Iffy for 17+
Impressive visuals can't save brutally awful screenplay.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Immortals is an action/fantasy movie filled with tons of fighting, violence, and blood -- all rendered even more visceral and intense in 3-D. The movie's impressive visuals and costume design are notable, but they're overshadowed by the violence, which is very, very strong, especially once the gods get involved. There's slow-motion bashing of skulls -- several at a time, with flying brain, bone, and blood -- and three young women are the victims of torture, though that particular act isn't shown onscreen (the aftermath is). There's one sex act between the hero and the heroine, with kissing and some nudity. Other movies in this genre, like 300, have been popular, and kids may want to see this, too. But it should only be for the most mature teens.
- Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence. How does it compare to what you've seen in other action movies? In horror movies? What kind of movie violence has the most impact?
- Do you think the filmmakers intended audiences to get a particular message from watching this movie? If so, what would it be?
- If you were born into a society like this, where fighting is the solution to every problem, what would you do? How would you try to live your life?
The good stuff
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Messages: The entire movie is about fighting and war. One character speaks of the wisdom of knowing when to fight, but according to this movie, the answer is "all the time."
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Role models: Theseus is something of a role model in that he's brave and strong and he's a leader, but he also never really learns anything or grows over the course of the story, and he spends most of his time fighting.
What to watch for
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Violence: The movie starts out with heavy fantasy violence, including sword fighting, stabbing, punching, kicking, and getting pierced with flying arrows. A priest is burned alive, and a man's private parts are smashed with a giant mallet. Then, when the gods get involved, the slayings escalate, including bashed, exploding heads with chunks of skull, brain, and blood flying in all directions -- in slow motion, and in 3-D. Also, three young women are beaten and tortured off screen; viewers see the results, with the women covered in blood and writhing in pain. A mother's throat is cut in front of her son, and a monk cuts off his own tongue in order not to reveal a secret.
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Sex: A sex scene with partial female nudity: Characters kiss, and the man is shirtless, already in bed. Then the woman drops her clothes, and her bottom is visible (close-up). After she lies down, a breast is visible, but in shadow. Another woman appears somewhat naked but covered in makeup, and there's some strong innuendo, including banter surrounding the Oracle's virginity.
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Language: One use of "bastard" and a few uses of "whore."
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
2
Immortals: C- by MattH306
The action scenes did not make up for the awful script and puzzling storyline.
4
Pretty but... by rac00n
Immortals is full of luscious eye candy--the entire cast seems to be perfectly sculpted from marble. The costumes and action sequences are also quite stunning. However, like many of Tarsem's movies, the story is purely superficial and seems to lack the care and attention to detail that directors like Zack Snyder, Peter Jackson, and Bryan Singer imbed in their creations. Also, the movie manages to mangle mythology in a way that is completely annoying to anyone that has studied basic Greek Mythology. And finally the mix of British accents and American accents quickly snaps the viewer back into reality, leaving them wishing that they had been able to spend more time in such a pretty world. Immortals had potential...too bad it was helmed by such a misguided leader.
Go for the visuals but don't expect too much else.
2
Immortals OH NO DON'T GO!!! by usatown
If you had plans to see this don't ! (Back that truck up!)Movie was slow plot was terrible. Acting was just not there it was bla...bla..bla.You've been warned. :)
4
Immortals by Carter6
It is a well made movie, but a little too gory for me. I definately don't recommend this R Rated movie for kids. There is a LOT of violence & blood! The ending opens itself up for a sequal so lets see where the Next Generation of Immortals takes us!
3
Immortals by WendyXS_FeiXiangFilms
From the producers of "300" emerges another Greek mythology film: the graphics, cinematography, art, costume design befit the style "300" boasted but the character development and story lack the edge and emotional connection previously delivered. The theatrical teaser definitely caught attention but it's disappointing that there is not as much screen time for the divine immortals. With an immortal cast consisting of just 4-5, it seems like the film couldn't afford such high-payrolls.Alas, a full-time plot of what goes on in Olympus and the world of the Gods would have been a breath-taking story to behold. (Full Review: feixiangfilms.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/immortals-2011-somewhat-liked-rating/)
3
What Immortals - No one was immortal by johnf45
The way the gods were depicted was a little strange. And what's up with the wierd hedresses most of them wore. The Titans were not titans, more like a bunch of crazed monkeys running around. How did so many of them fit into that small cage.
I expected more of the movie. The whole theme was a little understated.
1
Rental at best by autumnrains67
If you get into Greek Mythology you'll be disappointed, if you don't get into Greek Mythology, you'll be disappointed. Some graphics were good, some terrible. Acting also . . . some good, some terrible. Just didn't enjoy this at all.
4
Greek mythos by rlmclean1966
Nice twist to classic Greek mythology,special effects were outstanding,saw it in 2d,wishing I had seen it in 3d.Overall I enjoyed the movie.
3
When Compared to "300", Immortals comes in at about 150. by remav
One has to ignore a LOT of things about this movie to rate it a Must Go. My guess is that there was a lot left on the cutting room floor to keep it from running long, and this Ieft me feeling that I only saw the "Cliffs Notes" of the story. There are no sub plots & whatever character development the original story contained for the side-kick & supporting actors... well, it all got kicked to the side.
The choice of wardrobe for the gods was anything but hetero & reminded me of David Bowie when at his androgynous outlandish best. It's a good thing Athena had Zeus because I don't believe any of the other boy-gods looked up to the task. It left a weird stage where these cherub-ish immortals inflicted over the top gore on their enemies with every slap.
There are amazing scenes & sound that almost carried my rating to a "Go", but if you have a good home theater this a $.99 rental not worth a $9 theater ticket. ...and if you don't have a good home theater skip it all together.
4
Entertaining by rseitz
First of all, on an entertainment basis, the movie was pretty good. The picture was filmed in a way that made it look really cool, lots of action and blood. So most guys are going to like it. For me, I thought the acting was great but it is missing more character detail. The film did not allow you to get caught up in the emotions that we are supposed to be moved by because it did not allow us time to "love" the characters. It felt rushed in a way that I felt something was missing. You know when you watched Gladiator or even 300, you got to know the characters in a way that got you really cheering for them, or feeling their pain and struggles. You were suppose to get that from Theseus but there was just no time for it. Overall, I'd say go if you want to watch a really cool action and it is not a very long movie so quick and dirty entertainment awaits.