Toorop [Vin Diesel] is a retired mercenary who is recruited to do a smuggling job. He is brought in by Gorsky [Gérard Depardieu] to do this job. Toorop must take Aurora [Mélanie Thierry] from Russia to America, along with her ‘chaperon’ Sister Rebeka [Michelle Yeoh], in this post-apocalyptic world.

So from when I saw the first trailer for this movie I was thinking that this movie could really be good. One of those movies that no one in the general public would be hyped for at all, but underneath has some really good stuff. But, less than a week before I saw it, news was released that the director [Mathieu Kassovitz] announced that he hates the movie. The studio re-cut the film and he wanted to completely distance himself from it, calling it “pure violence and stupidity”. When the movie started, I was wondering if they took his name was going to be removed from the credits [it’s there].

So, moving on from a moment ago, I did go to the movie. I was sooooo hoping that this movie would be good. And, yes it does kind of suck. The movie fell short at a lot of moments. It started out well, in my perspective, where it gave us a great introduction to Diesel’s character. I loved the scene where he was approached, and he goes on the whole cheesy “you have to have your word and your balls”. It had that cool factor that made you think that Vin Diesel was badass. But honestly after the 20 minute mark of this movie where he picks up Aurora and Sister Rebeka [and they have that “rules” talk] the movie began the suckage.

The acting is pretty bad [as expected when Vin Diesel is top billing]. I am pretty annoyed with Michelle Yeoh right now, especially after seeing her in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Sometimes in Hollywood they have these actors who are in 3/4 movies a year and only because it is their typecast role. Michelle Yeoh, I think, is the speed dial female Asian actor for Hollywood right now, especially if they need someone who can do kung-fu/fight scenes. So it felt boring to see her in this movie. My only addition to her being in this movie, is a quote that she says, “just because we’re peaceful doesn’t mean we’re weak”. What does the quote tell you about her character immediately?

Now with the news stated earlier about the studio recutting the movie, and the director hating the movie. I agree that this movie is not good. At the same time, I can see a good movie hiding on the cutting room floor. I can easily see some really cool sci-fi elements being left out so as to make the movie more intellectually engaging [and therefore better]. So I can easily see a director’s cut of this movie being exponentially better than what is out at the theatre.

So overall, this is a skip. However, when the DVD comes out, if there is a Director’s Cut, take a look at it. I’m personally waiting to see a Director’s Cut of this movie. Unless that happens there is no real reason to see this movie. Unless of course you are a Vin Diesel fan, which means we should not be talking to begin with.

IMDB says 6.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes says 5%

I say 4.5/10