Peter Jackson has done it again in the latest Universal action adventure Mortal Engines. Based on the book by, Philip Reeve, the story follows a mysterious young woman who miraculously survives in the outlands after her mother was killed by an angry man who only seeks to take ancient artifacts and use them to destroy mankind. Meanwhile in the city of London, an architect with a drive into the world of aviary, through a twist of events, both end up seeing that what they really want is right in front of their noses and when all seems lost, hope can be found in the tiniest of artifacts.
The film stars Robert Sheehan as Tom Natsworthy and Hera Hilmarsdottir as relative unknown actors, but don’t let that deter you because both carry the movie in new and surprising ways. Hilmarsdottir has a certain knack for capturing the audience with her charm and expression throughout. Even in the first meeting between herself and Natsworthy, one can tell that there is some sort of chemistry which drives the audience to want to know more about the mysterious histories of being abandoned and orphaned at the same age. The difference being, that Hilmarsdottir had a security of a not so human resurrected “monster”. It is that monster who too is trying to know hunt Hester in an effort to keep her promise to him. However it is a promise that she would have to be willing to give up to fulfill.
In a surprise twist of fate to what audience goes suspected to be a movie full of action and machines, there is also a slight hint of a tragic love story. That of the love between father and child to love at first sight which might come as a shock especially when both suspects had other plans for what they wanted to do. Ultimately the story kept the attention, by not being too predictable and leaving just enough out to have the readers wanting more.
Also starring in the movie includes Hugo Weaving as Theodous Valentine, the man with a lust for artifacts himself, but not in the way that one would collect such rare finds. And the voice talents of Stephen Lang brought to life the metallic reincarnation of Shrike in new and unexpected ways that made the audience wonder what his true intentions were and why all he sot was a young girl named Hester Shaw.
The film, set nearly a thousand years after this time in what is to be assumed as the world after a ravanous war that nearly wiped out all of mankind, the screenwriter, I’m sure took some liberties in putting a few hidden treasures from 2018 in Mortal Engines, including what is being called artifacts of the past, such as a Sunburst Toaster and a Hostess Twinkie still in the package. There’s also a little light humor when Tom reads expiration on the package as 2018, which is sure to send chills through the spines of audiences everywhere.
Ultimately at a 2 hour 9 minute runtime, Mortal Engines is a film to bring in the men with its intriguing machines and artifacts, but it will also tug the heartstrings of women when one sees that there is a certain power in the type of love one holds in one’s life and that even the most meaningful promise can be broken by the power of live. Mortal Engines came out in theaters December 14 and is currently playing in one near you. See it before it goes antique.