Jump to content

Mortal Engines(film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mortal Engines
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChristian Rivers
Screenplay by
Based onMortal Engines
byPhilip Reeve
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySimon Raby
Edited byJonno Woodford-Robinson
Music byTom Holkenborg[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • November 27, 2018(2018-11-27)(London)
  • December 6, 2018(2018-12-06)(New Zealand)
  • December 14, 2018(2018-12-14)(United States)
Running time
128 minutes[6]
Countries
  • New Zealand
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100–150 million[7]
Box office$83.7 million[8]

Mortal Enginesis a 2018post-apocalypticsteampunkfilm directed byChristian Riversfrom a screenplay byFran Walsh,Philippa Boyens,andPeter Jackson,based on the 2001novel of the same namebyPhilip Reeve.It starsHera Hilmar,Robert Sheehan,Hugo Weaving,Jihae,Ronan Raftery,Leila George,Patrick Malahide,andStephen Lang.An American–New Zealand co-production, the film is set in apost-apocalypticworld where entire cities have been mounted on wheels and motorised, and practice municipalDarwinism;its movie universe is different from that of the books.[9]

Jackson purchased the rights to the book in 2009, but the film languished for several years before being officially announced in 2016. Jackson picked Rivers, who won anAcademy Award for Best Visual Effectsfor his work on Jackson'sKing Kong,to make his feature-length directorial debut with the project, and also brought on several members of his production teams fromThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbitfilm trilogies. Filming took place from April to July 2017 in New Zealand.

Mortal Engineshad its world premiere on November 27, 2018, inLondon,was theatrically released in Australia and New Zealand on December 6, 2018, and in the United States on December 14, 2018.[10]The film received negative reviews from critics, with some praising the visual effects and score, but with most criticizing the direction, screenplay and "lack of personality".[11]It is one of thebiggest box office bombs of all time,[12]grossing $83.7 million against a production budget of $100–150 million and losing the studio an estimated $175 million.

Plot

[edit]

Set more than a thousand years in the future following a cataclysmic conflict known as the Sixty Minute War, the remnants of mankind regroup and form mobile cities, called "Traction Cities". Under a philosophy known as "Municipal Darwinism", larger "predator" cities hunt and absorb smaller settlements in the "Great Hunting Ground", which includesGreat BritainandContinental Europe.In opposition, settlements of the "Anti-Traction League" have developed an alternative civilization consisting of "static settlements" (traditional, non-mobile cities) inAsialed by Shan Guo (formerlyChina), protected by the "Shield Wall". Relics of 21st-century technology such as toasters, computers, andsmartphonesare valued byhistoriansas "Old-Tech."

The city ofLondoncaptures a small Bavarian mining town called Salzhaken, absorbing its population and resources, under orders ofLord MayorMagnus Crome. Tom Natsworthy, an apprentice historian, arrives at London's "Gut" to collect Salzhaken's Old-Tech for London's Museum. Hester Shaw, a masked twenty-something woman among the Salzhakens, attempts toassassinateThaddeus Valentine, Head of the Guild of Historians, but Tom intervenes, pursuing Hester to a chute. Hester escapes, but not before telling him that Valentine murdered her mother and scarred her face. When Tom informs Valentine of this, he pushes Tom down the chute.

Tom and Hester are forced to work together to traverse the Hunting Ground, surviving Southies, Scavs on a night hunt, and finding refuge in a vehicle called Scuttlebug, but the owners lock them in a cell, intending to sell them as slaves. Hester confides that Valentine killed her archaeologist mother Pandora after stealing a piece of Old-Tech she found in a dig in the Dead Continent of theAmericas,while young Hester escaped with a necklace her mother gave her. Meanwhile, Valentine frees Shrike, a reanimatedcyborgknown as a "Stalker", from the offshore walking prison Sharkmoor, to find and kill Hester. At the slave market of Rustwater in the Outlands, Tom and Hester are rescued by Anti-Traction League agent Anna Fang. During the chaos, they are pursued by Shrike, whom Hester reveals she knows. Hester explains that Shrike had found and raised her after escaping Valentine, and Hester promised to let him turn her into a Stalker like himself, but she left after discovering that London had entered the Great Hunting Ground, giving her a chance to kill Valentine. In London, Valentine's good-natured daughter Katherine grows estranged from her father, especially after Apprentice Engineer Bevis Pod informs her that Valentine pushed Tom down the chute, and they learn Valentine's energy project in the re-purposedSt Paul's Cathedralis more than it seems.

Hester and Tom travel on Anna's airship, theJenny Haniver,to the airborne city Airhaven, meeting other Anti-Traction League members. After questioning Hester, Tom realizes Pandora discovered a computer core for MEDUSA, aquantum energy-basedsuperweapon used by the belligerents during the Sixty Minute War to instantly destroy entire cities, albeit shattering the Earth's crust into a thousand pieces that have rearranged the former continents. The Guild of Engineers has stolen the remaining components from Tom's museum workshop and built a MEDUSA under Valentine's orders. Shrike catches up with them, resulting in a fierce skirmish that critically wounds him and destroys Airhaven. Realizing that Hester is in love with Tom, he spares Tom and frees her of her promise before perishing. As Hester, Tom, and Anna travel to the Shield Wall of Batmunkh Gompa with the surviving Anti-Tractionists, Valentine kills Crome in a coup and musters support from Londoners by vowing to destroy the Shield Wall with MEDUSA and lead them to a new Hunting Ground in Asia. Anna convinces Shan Guo's Governor Kwan to launch the Anti-Tractionist airship fleet against London, but MEDUSA destroys the fleet and blasts a hole through the Shield Wall. After coming upon a stone carving ofMedusa,Hester discovers that her mother's necklace hides a "crash drive",akill switchfor MEDUSA. Hester, Tom, Anna, and the remaining Anti-Tractionists lead a raid against London, braving the city's anti-aircraft guns.

Hester and Anna infiltrate St Paul's, and though Valentine mortally wounds Anna during a sword duel, Hester destroys MEDUSA with the crash drive. In a last-ditch attempt to destroy the Shield Wall, the insane Valentine has his henchmen kill the city's control crew and put the city on full throttle on a collision course with the Wall with no concern for all involved. With Katherine's help, Tom uses theJenny Haniverto destroy London's engine. Hester catches and fights Valentine aboard his airship, where he reveals that he is her father. Tom rescues Hester and shoots down Valentine's ship, which is crushed by London's slowing tracks, killing Valentine. With Valentine dead, the surviving Londoners, now led by Katherine, make peace with the Anti-Tractionists of Shan Guo. As Governor Kwan welcomes the Londoners, Tom and Hester embrace each other and leave in theJenny Hanivertogether to see the world.

Cast

[edit]
  • Hera HilmarasHester Shaw,a disfigured, mask-wearing fugitive assassin with a personal vendetta against Thaddeus Valentine. She was raised by cyborg Shrike.
    • Poppy MacLeod as Young Hester Shaw
  • Robert Sheehanas Tom Natsworthy, a low-class Apprentice Historian of London thrown out of the city and forced to ally himself with Hester and the resistance as an aviator.
  • Hugo Weavingas Thaddeus Valentine, Deputy Lord Mayor, the obsessed archeologist and power-hungry Head of the Guild of Historians.
  • Jihaeas Anna Fang, a pilot, warrior, and leader of the Anti-Traction League, a resistance group banding against the moving cities devouring Earth's resources.
  • Ronan Rafteryas Bevis Pod, an Apprentice Engineer whom Katherine befriends.
  • Leila Georgeas Katherine Valentine, daughter of Thaddeus Valentine and one of London's elite.
  • Patrick Malahideas Magnus Crome, the Lord Mayor of London.
  • Stephen Langas Shrike, a cyborg (the last of an undead battalion of soldiers known as Stalkers, who were war casualties re-animated with machine parts), and Hester's guardian.
  • Colin Salmonas Chudleigh Pomeroy, Tom's historian boss.
  • Mark Mitchinsonas Vambrace, Valentine's henchman.
  • Regé-Jean Pageas Captain Madzimoyo Khora, a Ruh-Shan member and Anti-Traction League aviator.
  • Menik Gooneratne as Sathya Kuranath, a Ruh-Shan member and Anti-Traction League aviator.
  • Frankie Adamsas Yasmina Rashid, a Ruh-Shan member and Anti-Traction League aviator.
  • Leifur Sigurdarson as Nils Lindstrom, a Ruh-Shan member and Anti-Traction League aviator.
  • Kahn West as Toa Heke, a Ruh-Shan member and Anti-Traction League aviator.
  • Andrew Leesas Herbert Melliphant, an Apprentice Historian and Tom's rival.
  • Sophie Cox as Clytie Potts, another key Historian.
  • Caren Pistoriusas Pandora Shaw, Hester's archeologist mother.

Additional cameo actors:Michael Bennettand his wife, Pele, make uncredited cameos as two London residents;Philip Reeveand his son cameo as two Shan Guonese onlookers andPeter Jacksoncameoes as Sooty Pete, one of London's guards.[13]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In December 2009, New Zealand filmmakerPeter Jacksonwas reported to have begun development of a film based onPhilip Reeve's novelMortal Engines.[14]On October 24, 2016, production started on a feature film to be directed byChristian Rivers,marking his feature-length directorial debut.[15]The script was written byPeter Jackson,Fran Walsh,andPhilippa Boyens,whileMedia Rights CapitalandUniversal Pictureswould be financing the film. Shooting was scheduled to start in March 2017 in Wellington, New Zealand. ProducersZane Weinerand Amanda Walker, who both worked onThe Hobbit,spearheaded the New Zealand-based team, along with US-basedDeborah Forte.[15]

Casting

[edit]

In February 2017,Robert Sheehanwas cast in the film for the lead role alongsideRonan Raftery,whileHera Hilmarwas cast as a female lead.[16][17]In March 2017, more cast was announced includingStephen Lang,Jihae,and newcomerLeila George.[18]Hugo Weaving,Patrick Malahide,Colin Salmon,andRegé-Jean Pagejoined the film in April 2017.[19][20]Richard Armitagewas offered a role but passed due to scheduling conflicts.[21]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photographyon the film began in April 2017, with shooting occurring at Stone Street Studios inWellington,New Zealand, and was completed in July 2017.[22][23][24]

Visual effects

[edit]

Visual effects were provided byWeta Digitaland supervised by Ken McGaugh, Kevin Smith and Luke Millar.[25]Weta designed the moving cities to actual scale in CG, which required building layout "puppets" that represented the different city tiers.[26]

Music

[edit]
Main article:Mortal Engines (soundtrack)

Release

[edit]

Premiere and theatrical release

[edit]

Mortal Engineshad its world premiere at theEmpire, Leicester SquareinLondonon November 27, 2018. It was released in New Zealand byUniversal Pictureson December 6, 2018, and in the United States on December 14, 2018.[27][28][29]

Box office

[edit]

Mortal Enginesgrossed $16 million in the United States and Canada, and $67.7 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $83.7 million, against a production budget of at least $100 million.[8]Deadline Hollywoodcalculated that the film lost the studio $174.8 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues,[30]making it abox office bomb.

In the United States and Canada,Mortal Engineswas released alongsideSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseandThe Mule,and was initially projected to gross $10–13 million from 3,103 theaters in its opening weekend.[7]After making just $2.8 million on its first day (including $675,000 from Thursday night previews), weekend estimates were lowered to $7 million. It went on to debut to $7.5 million, finishing fifth at the box office.[4]The film fell 77% in itssecond weekendto $1.7 million, one of the largest drops for awide releaseof all time, and finished in 13th whenAquaman,Mary Poppins Returns,andBumblebeewere released during the Christmas holiday.[31]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has an approval rating of 26% based on 191 reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Mortal Engineshas no shortage of eye-catching special effects, but lacks enough high-octane narrative fuel to give this futuristic fantasy sufficient cinematic combustion. "[32]OnMetacritic,the film has aweighted averagescore of 44 out of 100, based on reviews from 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[33]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale, whilePostTrakreported filmgoers gave the film a 66% overall positive score and a "low" 43% "definite recommend"; social media monitor RelishMix noted online response to the film was "mixed, leaning negative."[4]

The Guardian'sfilm criticPeter Bradshawgave the film 2/5 stars, describing it as "steampunkStar Wars,with a bit of low-octaneGilliamandGaimanon the side. "Bradshaw also characterizedMortal Enginesas a "tiringly frenetic and derivative fantasy-adventure movie."[34]Similarly,The Daily Telegraph'sTim Robey awardedMortal Engines2/5 stars, describing the film as a "mechanical, soulless dystopian theme park ride to nowhere."[35]Varietyreviewer Andrew Barker praisedMortal Engines'sopening chase sequence but criticized the "unwieldy, baffling, exhausting, and unintentionally hysterical" plot development. While praising the film's emotional depth andJunkie XL's score, Barker comparedMortal Enginesunfavorably to other science fiction films such asCloud AtlasandValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.[36]

On the more positive side, New Zealand websiteStuffreviewer Graeme Tuckett awarded 4 out of 5, praising director Christian Rivers for the film's tone, pacing, choreography, sets, and costumes while noting the film's references to other series, includingStar Wars,Mad Max,andThe City of Lost Children.[37]Sandra HallofThe Sydney Morning Heraldpraised Peter Jackson for his world-building andMortal Engines'ssocial, political, and historical commentary, awarding it 4 out of 5.[38]TheHindustan Times'sreviewer Rohan Naahar awarded the film 3 out of 5, describingMortal Enginesas a "visually stunning adventure for kids" and praising the film's social and political subtext.[39]IGNreviewer Rafael Motamayor awardedMortal Engines7.5 out of 10, praising the film's world-building and visuals while criticizing its "underwhelming" story. Motamayor also praisedStephen Lang's role as Shrike, opining that he injected "some much-needed humanity into an otherwise fully mechanical film."[40]

Ben Kenigsberg ofThe New York Timesobserved that the movie borrowed elements from other films includingStar Wars,Mad Max,The Matrix,andThe Lord of the Rings.[41]David Fear ofRolling Stonedescribed the film adaptation as "a steampunk Frankenstein's monster made from spare parts", giving it 2.5 out of 5.[42]Glenn Kenny ofRogerEbert.comawarded the film 1.5 out of 4, describing the film's story pacing as "laughably portentous and kitschy" and likened the film to another box-office bomb,the Wachowskis'Jupiter Ascending.[43]Sandy Schaffer ofScreen Rantawarded the film 2.5 out of 5, praisingMortal Engines'world design and visuals but criticizing what she termed as "its uninspired narrative and ungainly filmmaking."[44]

Author's response

[edit]

Philip Reeve,author of theMortal Enginesnovels, praised the film, stating, "Christian Rivers has done a fantastic job – a huge, visually awesome action movie with perfect pace and a genuine emotional core... There are many changes to the characters, world, and story, but it's still fundamentally the same thing."[45]

Accolades

[edit]

The film won an award from theVisual Effects Societyfor itsvisual effects.At the17th Visual Effects Society Awardson February 5, 2019, the visual effects team of Matthew Sandoval, James Ogle, Nick Keller, Sam Tack, were honoured in the category ofOutstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Projectfor their design of the moving city ofLondon.[46][47]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Junkie XL Scoring 'Mortal Engines' Movie Adaptation".Film Music Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2018.RetrievedJune 18,2018.
  2. ^abcde"Film releases".Variety Insight.Archivedfrom the original on February 5, 2018.RetrievedMay 26,2017.
  3. ^"Mortal Engines (2018)".The Numbers.Nash Information Services, LLC.RetrievedAugust 2,2023.
  4. ^abcD'Alessandro, Anthony (December 16, 2018)."Spider-VerseRaises $35M+ As 'The Mule' Kicks Up $17M+ In Pre-Christmas Period, But 'Mortal Engines' Breaks Down With $7M+ ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedDecember 16,2018.
  5. ^McCarthy, Todd (December 5, 2018)."'Mortal Engines': Film Review ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedDecember 17,2018.
  6. ^"MORTAL ENGINES | British Board of Film Classification".www.bbfc.co.uk.RetrievedNovember 28,2018.
  7. ^abD'Alessandro, Anthony (December 11, 2018)."Look Out, Here Comes 'The Spider-Verse': Sony Animation Title Eyes $30M-$35M Opening – Box Office Preview".RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  8. ^ab"Mortal Engines (2018)".Box Office Mojo.IMDb.RetrievedJune 12,2019.
  9. ^Leadbeater, Alex (June 5, 2018)."The 7 Biggest Changes Mortal Engines Makes To The Book".Screen Rant.RetrievedOctober 29,2019.
  10. ^"City Promotions, Events and Filming"(PDF).Heart of London.October 21, 2018.Archived(PDF)from the original on November 1, 2018.
  11. ^James Croot (December 5, 2018)."Mortal Engines lacks 'personality', 'direction' say less-than-impressed critics".Stuff.co.nz.RetrievedJanuary 8,2021.
  12. ^"Mortal Engines".Box Office Mojo.
  13. ^"Peter Jackson Shelved 'Mortal Engines' for 5 Years – Because of 'The Hobbit'".FANDOM.October 5, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on October 9, 2018.RetrievedOctober 9,2018.
  14. ^Chapman, Katie (December 22, 2009)."Peter Jackson to adapt sci-fi series".The Dominion Post.Archived fromthe originalon February 23, 2013.RetrievedOctober 25,2016.
  15. ^abFleming, Mike Jr. (October 24, 2016)."Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh Rev 'Mortal Engines'; Directing Debut For 'Hobbit' VFX Protege Christian Rivers".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2017.RetrievedOctober 25,2016.
  16. ^Kroll, Justin (February 2, 2017)."Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines' Casts Robert Sheehan, Ronan Raftery (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2017.RetrievedJune 12,2017.
  17. ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 7, 2017)."Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines' Sets Hera Hilmar As Female Lead".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2017.RetrievedJune 12,2017.
  18. ^Kit, Borys (March 6, 2017)."Stephen Lang, Jihae, Newcomer Leila George Join Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines' (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2017.RetrievedJune 12,2017.
  19. ^Kroll, Justin (April 12, 2017)."Hugo Weaving Reteams With Peter Jackson on 'Mortal Engines' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2017.RetrievedJune 12,2017.
  20. ^Kit, Borys (April 20, 2017)."Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines' Adds Trio (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2017.RetrievedJune 12,2017.
  21. ^"Richard Armitage nearly had a Mortal Engines acting gig".www.mortalenginesmovie.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2017.RetrievedDecember 18,2017.
  22. ^Simich, Ricardo (April 8, 2017)."Stars arrive for Peter Jackson's hot new shoot".spy.nzherald.co.nz.Archivedfrom the original on June 7, 2017.RetrievedJune 11,2017.
  23. ^"Filming begins on Peter Jackson's Mortal Engines bringing stars to Wellington".Stuff.co.nz.June 7, 2017.RetrievedJune 11,2017.
  24. ^"That's a wrap for Sir Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines', as film heads into post-production".Stuff.co.nz.July 17, 2017.RetrievedNovember 4,2017.
  25. ^"MORTAL ENGINES - The Art of VFXThe Art of VFX".www.artofvfx.com.November 27, 2018.RetrievedNovember 27,2018.
  26. ^"Weta Digital: Moving Cities and Bringing Anime to Life".www.vfxvoice.com.March 20, 2019.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
  27. ^"'Mortal Engines' is in UK cinemas December 8th ".October 8, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon October 9, 2018.RetrievedOctober 8,2018.
  28. ^Yee, Lawrence (November 24, 2016)."Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines' to Open in December 2018".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  29. ^"Mortal Engines".Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2018.RetrievedOctober 20,2020.
  30. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 8, 2019)."What Were The Biggest Bombs At The 2018 B.O.? Deadline's Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  31. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 23, 2018)."'Aquaman' Grabs $67M+ Weekend For $72M+ Cume; 2018 B.O. Poised To Pass $11.4B For New Record – Early Sunday Update ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedDecember 23,2018.
  32. ^"Mortal Engines (2018)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.RetrievedAugust 14,2024.
  33. ^"Mortal Engines reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedDecember 23,2018.
  34. ^Bradshaw, Peter (December 5, 2018)."Mortal Engines review – Peter Jackson's steampunk Star Wars stalls".The Guardian.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  35. ^Robley, Tim (December 5, 2018)."Mortal Engines review: a mechanical, soulless dystopian theme park ride to nowhere".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2022.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  36. ^Barker, Andrew (December 5, 2018)."Film Review: 'Mortal Engines'".Variety.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  37. ^Tuckett, Graeme (December 6, 2018)."Mortal Engines: Wondrous Kiwi-shot fantasy offers pace and style".Stuff.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  38. ^Hall, Sandra(December 6, 2018)."There's a lot to digest, but Peter Jackson pulls off Mortal Engines re-imagining".Sydney Morning Herald.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  39. ^Naahar, Rohan (December 7, 2018)."Mortal Engines movie review: Peter Jackson delivers a visually stunning spectacle".Hindustan Times.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  40. ^Motamayor, Rafael (December 10, 2018)."Mortal Engines Review".IGN.RetrievedDecember 11,2018.
  41. ^Kenigsberg, Ben (December 13, 2018)."'Mortal Engines' Review: London Becomes a Death Star on Wheels ".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  42. ^Fear, David (December 14, 2018)."'Mortal Engines' Review: Metropocalypse Now! ".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  43. ^Kenny, Glenn (December 14, 2018)."Mortal Engines Movie Review".RogerEbert.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  44. ^Schaffer, Sandy (December 14, 2018)."Mortal Engines Review: Peter Jackson's Mad Max is Surprisingly Bland".Screen Rant.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  45. ^Reeve, Philip [@philipreeve1] (November 30, 2018)."I watched #MortalEngines twice this week, and it's brilliant. Christian Rivers has done a fantastic job - a huge, visually awesome action movie with perfect pace and a genuine emotional core. See it on the biggest screen you can. 1/1"(Tweet).RetrievedDecember 6,2018– viaTwitter.
  46. ^Tapley, Kristopher (January 15, 2019)."Avengers,' 'Lost in Space,' 'Ready Player One' Lead Visual Effects Society Nominations".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 17,2019.
  47. ^"17th Annual VES Awards".Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2019.RetrievedMarch 3,2019.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mortal_Engines_(film)&oldid=1233024638"