familiarity here, too. It wasn't necessarily an all-in-one rip-off, but much of it felt recycled. The visual aesthetic and that soft lens look felt very reminiscent of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. The wild, abstract sci-fi tech felt like a blend of Aeon Flux and Minority Report. Even the action beats felt heavily inspired by The Matrix, Equilibrium, and Blade. As for the narrative, it felt like a mix of Aeon Flux, Equilibrium, Blade, and The Transporter. Ultraviolet just isn't exactly a masterpiece of originality."

"I actually thought the CGI during the motorcycle scene was great. Then again, maybe I was just too hyped up and caught in the moment to be critical. Whatever. It was probably the best chase scene I've seen in a while. I'm happy with it. Also, when Violet tries to help Six off that building ledge, that was such a genuine moment between them. It felt real and natural, and Milla played it beautifully. Seeing that scene made me finally understand why everyone raves about her acting. Just to be clear, I'm a big fan of Kurt's work, but I'm not a Milla fanatic. Luckily, UV isn't a total disaster. I don't pay much attention to what 'critics' say, unless they're being totally clueless. I don't hold a grudge against a movie just because some elitist snobs hated it. My only real issue is with the haters who haven't even watched it yet—it's frustrating to see people potentially hurting Kurt's career like that. This film could either be the thing that levels him up or the thing that slows him down."

"Look, they're two different movies. They don't share the same score, it uses a different take on gun kata, and the editing was clearly tweaked for a PG-13 audience. The ending is totally different, too. Sure, they share a similar theme and story arc, and I enjoyed that, but they aren't the same. This one has an engaging story, punchy dialogue, and convincing performances. Those hyper-dimensional weapon effects were cool, and I absolutely loved Milla's outfits and hair. Honestly, the cityscapes in UV actually look better than they do in Equilibrium. But hey, art is subjective, so I get where you're coming from. You went in wanting Equilibrium, but this isn't that. It sounds like you might have missed the point of the story entirely, and honestly, you probably would have been even more confused if you'd seen the extra 30 minutes that were cut from the theatrical release. Yeah, they both feature a resistance fighting a government, but it goes much deeper than that. And it's not about society rebuilding. You were looking for a heavy, serious drama like Equilibrium. This isn't that. It's an over-the-top, pulpy comic book come to life. It's meant to be pure, unadulterated fun and escapism. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. It was never trying to be a deep philosophical statement."

"I just walked out of the theater after seeing this, and honestly, I had a blast. I truly believe that being able to actually enjoy a film like this depends on how much cinematic and artistic experience you bring to the table. I’ve sat through thousands of movies over the years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing in a movie needs to be flawless to be worth your time. It's like when you watch an old cult horror flick—you don't dismiss the whole thing just because the character arcs are thin or the logic is shaky. You watch it for what it delivers in massive amounts: those haunting, unforgettable visuals and intense moments, even if they're wrapped in some cheesy lines and questionable acting. People who let the mostly moronic dialogue and nonsensical plot of Ultraviolet ruin the entire experience for them clearly haven't realized that a movie doesn't need to follow those boring, predictable Hollywood tropes of 'pseudo-realism' to be great. The director's visual style here is such a feast—incredible graphic design, sharp choreography, and clever technical gadgets all layered over a thin crust of action movie clichés. For what it was aiming to be, I LOVED IT. Personally, I’d much rather hand an Oscar to a movie like this than to some pretentious, hollow award-bait like Crash, thank you very much."

"I actually enjoyed this. I know everyone is making fun of it, but it’s really not that bad. The fight scenes were awesome, the lead actress had tons of style, and things were blowing up left and right. I went into the theater wanting to see a comic book come to life on the big screen, and that is exactly what I got. If I’m in the mood for deep character development and a heavy, gripping narrative, I’ll just go rewatch Brokeback Mountain."

That's basically it 😁

VTI bought up the entire Aeon Flux animated series (the full 3-disc DVD set), which includes all 10 episodes across 3 seasons plus some bonus features... Maybe you can find a copy sitting on a shelf at a local video rental shop somewhere...

A bit of sadness for Ultraviolet 😁 :

" ULTRAVIOLET = CULT FILM

cheesy dialogue

"you got hemo blood on me!....IT IS ON!!!"
"number of weapons found:..Many!!"
"you are all..Gonna die!"
"are you mental?!?!!"
" END her!!!!"
"It wasn't me you DUMB SON OF A BITCH!! , check my ID!"
--------------------------

what else?

- unlimited ammo. (no need for explanations...It's just cool! so just roll with it)
- unlimited weapons. (guns and sabres)
- the Gravity leveler.
- Color-changing outfits (for no real reason..but hey, it looks cool!)
- Violet's hair also changes, (see above)
- Violet speaks Chinese to a Vietnamese mafia, and somehow still manages to communicate with them—how messed up is that?
- Violet is even more invincible than Agent Smith in The Matrix, except she's in the real world!

- Violet can decapitate a dozen enemies with a single sword strike.
- Violet is also capable of replicating any form of gun kata imaginable (like in Equilibrium).
- Violet's tears can save your ass too!!

How can you bash this film, people?
it was campy, embarrassing, cool, ridiculous, exciting, annoying, bizarre, entertaining, sexy, stupid, messed up...

IT Had some of the best action sequences in ages...and also had some mediocre ones. some great CG effects, and some horrible ones..

This film is a beautiful disaster. It's a UFO.
That's why I like it."

" Awesome Sci-Fi

This movie made my day, all the Sci-Fi and action a girl could ever ask for. this is an excellent Sci-Fi action movie with lots of action and effects and that is why I loved it. I didn't watch this movie to find anything else than I found in Resident Evil. She fights for her right to live and it's a hell of a fight.

TO smitty124 from the USA I only say "Seems like you missed the whole point of this movie. Genetics VS Humanity! if you need an easier storyline to follow i suggest you watch The Green Mile." And what is wrong with the line "Are you mental?" How is that any different from lines like: "You feel lucky, punk?", "I'll be back", "say hello to my little friend", "and now am afraid you are going to die young Jedi", "You gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?", "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!", "Some people deserve to die.", "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!", "Hasta la vista, baby!"........"

" this is one sci-fi / horror / action I really like!

This movie came out so suddenly, I wasn't even prepared for it. To me, Ultraviolet was a movie worth waiting for. It blends action, sci-fi, and horror all into one. It's a Cross between Blade, The Matrix, and Aeon Flux. I thought I might prefer Aeon Flux, but once I saw Ultraviolet, I knew I’d enjoy this one much more. It felt like Blade and The Matrix mashed together. I loved all the action, the suspense, and most of all, Milla Jovovich! Changing the hair and attire color was an amazing thing to see. That outfit looked wild when Violet (Milla Jovovich) absorbed the blood into her suit. And with a physique like Jovovich, there's just no comparison. The weapons she used—the guns with secret loaders, the Bladed Uzi, and that massive sword—would definitely make Blade jealous. I enjoyed this movie immensely, and regardless of what the critics say, I liked it a lot. 4.5 out of 5 stars."

" I saw it...and loved it

The reason I loved this movie so much is the great cinematography. The violence avoids the heavy gore you usually see in action movies like this. Too much blood is just distasteful to me, and this movie kept it minimal. The action sequence where Violet is on the motorcycle riding along the buildings was fantastic. I love it when there's a lot happening—bullets flying, debris everywhere. William Fichtner is great as always. I also loved the emotion coming from Violet because of her compassion for 6. Well done. Milla Jovovich is excellent in this movie. I’m actually curious about the significance of the Cross symbol appearing on everything—the coffee cup, the building shaped like a Cross. If there really is a comic based on this... I haven't read it yet, but I plan to. Great movie."

" insanely good

It honestly blows my mind that this movie gets so much hate. I find it hard to wrap my head around the idea that anyone would call it boring. It’s really not. To me, this film is everything Aeon Flux should have been. Ultraviolet has the whole package—the fight choreography, the outfits, the gadgets, the sets—everything is just dripping with style. It’s incredibly polished, right down to the smallest details. And obviously, Milla Jovovich is awesome; there's no debate there. Sure, the dialogue can feel a bit awkward at times, but that’s such a tiny gripe in the grand scheme of things. It definitely has those catchy one-liners, too. Watching Milla deliver "Watch me"? So cool, trust me.

I mean, what more can you ask for from a movie that's designed for pure escapism? Just clear your head and enjoy the ride. I am dying to have this on DVD."

" Hilarious and excellent film!!!!

A few buddies and I showed up way too late for "Walk The Line," so we just decided to hop into a different theater on the fly.

It’s been a long time since I walked out of a theater feeling this recharged. This movie was genuinely hilarious. Totally.

I’m not trying to bash the folks who took the plot and the dialogue way too seriously, but I really think this should be marketed as something anyone with a sense of humor can dive into. It would probably pull in way more cash if they did.

People just need to chill out—they're being way too harsh on this flick. Personally, I think it has real cult classic potential."

That sounds great. Let's go see it on the first run.

Here is a decent "official" review for Ultraviolet: Ultraviolet

An interview with Milla Jovovich: Rotten Tomatoes

Since the images from one of my previous posts (Downloads one) seem to have vanished, you can check them out here, and I’ll go ahead and post a few right here too... 😁















The last image is actually an invite to the "Wrap party." Back then, the film was still Rated R, but they ended up slashing it down to a PG-13 rating for marketing reasons, which meant about 30 minutes of footage just got tossed out... 😢

Here is what the stunt coordinator, Mike Smith, had to say to ComingSoon.net regarding that:

"most of these fights were choreographed for When WE originally started OFF it was rated R. Because of marketing, I believe it's now rated PG-13. So I'm sure some of the moves like chopping heads off and arms and lots of blood are probably gone."

Full Article: Training Milla Jovovich for Ultraviolet

On the other hand, I bet some people seeing that photo will start screaming "Kill Bill!!!!!!" or "Kill Bill!!!!!!!"—even in that last shot, Milla looks a bit like Uma Thurman 😲, though I think the movie itself is quite different... (plus, I've never been a huge fan of Kill Bill or Quentin Tarantino...)

A few more cool links for you:

http://www.freewebs.com/equilibrium-...ltraviolet.htm

http://www.millaj.com/film/ultraviolet.shtml

http://www.staticlineproductions.com/concept.html

That's all for now: D

I honestly feel like Kurt Wimmer doesn't get nearly enough credit for gifting humanity GUN-KATE!!!!!!!!111one

🤣

Underworld isn't terrible, though I suppose the first 15 minutes where they are fighting back in the 11th century were actually the best part. 😁