ULTRAVIOLET: Jovovich goes Ultra-Bland

ULTRAVIOLET
(action thriller)
Time: 85 mins
Rating: * 1/2

HER name is Violet, Ultra Violet. She tells us that she was born into a world we may not understand. Well, 10 minutes into this hot-chick flick, we may not even give a damn about her.

Ultraviolet, another videogame-type movie that has its roots in comic books, reminds us of Aeon Flux, last year’s big flop. It has all the so-called ‘cool art’ that computer graphics can generate but no substance or ‘soul’. Why, it has an even more idiotic plot than Aeon Flux – and nothing seems to make sense. All we get is a stunning Milla Jovovich showing off her well-toned abs and striking cute poses that seem to be a substitute for combat. Throughout the show, she wears different hair colours, a variety of eye shades but the same single blank expression!

Yeah guys, Jovovich is Violet, a man-made mutant in a futuristic world that is paranoid about ‘contaminated blood’. Violet is a Hemophage, part-vampire, part-chameleon and a 100 per cent hot chick. She has transformed into such a creature because of a botched government experiment to make stronger humans.And now that the government is intent on exterminating all Hemophages, Violet has become a champion of her race against the military forces of Daxus (Nick Chinlund) who has developed a ‘Doomsday weapon’ against the mutants.

This weapon turns out to be a boy (Cameron Bright) known only as Six. (Just don’t ask how his blood can be used against the Hema- phages). Unable to kill the child in cold blood, Violet is forced to go on the run from her own people as well as Daxus’ goons. So right from the opening, we see our shapely heroine single-handedly wiping out scores of attackers and dodging hundreds of bullets. Then, like in a videogame, we move on to the next level where she has to confront more villains in the same detached manner – but with a different lipstick colour or hair dye.

Oh yes, did I mention that there is some sort of a love interest for Violet in a scientist named Garth (William Fichtner)? I didn’t? That’s because even this little ‘romantic’ subplot is also botched up by director Kurt Wimmer who manages to turn every scene into a stylised mess. We understand that a large part of the movie is computer-generated but surely Wimmer could have gotten some emotions out of the live actors.

After all they have been paid to ‘act’ in front of the blue screen. Yet throughout the 85-minute footage, there is nothing to show for in terms of humour and feelings. Just repetitious sequences of Violet twirling her sword and dozens of her assailants falling to the ground. If looks can kill, who needs such Ultra-Silly movies anyway?