A lot of visual effects work adds to the eye candy as star Milla Jovovich explodes on the big screen with Sony Screen Gems’ futuristic action flick, Ultraviolet. This latest entry in the girls-kicking-butt subgenre arrives in 2,558 theaters today, just a week ahead of Warner Bros.’ V for Vendetta, in which Natalie Portman takes her turn at slicing and dicing her way through legions of baddies.
Written and directed by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) Ultraviolet is set in the late 21st century and involves a subculture of genetically mutated humans endowed with enhanced speed, incredible stamina and acute intelligence. As more people are infected with the wonder virus, the government that unleashed it resolves to wipe them out unless a rogue warrior named Violet (Jovovich) can stop them.
Ultraviolet employs CG environments and other forms of digital trickery to bring furtuistic action to the screen. CIS Hollywood handled the lion’s share of the work under the thumb of visual effects supervisor Victor Wong, whose previous credits include the Hong Kong-made hits House of Flying Daggers, Initial D and Internal Affairs I & II.
Though it was not screened for critics, generally not a good sign, the PG-13 Ultraviolet should do will the young male demographic that has made Wimmer’s Equilibrium a cult hit and recently plunked down a good chunk of change for Screen Gems’ Underworld 2, which was also kept away from critics.
Ultraviolet‘s toughest competition this weekend comes from Warner Bros.’ Bruce Willis/Mos Def action-thriller, 16 Blocks, which opens today in around 2,700 theaters. Also opening wide today is 20th century Fox’s tween mermaid fantasy, Aquamarine, while Dave Chappelle’s Block Party from Rogue Pictures promises to do brisk business as it rolls out in approximately 1,200 locations.
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