How was this?
Personally, I thought it was fantastic. But I can definitely see why critics are so divided on it. There's a dizzying array of intertwining story lines spanning several centuries, one of which is in the (unsubtitled) language of a post-apocalyptic patois, and the running time approaches three hours. It's demanding and frequently mystifying. Cinematically, however, it's in league of its own. It's certainly one of the most impressive and beautiful CGI extravaganzas ever produced (it's a real treat having CGI in the hands of genuine artists like Tom Twyker and the Wachowskis, as opposed to hacks like Zach Snyder and Michael Bay). The editing that weaves the story lines together is innovative; you would think that rapid-fire cuts between the sequences would only heighten the confusion, but somehow it doesn't. It's almost symphonic how they all flow together. I haven't been able to get it out of my head for the past two days. It will require a second and possibly third viewing, and I'm even curious to read the book.
It isn't, however, Tom Twyker's masterwork. That remains
Perfume. But the Wachowskis, for their part, have now outdone
The Matrix. IMO.
