Immortals (03/06/2012)

Rated R for sequences of strong bloody violence, and a scene of sexuality.

Starring Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans and Mickey Rourke

Directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell)

Did you think that 300 was violent? Immortals makes 300 look like a Disney film.

Visionary director Tarsem Singh transports us in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and visually spectacular action adventure. As a power-hungry king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful. The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion’s brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity.

I have to be super clear here and I know I will not win friends when I say this… I liked Immortals but this movie is not for the faint of heart. And even those who say they are OK with films that are rated R because of violence, may need to rethink that…at least for this one.

OK, let’s jump in. Immortals has a lot going for it. First there is the cast: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans and especially Mickey Rourke are all so good. There really isn’t a bad actor in the whole film.

The story and imagery are epic. Honestly it is really difficult to describe how visually stunning the movie is. Whether you are looking at Mount Olympus or the villages built into the sides of a mountain or the graphic battle scenes…everything looks amazing. Well almost everything…more on that later.

The story about the gods and the Titans and an invading king and a peasant who becomes a hero is well written, well told and well executed. I loved it.

So what didn’t I like? Well, simply put this is the most violent film I have ever seen…and I’ve seen a few Saw films, 300 and Sin City (I’m intentionally not including films like The Passion of the Christ or Saving Private Ryan, because of their historical value as opposed to films that are filled with gratuitous violence.) I mean, this movie is so brutal. From bloody battle scenes to awful scenes of torture, Tarsem Singh pushes the envelope and makes the entire audience uncomfortable.

I’m giving Immortals a “Rental” because I’m split right down the middle on this one (kinda like a few of the Titans). There is so much I enjoyed about the movie but so much that was disturbing.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The week it was released, Immortals was the number one movie in America and I’m certain teenagers were filling theaters to see this one. But here is what you need to know.

There is one sex scene, in which a woman disrobes before climbing into bed next to a man. As far as the violence and gore, this one has way too much. There are several scenes where people are being tortured and several fight/battle scenes where people are decapitated, stabbed or worse.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: In a scene early in the film, the old man tells Theseus that “It is not enough to live, you must live right.”

What do you think he means by this?

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: Take a quick minute to read James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

What is James telling us here? How is that similar to the advice the old man gives Theseus?

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: What are some examples you’ve experienced of knowing what the “right thing” to do was and struggling to do it?

After reading James 4:17, how would you now respond to those same situations?