To say that MONSTER HUNTER is simply a game turned into more of a science fiction/fantasy film is not enough. First and foremost this movie is an action film. So much so that the first 25 minutes are nothing but non-stop action. Action on two different worlds even! But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The movie opens in the New World, a land covered in sand with rock formations throughout. A ship is sailing across the sand when it is attacked by a Diablos, a gigantic scale covered creature that seems part lizard part insect. Tossed about during the attack the Hunter (Tony Jaa) is tossed overboard and separated from his ship.
The real world present. A UN military team led by Army Captain Natalie Artemis (Mila Jovovich) is looking for a missing team that went to a dessert area ahead of them. Along the road they see stone markers with runes on them. With nothing but a recording of what took place, they see a mysterious dark storm filled with lightening heading their way, the same storm the recording mentions. As they try and escape the storm they see the stone markers light up and suddenly both vehicles are lifted in the air.
The storm has taken this group to the New World but they aren’t aware of that. Regrouping and righting their vehicles they head out only to be attacked by the Diablo. Impervious to their bullets they try to get away but not everyone will make it. Seeking cover they duck into a cave for safety only to find themselves surrounded by more creatures, this time a combination of lizard and giant spider. Artemis is left for dead and the others try to escape. When she wakes, she finds most of her team killed.
Artemis escapes the Nerscyllas (the name of the lizard/spider combo) and runs into the Hunter who helped them earlier. Neither trusting the other they face off and fight for a while before finally coming to terms. They determine they have a common enemy and their only chance for survival is to unite to take out the creatures of this world. Learning that there is a tower from which the lightning emanates, Artemis determines her only chance for survival, and to return home, is to head that direction and find out what is behind it all.
Based on the Capcom game of the same name the movie provides gamers and movie fans of the genre exactly what they’re looking for. Tons of action, giant creatures and a puzzle to solve. But also like the games these movies are based on the depth of plot is surprisingly sparse. Little to know background on any of the characters is provided and that which is given is so small that you’re not quite sure what you’ve learned.
Jovovich does what she does best which is look attractive in spite of being covered in dirt and taking on all comers in this world. While turning in some solid performances in various dramas it is in action films that she’s made a name for herself, most notably the RESIDENT EVIL films. Having made six films in that series it appears that she and husband Paul W.S. Anderson are going to attempt the same success with this film. Yes, the end of the movie does leave room open for a sequel. Director Anderson has plenty of experience in the game to film genre. His second major directorial effort was MORTAL KOMBAT and he directed 4 of the RESIDENT EVIL films.
On the plus side the film offers a ton of action and an easy enough plot to follow and not get lost on. On the bad side that plot is thin but then that’s never been a concern of fans of the genre. The other negative is perhaps a pet peeve of mine and that’s the overuse of CGI. Yes, I understand that a movie like this featuring these sort of creatures must use CGI (Computer Graphic Images) to accomplish making these creatures seem real, but Hollywood in recent years has chosen to litter nearly every film, and in particular the action genre, with far too much of it. So much so that you begin to wonder how soon they’ll just make movies with actors at all. Some are already being made by the same people responsible for the graphics in video games.
All in all the film was fun and with the exception of
perhaps a few words acceptable for most families to watch together. A few
scenes are creepy enough that young children might have some problems but an
attentive parent can always cover eyes when moments like that pop up. While I
enjoyed the movie I’m not likely to add it to my collection. It was fun but not
one I’d likely watch repeatedly.
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