If the final year of the 20th Century, the Wachowski's produced and directed the most audacious and thought-provoking science fiction film of the 20th Century, "The Matrix". Even though the Wachowski's followed up with two disappointing, disjointed and nihilistic sequels, the importance of their accomplishment led one to hope for great things from them in the 21st Century. Alas, whatever talent the Wachowski's promised in the art of storytelling is in no way present in either their next project "Cloud Atlas" nor "Jupiter Ascending". "Cloud Atlas," which had as much potential as "The Matrix," was ruined by DELIBERATELY unintelligible dialog in the exposition and episodes so short they seemed more like scenes from separate movies. On the other hand, "Jupiter Ascending" is ruined by the imposition of more characters (heck, more SPECIES) than a Russian novel, a villain who sounds as if he belongs in an iron lung and unintentionally funny technology (Channing Tatum, in his "gravity boots" reminds me of Wilie E. Coyote wearing a product from Acme)and ludicrous, unfunny social commentary on government red tape. Note to Wachowski's: if you are going to copy "Star Wars," make it "A New Hope," not "The Phantom Menace." I give "Jupiter Ascending" a "5).
Review of Jupiter Ascending
