An exercise in futility

Rating: 4/10 (1 June 2011)

The problem with this film is that for action to work you need to have an emotional investment in it. But when the action is at best a metaphor to the films reality, there is none. With no emotional investment your not on the edge of your seat and it just becomes pretty pictures.
Sad really because the action itself, when not taken in the context of the film is pretty good and the films main plot is reasonable. It just doesn't work when all put together, the whole is far less then the sum of it's parts. When you start to compare the film to ones that are similar in concept, such as Pans Labyrinth or Brazil, you realise just how much this film falls short.
Sure you could compliment the film for being an action film with some depth but that is to largely miss the point. The basic plot is set up quickly and the rest of the film are the long action sequences filling in the gaps and ultimately serving no purpose. The truth is the two sides work against each other and would be better served in a film of their own.