| | | The Future is Flux.
Features: DVD, Sensormatic, Checkpoint
Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron stars as Aeon Flux, the underground operative fighting totalitarian rule in 25th-century Earth's last living city.Aeon is the rebels' best hope of overthrowing the oppressively sterile, "perfect" society. But while on assignment to gun down the government's leader, Aeon uncovers a web of startling secrets that could completely change the world's future in this gripping sci-fi action thriller based on the ground-breaking MTV animated series.
"...more fun than a lot of films that get lovingly showcased." David Edelstein, Slate
"It's all so geekily gorgeous..." Jason Anderson, The Globe and Mail
"...looks terrific..." William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Editor's Note
Karyn Kusama, the writer-director of GIRLFIGHT, the story of a tough female boxer, turns her attentions to a tough female superhero in AEON FLUX. Based on a series of animated shorts that aired on MTV, the live-action feature film version stars Charlize Theron, in jet black hair, as the secret agent of the title. Aeon Flux is a Monican who has been ordered to assassinate Trevor Goodchild (Martin Csokas), the leader of Bregna--a futuristic walled city that is the last vestige of humanity on 25th-century earth. But a long-buried memory prevents her from killing him, ultimately making both of them targets. As Trevor battles his brother, Oren (Jonny Lee Miller), for control of Bregna, Aeon seeks revenge for the murder of her sister (Amelia Warner) while also being hunted down by her former partner, Sithandra (Sophie Okonedo). At the center of it all is a secret that threatens to tear everything apart. Theron, who performed most of her own stunts, glides through the film in barely-there outfits, while also jumping, running, slinking, diving, and cartwheeling her way through dangerous situations, recalling the gorgeous movements made by the animated version. The film alternates between stark gray-and-white sets and brilliant splashes of red, green, and yellow, adding a vibrancy that befits a cartoon adaptation. The taut script, by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (who previously teamed up on CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL), delves deep into the relationships of siblings that often border between love and hate. Graeme Revell's smart score never overwhelms the action, which involves a lot of automatic weapons, and Oscar winner Frances McDormand and Oscar nominee Pete Postlethwaite feature in small roles.
| Features | Audio Commentary By Charlize Theron & Producer Gale Anne Hurd | | Audio Commentary By Co-Screenwriters Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi | | Audio: English DTS 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround Sound | | Audio: French, Spanish Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround Sound | | Dubbed: French, Spanish | | Featurettes: Creating A World - Aeon Flux, The Locations Of Aeon Flux, The Stunts Of Aeon Flux, The Costume Design Workshop Of Aeon Flux, & The Craft Of The Set Photographer On Aeon Flux | | Interactive Menus | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | This Is An HD-DVD Made For HD-DVD Format Players Which Produce Higher Quality Picture & Sound |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Paramount |
| Release Date: 8/15/2006 |
| Original Release Date: 2005 | | Catalog ID: 11818 | | UPC: 00097361181844 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, French Dubbed, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew | Charlize Theron | | Frances McDormand | | Marton Csokas | | Sophie Okonedo | | Andrew McAlpine - Production Designer | | David Gale - Producer | | Graeme Revell - Original Music By | | Jeff Gullo, et. al. - Editor | | Karyn Kusama - Director | | Marco Bittner Rosser, et. al. - Art Director | | Matt Manfredi - Screenplay | | Peter Chung - Based On Characters Created By | | Phil Hay - Screenplay | | Stuart Dryburgh - Cinematographer | | Van Toffler - Executive Producer |
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| | Professional Reviews | Movieline's Hollywood Life
"[With] chroma-colored, almost TELETUBBIES-inspired settings and hyper-real FX..." 03/01/2006 p.107Widescreen Review
"[With] slick, stylish visuals....[T]he color stylizations evoke certain moods, and saturation is often rich and well balanced..." 06/01/2006 p.68 ReelViews 7 of 10
Aeon Flux has a strong cast, including Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand, and Oscar nominees Sophie Okonedo and Pete Postlethwaite. Despite that, there isn't a good performance to be found. Everyone appears to have had the life sucked out of them. They're doing the minimum necessary to collect their paychecks. Theron apparently put all of her efforts into doing her own stunts (she was seriously injured during filming), leaving little opportunity for emoting or delivering convincing dialogue. She flips and flops like a circus pro, and some of her costumes don't leave much to the imagination. Nevertheless, it's tough to develop a strong allegiance with a character when the portrayal is bland. - James Berardinelli
Variety 8 of 10
The future looks alternately grim and hysterical in Aeon Flux, a spectacularly silly sci-fier that plays like "The Matrix" crossed with "The Island" and reinterpreted as a long-lost Michael Jackson video. Giving Charlize Theron untold opportunities to slink around in artfully shredded spandex, this kitschy Paramount vehicle was ushered, sans advance press screenings, into wide release, where it will likely draw meager male-centric bizbiz before getting lost amid the glut of end-of-the-year prestige releases. Fans of the original MTV series, however, may find it an intriguing homevid collectible. - Justin Chang
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