It's surprising that in light of the recent- and all too familiar university shootings director Chen Shi-Zheng had it in him to create an American drama that if only shallowly interpreted sheds a sympathetic light on today's young villains. Although the film overall speaks for the universal and inherent desire for power and fame, the literal and obvious message still remains, 'we drive today's kids to insanity and therefore we are the evil force behind the shootings.' Liu Xing, (played by Chinese superstar Ye Liu), is an Asian cosmology genius awarded a student visa to study in a prestigious US university. With high hopes of becoming a Nobel Prize winner and an eventual scientific icon, Xing promises his family money and personal success as he departs. The movie keeps a cute theme going of Xing writing home between the movie 'chapters.' At first the letters are hopeful and truthfully portraying Xing's life on campus as the head assistant to a superior professor at the university (played by Aiden Quinn). Quinn, as professor Reiser, soon realizes Xing's potential genius and the possible supplementary implications of this- and instead of further motivating Xing he aims at destroying the boy. Xing's theory on dark matter (sadly, a too obvious connection to the film's title) challenges Reiser's and with credibility at that- and therefore challenges his political stature. A fellow student with holes in his dissertation gains all the undeserved recognition by solely keeping congruent with Reiser's theory. Xing refuses to compromise his identity and integrity and it proves to be his single and ultimate downfall. Ultimately the deterioration of Xing's character is a combination of a failing in his academics, (solely due to politics), and the pain he endures having to compose a false, idealistic life to relay home to his parents. The story tragically ends as Xing interrupts a school function and shoots his adviser, professor, fellow students and then himself.
Xing creates sympathy for himself throughout the film as we witness his decay and Ye's performance all the more enhances the effect. Silent tears and a noticeable alcohol and cigarette addiction tear at the viewers while Xing genuinely tries to follow his passion at the dismay of Reiser. At the final scene we feel the pain for Xing- not those slaughtered carelessly.
Dark Matter is a great movie to inspire people to think and start to want to understand each other better! This film had a very intriguing story line, but left me with the impression that there was an excessive degree of effort devoted in trying to turn this film into a thriller. During the scenes with expected emotion and tension, flashy special effects were used to hide the lack of theatrics in the dialogue, filling this film with unsystematic art. The intention was understood, but I don't feel as though it was executed properly. What I liked about the film is that the dialog flowed comfortably and with ease, at almost a relaxing pace allowing you get a sincere feel of the characters. However, this goes against the grain, leading the audience to subconsciously view the protagonist as though he were a victim of society even though he was clearly at fault in the end.
Xing creates sympathy for himself throughout the film as we witness his decay and Ye's performance all the more enhances the effect. Silent tears and a noticeable alcohol and cigarette addiction tear at the viewers while Xing genuinely tries to follow his passion at the dismay of Reiser. At the final scene we feel the pain for Xing- not those slaughtered carelessly.
Dark Matter is a great movie to inspire people to think and start to want to understand each other better! This film had a very intriguing story line, but left me with the impression that there was an excessive degree of effort devoted in trying to turn this film into a thriller. During the scenes with expected emotion and tension, flashy special effects were used to hide the lack of theatrics in the dialogue, filling this film with unsystematic art. The intention was understood, but I don't feel as though it was executed properly. What I liked about the film is that the dialog flowed comfortably and with ease, at almost a relaxing pace allowing you get a sincere feel of the characters. However, this goes against the grain, leading the audience to subconsciously view the protagonist as though he were a victim of society even though he was clearly at fault in the end.