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How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 11 August 2011
This a movie review of THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC. |
“The chief with a showgirl, perhaps, but a pterodactyl in the 20th century!” Président Armand Fallières (Gérard Chaillou)
I seriously look forward to a Luc Besson directorial effort (LEON, NIKITA, LE DERNIER COMBAT, etc.). Even though he is a prolific writer and producer, his megaphone wielding duties don’t come as often as I like. Plus, and this is a big a plus, I have started becoming concerned about the projects he has chosen to direct. Unfortunately THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES compounds this mild agitation. Besson’s last four flicks behind the lens have been two cartoons, ANGEL-A, and this. His two live actions movies feel slight, but also too seemingly influenced by other filmmakers. ANGEL-A had an air of Jean-Pierre Jeunet about it, while THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES has a sub-Spielberg vibe. I may seem like a hater, but I’m not. I love Besson’s early stuff. Maybe he’s more of a mini-mogul now, making Europa Corp into an international production house to be reckoned with?
I seriously look forward to a Luc Besson directorial effort (LEON, NIKITA, LE DERNIER COMBAT, etc.). Even though he is a prolific writer and producer, his megaphone wielding duties don’t come as often as I like. Plus, and this is a big a plus, I have started becoming concerned about the projects he has chosen to direct. Unfortunately THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES compounds this mild agitation. Besson’s last four flicks behind the lens have been two cartoons, ANGEL-A, and this. His two live actions movies feel slight, but also too seemingly influenced by other filmmakers. ANGEL-A had an air of Jean-Pierre Jeunet about it, while THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES has a sub-Spielberg vibe. I may seem like a hater, but I’m not. I love Besson’s early stuff. Maybe he’s more of a mini-mogul now, making Europa Corp into an international production house to be reckoned with?
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You can’t fault THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES for lacking energy. It breathlessly crams in exposition, incident and repartee. The titular Adele Blanc-Sec is a 25 year old adventurer, explorer and writer in the vein of Indiana Jones. The ultimate motivation driving her is to find a particular mummy from Egypt, bring him back to Paris (of 100 years ago) where her professor friend will attempt to revive him; and in turn this mummy (she believes) has the skills to cure her comatose twin sister. This core purpose is surrounded by various miscreants, incompetents and chums. I have to hand it to Besson for juggling this array of people and plot points. However, it exudes an air of childishness that the best thrill rides never do, even with kids as the leads, e.g. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, THE GOONES, SUPER 8 and THE GOOD THE BAD THE WEIRD. Also, the adventures don’t feel all that extraordinary unfortunately.
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