Review: MORTAL ENGINES Is an Epic and Adventurous Thrill Ride

I’ve been pretty excited about seeing producer Peter Jackson’s epic new film project Mortal Engines. I’ve really enjoyed everything that I’ve seen in the trailers for the film and what we see in those trailers is exactly what this movie delivers.

If you like what you’ve seen from the footage that has been shared, chances are you’re going to enjoy the movie. If you’ve scoffed at the trailers, and you think the movie looks like it’s going to be a silly and/or piece of crap movie, then that’s what you’re going to get.

With a movie like Mortal Engines, you just can take it too seriously. You’ve kinda got check your brain out at the door. This is an epic and adventurous popcorn flick, and I personally enjoyed the hell out of it! I loved the massive scale of it and the fact that it was so different and so out there. It’s a unique film. I’ve never seen anything like it before, so how could I not enjoy it!?

I have not read the books that the film is based on, so I enjoyed this from a completely cinematic experience. I have no idea what fans of the book will think about it, but I thought it was a ton of fun! Yeah, it’s full of cheesy and WTF moments, but that’s totally ok! All that stuff just added to the charm of the film.

At the core of the film is a great setting and decent story that I enjoyed watching unfold on the big screen. The film is set thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event. In that time humankind adapted and a new way of living has evolved and societies thrive on moving cities that roam the Earth. It’s pretty fun seeing these cities driving around. They’re like giant go-cart cities! The giant cities pretty much prey on smaller traction towns. London is the biggest and most dangerous of them all.

There is a new weapon being developed in London that will once again threaten the world and a fugitive named Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), who is out for revenge ends up reluctantly teaming up with a London man named Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) to try and stop this new threat. There’s a lot of interesting stuff we learn about these two characters while they are on their journey.

I also want to point out that I thought the film has solid character development. I especially liked the main characters that we were introduced to in the story. I also liked Hera Hilmar in the lead role. I’m not really familiar with any of her previous work, but she was good!

The movie was directed by Christian Rivers from a script co-written by Jackson himself and Philippa Boyens. The cast for the film also includes Hugo Weaving, South Korean singer and actress Jihae (Mars), Ronan Raftery (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Leila George (Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?), Patrick Malahide (Game of Thrones), and Stephen Lang (Avatar).

I’m well aware that there are probably going to be a lot of people that don’t like this movie and think that I’m crazy for enjoying it. Chances are most of you are going to hate the movie. There are plenty of ways for people to tear the movie apart, especially with the blatant Star Wars undertones. I don’t care, though. If you hated it, I totally understand, I get it! I just couldn’t help but enjoy Mortal Engines for what it was.

If you decide to see the movie or you’ve already seen it, let us know what you liked or hated about it!