It's a familiar setup for a movie: in 2011 a virus wipes out 99 percent of the human population. A utopian society flourishes 400 years later, but a corrupt government is keeping the population under control and sacrificing security for freedom.
"?Ae on Flux" is similar to recent dystopian films like "The Island" and "Equilibrium," although male viewers will probably enjoy watching Charlize Theron in spandex more than Christian Bale. This movie has the action, cloning, romance and twists familiar of the genre, but adds a few subtle touches that set it apart, though not very far apart.
Based on MTV's short-lived 1995 animated series by the same name, "?Ae on Flux" is mostly eye-candy with a flimsy plot and muddled themes. The plot centers on ?Ae on Flux (Charlize Theron of "Monster"), an underground rebel known as a "Monican." When her sister Una (Amelia Warner of "Love's Brother") is killed, ?Ae on seeks the party responsible. During a mission to assassinate ruler Trevor Goodchild (Marton Csokas of "The Bourne Supremacy"), ?Ae on discovers a bundle of secrets.
A lesser movie would have depicted the rebels attempting mission after mission with increasing difficulty, having members killed off along the way. This would lead to a fine confrontation with the Emperor in which he would be thwarted, and good could triumph over evil.
"?Ae on Flux" makes an attempt to be clever by throwing in twists and surprises. Unfortunately, what happens has been done too often and therefore ends up feeling formulaic. The audience is left with a beautiful exterior of a movie that is an empty shell.
The post-apocalyptic sets are gorgeous. Everything from the computer-generated wide aerial shots to the buildings and houses creates a holistic fantasy world. There are all sorts of minute details and subtle touches that construct the futuristic atmosphere.
Monochromic walls with elongated oval lights are reminiscent of the sets of "A Clockwork Orange." Tiny green beads surround ?Ae on's bed, her water pitcher is transparent and irregularly shaped, and the water turns black when poured.
It's too bad the action happening on the illustrious sets is far less intriguing.
Some of the sci-fi action sequences that are intended to be heart pumping become comical, like when ?Ae on goes on a late-night stealth mission to disable government surveillance wearing an all-white jumpsuit. Apparently remaining hidden doesn't matter because she gratuitously disables every guard she passes, even when she could easily slip by.
Charlize Theron portrays the title character somewhat flatly, but that is probably what she was told to do. After all, ?Ae on is only capable of two emotions: love and vengeance. Like any action hero, it's difficult to think of a character as being real when they can take on an entire army alone.
Karyn Kusama has directed only one other feature film, "Girlfight," a sports drama about a female boxer's rise to success. Kusama seems to have a thing for women kicking ass. She is certainly deft behind the camera and knows how to cut fight sequences. Some directors shoot action scenes too closely and edit too hastily, creating confusion rather than excitement. Kusama avoids this pitfall by using handheld shots at a medium distance and cutting only when appropriate. Some events go by a little too quickly, but it's easy to regain orientation afterward.
Hollywood is in desperate need of original material. Recently, all they've done is take old movies that sold well, put them in a reproducing machine, and try to pass off a slight variation of the same old thing.
At dinner, these would be called leftovers, and no one would want to eat them.
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
