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Ultraviolet By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- The sci-fi "Ultraviolet" (Screen Gems) is exactly what its pun-apparent title suggests. Reworking John Cassavetes' mob melodrama "Gloria" as a futuristic action adventure, writer-director Kurt Wimmer sets his violent tale in the late 21st century, where a pandemic virus has infected much of humanity, giving rise to a medical police state headed by germaphobic dictator Daxus (Nick Chinlund), hell-bent on exterminating all virus-positive "outcasts" in his new world order. Standing in his way is Violet (Milla Jovovich), a one-woman killing machine with more lethal moves than Bruce Lee. (The virus, though fatal, endows those afflicted with superhuman strength, speed and agility.) She can also change her hair color at will, which has little to do with anything beyond, perhaps, a promotional plug for L'Oreal (for which Jovovich serves as a spokesmodel). During the opening narration, Violet warns that she "lives in a world that you may find hard to understand." The same could be said of the plot, which mostly involves Jovovich -- in skintight get-ups -- slicing and mowing down Daxus' goons, while protecting a young boy (Cameron Bright) who may hold the secret to curing the virus. The film contains the, uh, germ of an emotional core; as with Gena Rowlands in "Gloria," Violet forms a maternal bond with her charge, the lone speck of humanity amid the mindless and glamorized wholesale carnage. Troublingly, the authoritarian government stronghold -- headquarters for those who "spread oppression, injustice and hatred" -- is a compound in the shape of a cross. Though slickly executed with admitted comic-book visual flair, the high-octane chase sequences and "Matrix"-style martial-arts set pieces are as tedious as they are over-the-top. It's one long, violent video game, which though light on actual gore, is far too intense for its PG-13 rating. The film contains pervasive stylized action violence, including over-the-top gunfights, swordplay and a burning body, shadowy rear nudity and scattered crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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