Immortals

Excellent. A precisely constructed heroic story (but the only things it has to do with Greek mythology are the names and the setting), good and bloody and bombastic. A perfect atmosphere and action, too. Mickey Rourke is great, Superman is pretty well on top of things and even Zeus is cool. A visual banquet. (2013-09-13)

Please, no more battles between reality and dream. Tarsem Singh finally found a substance in which his unmistakable visuals do not become empty mannerisms, but instead perfectly serve an interesting (albeit simple) story in the theatrical vein of the big studio "sandal films" of the 1960s Hollywood big screen era. Paradoxically, the epic is conveyed through non-action acts, which allows the excellent actors to shine. Rourke’s villain is rightly being elevated to Olympus by everyone, whilst Cavill's charismatic bastard holds great promise not only for the new Superman but for similar types of roles in general. Beyond that, Freida Pinto's ass is just for show. This is another one of those occasional film pieces where I was put off going to the movie theater by lukewarm reviews and, despite the HD screening, I will regret it for a long time to come. 4 ½. (2012-01-25)

I don't know if my rating is completely truthful and objective. I sat in the cinema with my mouth almost gaping, and after the show it was full of criticism again. It was very nice to watch and all the effects and beautiful shots were very appealing. My ears can't complain either. The cast was very good, but for a while Henry Cavill didn't sit well with me. Plot-wise, I guess you could read a lot into it as well. But what I was hurting for the most was some sort of climax, which the viewer desperately needs in a film like this. This way I felt that nothing much was happening. A weaker 4 stars. (2011-12-05)

Immortals doesn’t have a story that would take it anywhere or characters that would give it life. And for every clothed female body, there are thirty half-naked men. However, the film is satisfyingly bloody, the concept of the Gods and their home above the clouds doesn’t look like something out of a cheap porn flick (see the new Clash of the Titans), and the lavish sets border on design genius. I wasn’t bored, nor was I in ecstasy. I didn’t feel sorry for anyone, nor did I keep my fingers crossed for anyone, but I still enthusiastically watched it to the end. Spectacular dilettantish emptiness. (2011-11-14)

Tarsem Singh is a master of crafting visually stunning worlds. It's refreshing to see a director who pours so much of himself into his films, and with Immortals, the visual experience absolutely blew me away. The set design and overall aesthetics were breathtaking, easily some of the best I've seen in a long time. Unfortunately, the story didn't hold up for me. It felt disjointed, and I struggled to connect with the characters, making it hard to stay invested in the narrative. It’s a shame because the visual spectacle was top-tier. (2012-03-26)