Immortal
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Movie Reviews of Immortal
Movie Review: Science Fiction Masterpiece - sensual, textured, atmospheric - a visual feast!
Summary: 5 Stars
Absolutely one of the best and most intriguing sci-fi films I've seen in years, thank god for internet downloads, otherwise I doubt I ever would have even heard of this film. Having just acquired a new DVD player that will play DiVX-encoded movies, I set about trying to find various interesting sci-fi/fantasy films. Running across "IMMORTEL (AD VITAM)" I decided to look it up here on IMDb and see what the masses had to say about it.
Now, in my opinion, almost ANYONE can find something negative to say about ANY film - but the truly passionate ones come out and speak their mind when something truly moves them. Thus, I tend to ignore negative reviews and instead focus solely on the positive comments. And so it comes about that - even though I've been making use of this website for *MANY* years now - this will be my very first review of a film.
I disagree that this movie is solely for film purists and art lovers; although I definitely have a great appreciation for the indie sensibility and love a good art film, I also LOVE modern commercial animated flicks (though have never really gotten too heavily into anime) and have absolutely enjoyed most commercial science fiction such as Fifth Element, Blade Runner, Stargate (and the first few seasons of the TV show Stargate SG-1), Minority Report, the original 3 Star Wars, Red Planet, Mission to Mars, Screamers, Impostor, etc. Never having heard of Enki Bilal prior to this point (having only read one or two issues of Heavy Metal over the years, but have never really gotten too into them), I now see what a genius and visionary he is, and am now on a hungered quest to find everything he's done: the films TYKHO MOON and BUNKER PALACE HOTEL, as well as all of his graphic novels, including the Nikopol Trilogy (which will hopefully expand upon the universe he discusses in this film), The Beast Trilogy, and every other major piece of work from his arsenal of past releases.
As for this film: *INSTANTLY* one of my all-time favorites, I've already watched it twice in the past week, sitting transfixed and helplessly drawn into the gorgeous, sensual, deeply textured world he has envisioned. It's like the best of Fifth Element meets the best of Stargate, only far more artistic and soulful (not to denigrate either of those films; I loved both of them and watch each of them at least once every year or so just to reacquaint myself with their particular mythos.) But IMMORTAL? God, it's just GORGEOUS!! A little cryptic at first for those unfamiliar with Enki Bilal's work; I just sat there, jaws literally agape, utterly astonished at the detail and depth of the artwork. This is definitely a science fiction masterpiece - a film for anyone who enjoys serious atmosphere, texture, sensuality, artistry, and of course, bleak dystopian views of our future world. This is one movie which I will definitely be buying as soon as humanly possible - and all because of a chance download. Why the music & film industry doesn't openly embrace downloading is beyond me. I've discovered so many amazing films & music artists this way, and have since gone out to purchase all of my favorites to embrace the high quality and all of the wonderful extras that are available. Granted, I may be the exception to the rule, but with a VHS library of over 2500 films, 100+ laserdiscs, just under 500 DVD's and well over 3000 CD's, almost all of which I've purchased as a DIRECT result of things I've downloaded over the years, they are DEFINITELY not losing ANY money from this individual.
In closing... thank you, Enki Bilal, for creating such a stunning, resonant masterpiece. You put your heart and soul into this and I am forever in your debt for bringing IMMORTAL (AD VITAM) to the screen. [ PEACE - LOVE - UNITY - RESPECT ]
Movie Review: CGI-ing Immortal
Summary: 5 Stars
The funny thing is that there was absolutly nothing playing on digital cable so I 'on demand' scoll thru maybe once or twice read the synopsis on Immortal and viewed a preview. I said 'hey why not.'
I didn't know that this movie was going to be played mostly in CGI. Everything in New York is all done in CGI except for Jill, Nikopol and the doctor.
The first thing I thought when I saw Jill, the background, and the pyramid in mid air over New York City was the fate of the world lies only in her hands, boy was I wrong.
You didn't trust the senators - No surprise there, and you most certainly wanted to STAY AWAY from Central Park!!
Jill did not know who she is and what she was, all she know was that she had some special powers. Her tears are blue and if you touch her where her tears have falled then that part of your body will be permantly blue- forever!! The doctor (played by Charlotte Rampling,and Thomas Ket-something, are the only two characters i knew in this movie) wanted her, only to study her. It almost seems like she knew exactly who Jill is. Horus a crazy god with a bird head from the pyramid only wanted to redeem the few glorius days he had, just looking for her, Jill. So you know Horus, a naked man with a head of a bird just can't go around New York City as himself so he searches for a body, but all the bodies he would go into were all remade with a new heart,brain, or liver, and he just can't live that way, that's where Nikopol (Thomas) comes in, very good looking man. Horus uses his body to get Jill, Jill is aware that something is going on but can't really put her finger on it, she can't even use her powers on him either, and she couldn't get enough of him. You almost felt sorry for Jill when she went to the musuem just to know what it was to be human, act human, even love, kiss, and fall in love like a human. Immortal was beautifully done, the directing of the movie was to the point, I'm just hopping that the director will just finish it, because it can't just end like that.
Movie Review: Oh When The Gods Go Marching In!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a teenager I was very fond of comics, later my passion declined but I still pick up some classics as Harold Foster's "Prince Valiant", Hugo Pratt's "Corto Maltes" or the Argentinean Hector Oesterheld "El Eternauta" and enjoy them. So I'm not immune to this kind of products.
Some years ago I've seen part of Enki Bilal's "Nikopol trilogy" and was seduced by it's depurate drawing, soft colors and strange characters.
Still I bought this DVD without realizing it was based on that story. Just thinking it was a sci-fi flick.
I was gratefully surprised when recognized Bilal's iconography transported unchanged to the big screen.
The mix of live actors with animated characters gives the movie an enjoyable "special taste". I recon I'm not very exigent as to the quality of CG animation and techno-boost fireworks. I simply enjoy the visuals as they are.
The story is no simple, but usually movies derivate from comic books aren't.
In year 2095 a strange pyramid is stationed over NYC. From there Horus (an Egyptian god) emerges in search of a human body to possess. Unfortunately the unwilling host of this godly presence, if incompatible, is doom to death.
After some failures Horus is finally able to find his "receptor". At that moment the second divine quest starts. Possessed Nikopol is forced to find and seduce mysterious Jill Bioskop.
From here on cops, monsters, tycoons, politicians, aliens, cyborgs and the rest romp frantically chasing each other in earnest!
Charlotte Rampling as Dr. Turner is accurate and as gorgeous as she was at "Zardoz" (1974). Linda Hardy (Miss France 1992) is giving her firsts steps as actress as blue blooded, blue haired Jill while young veteran Thomas Kretschmann ("The Downfall", "The Pianist" and "U-571") gives a full stamina characterization of rebellious Nikopol.
Bilal's drawings and imagery are a visual pleasure that deserve to be seen
I give this movie big thumb up!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Movie Review: The Best French Sci-Fi Film Since The Fifth Element!
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit to my regret that when I first saw the preview for this movie I had my doubts cause' I thought it sounded too strange. Months later I saw the preview again and thought "hey they've definitely gottta be on to something here"! So I looked through all of the video stores near me and none of them had it! So I decided to take a chance and buy it here at Amazon and needless to say I was not disappointed in the slightest! This movie rules! It carries a unique story of the Egyptian God Horus being judged for some kind of crimes upon conviction however he still has one week or so of freedom until his sentence is passed. So what Horus decides to do is first find a suitable human or mutant body to take over so that he can find a suitable woman to mate with. Unfortunately Horus's first few attempts end up in failure until he finds a cryogenically frozen convict named Alcides Nikopol or Nikopol for short who accidently escapes his frozen prison. Anyway him and Nikopol meet and Horus makes him a metal prosthetic leg to replace the one he lost in the cryo-tubes accidental fall that freed him. Well anyway one thing leads to another and then Horus and Nikopol finally discover a beautiful/sexy immortal woman named Jill. After that Horus uses Nikopol to mate with this immortal beauty. Anyway that's the basic plot more or less! Needless to say however alot lot of triumph and conflict soon follow these three characters. If you want to know more please check out the movie you won't regret it! Never before have I seen a cool blending of CGI characters and real people. This is a can't miss for any sci-fi fan or just anyone who likes a great original premise!Movie Review: Fantastic visuals, interesting story
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd first like to take issue with the many references to Blade Runner. Simply because a movie has a film noir atmosphere and is set in the near-mid future doesn't make it a Blade Runner clone. The stories of these two films are nothing alike. Enough said there. :o)
Wow, this film looks fantastic. It's major eye candy from start to finish. I think the noir aspect goes slightly too far with the flying cars that look like the result of a 50's taxi getting a makeover on "Junkyard My Ride," but otherwise it's as fascinating to watch as the plot is fascinating to see unfold.
I love the animal-headed Egyptian gods who feature strongly (mainly Horus, the film's focal point), and the story built around him and the female protagonist is interesting. It draws just enough from mythology to feed the plot without trying to rewrite history, and the people and events surrounding them are interesting and relevent.
There is some ambiguity at times where you're not sure exactly what's going on and exactly what sort of future this is, but otherwise it's hard not to just sit back and be engrossed. Ultimately I disliked Horus but at the same time understood how deep his motivations ran, and that sort of thing is important in character-building. Visually...wow, what a piece of work he is.
I highly recommend this for any sci-fi fan, but even if that isn't your thing there's still a great story, great characters, and a nice noir feel to satisfy non sci-fi fans. The sci-fi aspect doesn't overwhelm the story, even given the fantastic visuals and eye-catching aircraft. Please support them and buy this so they'll make more.