shakercoola Charlize Theron, a catsuit clad assassin for a clandestine opposition group in a dystopian future, looks fabulous and more than carries this tale to drab from dire. The film is not without curiosity with its techno-futurist setting. It has innovative obstacles for the main lead, striking visuals, the usual kinetics and special effects to pass the time. But, the pacing is jerky and spoils the tension at the beginning so much so that the viewer will feel unforgiving when the bigger action sequences arrive.

Fujiko-san It starts off strong and is pretty true to the animated original. Theron is excellent and I loved the casting- though thrown by the non-blond Chairman at first. Also top marks for an super ethnically diverse cast of all genders which was amazing considering it was made in 2005. Visually everything is quite stunning, decors are fantastic, costumes, gadgets... Then, about half way in, things take a turn for the worse. It's really too bad. You can really tell where the producers cut the movie to shreds from Kusama's original edit. You're left with a hollow, almost hokey and mind numbingly simplistic plot reveal. The last 20 minutes of the film is a wash, even the final action sequences are terrible: confusing and even worse, boring. I was left feeling disappointed and wishing for a directors cut.

escctrlshift Need I say more? A movie that manages to make Charlize Theron's character boring and insipid is one insipid, boring movie. I can only imagine she was, to some degree, bored and uninspired on the set of this production, even though technically she was well-cast (could she ever not be?) and certainly, gifted enough to take the money and run fast and happy to her next, hopefully more worthy gig. What the movie otherwise lacks otherwise in terms of writing, casting and direction, the production somewhat makes up for by compelling locations, good enough lighting, and sound/soundtrack that must have sounded rather nice in a big theater umpteen years ago. Aside from these considerations, need I observe any further on this movie than to comment that, as of early 2018, it is available on Netflix? I should subtract one star just for that.

TheMarwood Three different administrations at Paramount were coming and going before Aeon Flux hit screens. Inheriting a film they could care less about, the talented director Karyn Kusama had the film taken away from her in post and Aeon Flux had major surgery done to it. 25 minutes were cut, characters entirely cut out and the result is a very pretty film, but a film that just doesn't make any damn sense. After Paramount's gutting, it was dumped with little fanfare and no screenings for critics. The visuals keep this watchable, but most of the film is like watching an action test pattern. Any depth on every character must have been cut out and Frances McDormand's hair dresser must have had a nervous breakdown before sending her out to the set. In it's current state, Aeon Flux plays like an outline of a film with not an ounce of emotion, heart or depth. I'd like to say a director's cut would be nice at some point, but honestly I'd rather Kusama make a far better project with better material.