The film has good visual effects, but that's about it. The story is non existent, and nothing is explained. It is a brainless monster film that may entertain, but it's ultimately forgettable.
1,026 Reviews
Good visual effects
Gordon-1130 August 2021
When you're on a bad acid trip at 8, but need to hand in your screenplay at 9.
Top_Dawg_Critic17 February 2021
When you see the movie trailer, you can't wait to see this film. When you see this film, you'll wish you stopped at the trailer.
Aside from the outstanding visuals, effects and landscapes, the awesome cast was wasted on an infantile convoluted screenplay riddled with plot and technical issues. There's hardly any coherent continuity in the writing, and the ridiculous long dragged out and unnecessary scenes made the 103 minute runtime feel over 3 hours long. I don't mind mindless entertainment, but when I feel a 5th grader could've come up with a better balanced script, the entertainment becomes annoying.
Writer, producer and director of the Resident Evil franchise Paul W. S. Anderson, also cast his wife Milla Jovovich, as well as Tony Jaa and Ron Perlman. As a seasoned filmmaker, his directing was horrible. The fighting action scenes had the worst and amateurish choreography I've seen in a long time. I feel bad for Tony Jaa to have this nonsense on his resume. Many scenes could've been cut down and/or omitted so the runtime be no more than 85-90 mins, as that's all this story - if you can even call it that, would be able to fill.
Anderson's writing was horrid, as mentioned above, and my heading "When you're on a bad acid trip at 8, but need to hand in your screenplay at 9" is the most realistic for this meme. I'm a fan of the Resident Evil franchise, but I'm not sure how anyone who read Anderson's script could've said "this is awesome, let's start filming!". It's a shame because I know this had a big budget, and unfortunately it would've been better served donated to some cause instead of this garbage. It's a very generous 5/10 from me, all going to the visuals and the cast, who I feel sorry for. If you want to have any enjoyment with this one, throw on your favorite up-beat album on the stereo, and play this film muted as its music video.
Aside from the outstanding visuals, effects and landscapes, the awesome cast was wasted on an infantile convoluted screenplay riddled with plot and technical issues. There's hardly any coherent continuity in the writing, and the ridiculous long dragged out and unnecessary scenes made the 103 minute runtime feel over 3 hours long. I don't mind mindless entertainment, but when I feel a 5th grader could've come up with a better balanced script, the entertainment becomes annoying.
Writer, producer and director of the Resident Evil franchise Paul W. S. Anderson, also cast his wife Milla Jovovich, as well as Tony Jaa and Ron Perlman. As a seasoned filmmaker, his directing was horrible. The fighting action scenes had the worst and amateurish choreography I've seen in a long time. I feel bad for Tony Jaa to have this nonsense on his resume. Many scenes could've been cut down and/or omitted so the runtime be no more than 85-90 mins, as that's all this story - if you can even call it that, would be able to fill.
Anderson's writing was horrid, as mentioned above, and my heading "When you're on a bad acid trip at 8, but need to hand in your screenplay at 9" is the most realistic for this meme. I'm a fan of the Resident Evil franchise, but I'm not sure how anyone who read Anderson's script could've said "this is awesome, let's start filming!". It's a shame because I know this had a big budget, and unfortunately it would've been better served donated to some cause instead of this garbage. It's a very generous 5/10 from me, all going to the visuals and the cast, who I feel sorry for. If you want to have any enjoyment with this one, throw on your favorite up-beat album on the stereo, and play this film muted as its music video.
Mindless fun? Nope, just MINDLESS!
paulclaassen31 May 2021
Going into this movie, I expected mindless fun. Only, it was just mindless...
Milla Jovovich is back kicking ass fighting creatures - or monsters if you will. From the script to the execution thereof, this was incomprehensible. The fight scenes between Jovovich and Tony Jaa were oh-so-childish, annoying, and painfully American. So Hollywood...ugh! The silly attempts at humor further ruined the movie. So much so, in fact, that I often found it almost unwatchable. There were so many scenes just making up time, that could easily have been cut.
The editing is incredibly bad. The visual effects will have you raising an eyebrow. There was so little going on in this movie apart for people running away, monsters appearing, more running, more monsters... I was so bored. I mean, I literally hit the forward button at times!
This film is a complete jumbled mess, using bits and pieces of so many other movies. How many movie references did you spot? Transformers. Clash of the Titans. Chronicles of Riddick. Pirates of the Caribbean. Tremors. Love and Monsters. Jurassic World. Godzilla.... wow, doesn't say much for originality, does it? I mean, there literally is no plot whatsoever. It was just a bunch of ideas thrown together. Seriously...?!
The ending screams for a sequel. Please not!! Oh, this was atrocious!!!
Would I watch it again? No, please no more!!!!
Milla Jovovich is back kicking ass fighting creatures - or monsters if you will. From the script to the execution thereof, this was incomprehensible. The fight scenes between Jovovich and Tony Jaa were oh-so-childish, annoying, and painfully American. So Hollywood...ugh! The silly attempts at humor further ruined the movie. So much so, in fact, that I often found it almost unwatchable. There were so many scenes just making up time, that could easily have been cut.
The editing is incredibly bad. The visual effects will have you raising an eyebrow. There was so little going on in this movie apart for people running away, monsters appearing, more running, more monsters... I was so bored. I mean, I literally hit the forward button at times!
This film is a complete jumbled mess, using bits and pieces of so many other movies. How many movie references did you spot? Transformers. Clash of the Titans. Chronicles of Riddick. Pirates of the Caribbean. Tremors. Love and Monsters. Jurassic World. Godzilla.... wow, doesn't say much for originality, does it? I mean, there literally is no plot whatsoever. It was just a bunch of ideas thrown together. Seriously...?!
The ending screams for a sequel. Please not!! Oh, this was atrocious!!!
Would I watch it again? No, please no more!!!!
The director of a million scene cuts
dacpcon16 February 2021
Watching this movie it was obvious from the start its a poor game to movie adaption, but it's at least entertaining, until there is a fighting scene. Within a very few seconds of the first fighting scene I knew this movie had the same director as the last resident evil movie, just because it's so many cuts, there are not even a second long continuous sequence in a fighting scene, annoying as hell to watch and I can't for my life fighter out how anyone can sponsor this director for an action movie, it's always the same...
Good fun popcorn movie
joeyford-5534223 December 2020
Stargate meets Pitch Black
DarkVulcan2923 December 2020
I was expecting this to be a run of the mill awful action film with one note performances, but surprisingly I was entertained, although I'd say not a great film, but in some ways it kind of knows that.
The effects are pretty enjoyable, like almost similar to Jurassic Park. Mila Jovovich and Tony Jaa do play off each other quite well, and both are really at action. Ron Perlman is also good in his supporting role. I never played the game in which this is based, but i'm sure it's every bit has entertaining.
The effects are pretty enjoyable, like almost similar to Jurassic Park. Mila Jovovich and Tony Jaa do play off each other quite well, and both are really at action. Ron Perlman is also good in his supporting role. I never played the game in which this is based, but i'm sure it's every bit has entertaining.
I expect nothing and I'm still let down
rudygerst27 February 2021
There's litterally NOTHING good in this movie.
I often see film critics talking about editing. I have never been bothered by editing... until this movie. OMG, there's a billion cuts in this. I almost had a seizure. There's no plot, of course. Action is all over the place, yet the movie is horribly boring. I don't know what more to say. Don't watch it.
I often see film critics talking about editing. I have never been bothered by editing... until this movie. OMG, there's a billion cuts in this. I almost had a seizure. There's no plot, of course. Action is all over the place, yet the movie is horribly boring. I don't know what more to say. Don't watch it.
Paul W.S. Anderson is filming yet another video game series in a bad way.
movieman6-413-9295106 December 2020
Monster Hunter is a new fantasy action film directed, written, and produced in part by Paul W.S. Anderson, the director of Resident Evil and Event Horizon.
In the film, Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her military unit are transported to another world thanks to a strange storm. In this world they are attacked by dangerous, gigantic monsters, which they find difficult to stop with their military weapons. When Artemis meets the mysterious Hunter, she learns that every monster can be defeated in some way. Artemis decides to team up with Hunter to defeat the monsters and hopefully find a way back to her own world.
Paul W.S. Anderson closed the film adaptations of the Resident Evil video game series in 2016. With this film he seems to have started a new video game series filming. Most video game adaptations turn out badly and are often more entertaining for those familiar with the video game the movie is based on. Unfortunately, this is also the case for this film, because the film lacks a real story and clear explanation of what exactly happened in the film. People familiar with the video game or playing it themselves can probably understand this movie a little better.
Paul W.S. Anderson has put this film together with editor Doobie White in a messy way, just like he did with his last Resident Evil film. The film jumps from short, moving action scene to the next. This only makes the movie more difficult to follow and because the movie is in 3D this can lead to headaches for some people. They also use a lot of unnecessary slow motion effects, to convey the movie more exciting, but unfortunately the slow motion only makes the movie unnecessarily long-winded. The monsters in the film look good, but you can see that they were placed in the film with CGI, so they do not all come across as credible.
The acting is not very prominent either, because no character gets a clear background story, structure or further development in the film. When a monster attacks the group and there are victims, you don't know exactly who they were.
In the film, Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her military unit are transported to another world thanks to a strange storm. In this world they are attacked by dangerous, gigantic monsters, which they find difficult to stop with their military weapons. When Artemis meets the mysterious Hunter, she learns that every monster can be defeated in some way. Artemis decides to team up with Hunter to defeat the monsters and hopefully find a way back to her own world.
Paul W.S. Anderson closed the film adaptations of the Resident Evil video game series in 2016. With this film he seems to have started a new video game series filming. Most video game adaptations turn out badly and are often more entertaining for those familiar with the video game the movie is based on. Unfortunately, this is also the case for this film, because the film lacks a real story and clear explanation of what exactly happened in the film. People familiar with the video game or playing it themselves can probably understand this movie a little better.
Paul W.S. Anderson has put this film together with editor Doobie White in a messy way, just like he did with his last Resident Evil film. The film jumps from short, moving action scene to the next. This only makes the movie more difficult to follow and because the movie is in 3D this can lead to headaches for some people. They also use a lot of unnecessary slow motion effects, to convey the movie more exciting, but unfortunately the slow motion only makes the movie unnecessarily long-winded. The monsters in the film look good, but you can see that they were placed in the film with CGI, so they do not all come across as credible.
The acting is not very prominent either, because no character gets a clear background story, structure or further development in the film. When a monster attacks the group and there are victims, you don't know exactly who they were.
Hollywood needs to stop video game adaptations
arabnikita9 December 2020
Monster Hunter (2020)
Sometimes I wonder, do the people responsible for making certain movies actually watch the final product before releasing it. In a year where good movies are getting delayed left and right, this abomination somehow made it to the big screen.
Video Game adaptations have always been a struggle and this one brings back the memories of Mortal Kombat Annihilation, when people's brains melted from the amount of onscreen nonsense. I do understand that things don't have to be perfectly logic and we just got to accept the events as if it is a game. Unfortunately, this Garbagio doesn't have any common sense, flow or even sensible dialogue.
As a matter of fact, you can recreate the movie yourself. Take half bucket of sand, throw in some rocks and aluminum cans, shake it violently while shouting and spinning in a circle, add some water and repeat the procedure. I made a mistake of thinking that at least the action might be good in the cinema but instead, I got two hours of grunts, nonsense and nauseating camera work. Please, don't make the same mistake.
Movies.shmovies on Instagram
Sometimes I wonder, do the people responsible for making certain movies actually watch the final product before releasing it. In a year where good movies are getting delayed left and right, this abomination somehow made it to the big screen.
Video Game adaptations have always been a struggle and this one brings back the memories of Mortal Kombat Annihilation, when people's brains melted from the amount of onscreen nonsense. I do understand that things don't have to be perfectly logic and we just got to accept the events as if it is a game. Unfortunately, this Garbagio doesn't have any common sense, flow or even sensible dialogue.
As a matter of fact, you can recreate the movie yourself. Take half bucket of sand, throw in some rocks and aluminum cans, shake it violently while shouting and spinning in a circle, add some water and repeat the procedure. I made a mistake of thinking that at least the action might be good in the cinema but instead, I got two hours of grunts, nonsense and nauseating camera work. Please, don't make the same mistake.
Movies.shmovies on Instagram
Monster Mash...
Xstal17 February 2021
A composite amalgam - alloying, bonding, forming, mixing, combining, compounding, joining, fixing, melding and extruding while blending and fusing all that came before in the most wholly unoriginal and monstrous way imaginable. Nothing to munch on here, your appetite will remain devilishly unsatisfied.
Ummm.....
tbuestrin10 March 2021
I should have stopped watching after the opening scene showing Ron Perlman wearing a Barry Gibb wig. I want to unsee that. So this is essentially a combined rip off of Tremors, Pirates of the Caribbean, Reign of Fire, and a sandy Waterworld. It really has nothing new or exciting...just re-used Hollywood themes that are boring and dated. As a fan of Milla Jovovich...this is sadly disappointing.
Give me chocolate
DizzeDahmer21 December 2020
I'd rather a video game movie blow through the storyline and get to the action instead of trying to explain every detail and every character. Some things only make sense in a video game. This gave me the goods. Intense monster battles, hand to hand combat, explosions and even a cat pirate! Plus Mila Jovovich, Tony Jaa & Ron Pearlman. Give me the sequel!
lower expectations
SnoopyStyle7 March 2021
Ranger Artemis (Milla Jovovich) leads her soldiers on a mission to find a missing squad. They are hit by a mysterious lightning sandstorm and get transported to another world. It's a world of monsters and monster hunters like a nameless local hunter (Tony Jaa).
Apparently, this is based on a video game. I'm not familiar with it. Quite frankly, I'm not familiar with most newer video games but I am familiar with filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson and his wife Milla Jovovich. Expectations are low and this movie barely clears them. Jovovich is fine. She's familiar with this type of action fantasy but I really wish they didn't have a sing along. Compared with other video game inspired movies, this is fine but that's not saying much. I would like for Artemis to start with better chemistry with Tony Jaa's character. It may be better to keep T.I. for a little longer. I don't know if The Admiral is a character from the game but he really shouldn't speak English. At first, I thought that he came from our world. That would have been better or else, he should just not speak English. All in all, I have no need to watch this again. Once is more than enough.
Apparently, this is based on a video game. I'm not familiar with it. Quite frankly, I'm not familiar with most newer video games but I am familiar with filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson and his wife Milla Jovovich. Expectations are low and this movie barely clears them. Jovovich is fine. She's familiar with this type of action fantasy but I really wish they didn't have a sing along. Compared with other video game inspired movies, this is fine but that's not saying much. I would like for Artemis to start with better chemistry with Tony Jaa's character. It may be better to keep T.I. for a little longer. I don't know if The Admiral is a character from the game but he really shouldn't speak English. At first, I thought that he came from our world. That would have been better or else, he should just not speak English. All in all, I have no need to watch this again. Once is more than enough.
Call The Film "A MONSTER OF A MOVIE" Or "Jurrasic Park On Acid" ( IT'S BOTH ✅✅ )... Paul W.S Anderson Is Now -{ "Officially" }- A WORLD CLASS ⭐⭐⭐ Action-Blockbuster Director .
Radio-1s_Mr-MovieMad-Ami_104-1FM20 December 2020
____________________________________________________
A -{ Mini }- Review . ____________________________________________________
First & foremost: if you're someone who's -{ NOT }- into this genre { Namely: 'Full Throttle action films borne -( Entirely )- of pure fantasy type video games' } ..'at all'.. then ( kindly ) move right along. Nothing. To. See. Here. PERIOD ⛔ . Conversely, if, ( like me ), you ~{ Aren't }~ too picky when it comes to the whole genre thing, 👉In-The-First-Place👈, and can kick back & enjoy a ( Truly ) exciting film... ~{ " As long it transports you to Another-Dimension 😉 for a little while " , or even just helps you get away from life's 'PETTY-LITTLE-PERPLEXITIES' for a little while, ( & come away " Enthralled And Beaming 🔥 " ) }~ ...then this review is " Especially " for you. Jump. Right. IN❗.
Ok, so ~{ Even }~ in this unprecedented age of " Prolific Digital Super-realism " in -both- CGI ( computer generated imagery ), -as well as- SPFX ( special effects creation ) 'right across the modern cinematic board', so to speak..... to the point where it is most certainly starting to at least -( Seem )- as though we now, ( Very Sadly 😢 ), often find ourselves taking these two ~{ " HUUUGELY❗" }~ labour intensive aspects of film production ~ " Almost For Granted " ~ .....the veritable plethora of monsters featured in Monster Hunter have been brought to life by the filmmakers ( and, of course, their collective little ' Army ' of Animatronic Modellers, Digital Artists & Effects Specialists ), with sheerly " STUNNING 🌠 " prowess. My heart well & truly goes out to ~{ Every Single One }~ of you die hard fantasy -slash- monster flick aficionados, that is genuinely " Aching " to watch this picture on the " Big " screen ; but will more than likely be unable to do so, -( Completely )- on account of the Covid-19 Pandemic situation in your particular country -slash- region .
In as much as the 'Mirth And Hilarity' Department is concerned, I can -unequivocally- assure you that this film not only has its 'fair share' of Laughs, but that they tend to show up in the most ~{ Unexpected }~ of places, & often in the most ~{ Charming 😅 }~ of ways. And I say this.... " Knowing as we -Now- do, ( for-a-fact ), that the bedrock of practically -Any- successful, fun, typical, big budget action-"drenched" blockbuster these days, lies in the said film's ability to -artfully- ( & of course -tastefully- ), weave a hefty dose of that much needed thing known as HUMOUR ✅ into the eager fabric of its otherwise ( almost -inevitably- ) 'relentless and frenetic' narrative arc " . And speaking ~{ Of }~ 'the funnies'... if you were to put a gun to my head & said that I simply ~{ Had To }~ point out a 'glaring' weakness in Monster Hunter ; it would most certainly be the utterly ~{ Baffoonish 🤡 }~ look of the ( normally ) robust, often even " Majestic❗" looking Ron Perlman ( 'Admiral' ), who of course played the lead character in the very well received -( original )- "Hellboy" duology. Other than that I honestly cannot say that I had any really ~{ " Serious " }~ qualms with the movie .
Summary : The Fabulous Milla Jovovich 🌠 ~{ And }~ The ( Equally ) Fabulous Thai Martial-Arts Veteran Tony Jaa 🌠 have truly performed their parts to perfection. But then again, I would've given this genuinely superb production a Solid Score on the merits of its ( visually ) " mind-numbing " Technical Success, ~{ ALONE }~ . 8.25 Glorious Marks out of 10 🚀 🔥❗.
A -{ Mini }- Review . ____________________________________________________
First & foremost: if you're someone who's -{ NOT }- into this genre { Namely: 'Full Throttle action films borne -( Entirely )- of pure fantasy type video games' } ..'at all'.. then ( kindly ) move right along. Nothing. To. See. Here. PERIOD ⛔ . Conversely, if, ( like me ), you ~{ Aren't }~ too picky when it comes to the whole genre thing, 👉In-The-First-Place👈, and can kick back & enjoy a ( Truly ) exciting film... ~{ " As long it transports you to Another-Dimension 😉 for a little while " , or even just helps you get away from life's 'PETTY-LITTLE-PERPLEXITIES' for a little while, ( & come away " Enthralled And Beaming 🔥 " ) }~ ...then this review is " Especially " for you. Jump. Right. IN❗.
Ok, so ~{ Even }~ in this unprecedented age of " Prolific Digital Super-realism " in -both- CGI ( computer generated imagery ), -as well as- SPFX ( special effects creation ) 'right across the modern cinematic board', so to speak..... to the point where it is most certainly starting to at least -( Seem )- as though we now, ( Very Sadly 😢 ), often find ourselves taking these two ~{ " HUUUGELY❗" }~ labour intensive aspects of film production ~ " Almost For Granted " ~ .....the veritable plethora of monsters featured in Monster Hunter have been brought to life by the filmmakers ( and, of course, their collective little ' Army ' of Animatronic Modellers, Digital Artists & Effects Specialists ), with sheerly " STUNNING 🌠 " prowess. My heart well & truly goes out to ~{ Every Single One }~ of you die hard fantasy -slash- monster flick aficionados, that is genuinely " Aching " to watch this picture on the " Big " screen ; but will more than likely be unable to do so, -( Completely )- on account of the Covid-19 Pandemic situation in your particular country -slash- region .
In as much as the 'Mirth And Hilarity' Department is concerned, I can -unequivocally- assure you that this film not only has its 'fair share' of Laughs, but that they tend to show up in the most ~{ Unexpected }~ of places, & often in the most ~{ Charming 😅 }~ of ways. And I say this.... " Knowing as we -Now- do, ( for-a-fact ), that the bedrock of practically -Any- successful, fun, typical, big budget action-"drenched" blockbuster these days, lies in the said film's ability to -artfully- ( & of course -tastefully- ), weave a hefty dose of that much needed thing known as HUMOUR ✅ into the eager fabric of its otherwise ( almost -inevitably- ) 'relentless and frenetic' narrative arc " . And speaking ~{ Of }~ 'the funnies'... if you were to put a gun to my head & said that I simply ~{ Had To }~ point out a 'glaring' weakness in Monster Hunter ; it would most certainly be the utterly ~{ Baffoonish 🤡 }~ look of the ( normally ) robust, often even " Majestic❗" looking Ron Perlman ( 'Admiral' ), who of course played the lead character in the very well received -( original )- "Hellboy" duology. Other than that I honestly cannot say that I had any really ~{ " Serious " }~ qualms with the movie .
Summary : The Fabulous Milla Jovovich 🌠 ~{ And }~ The ( Equally ) Fabulous Thai Martial-Arts Veteran Tony Jaa 🌠 have truly performed their parts to perfection. But then again, I would've given this genuinely superb production a Solid Score on the merits of its ( visually ) " mind-numbing " Technical Success, ~{ ALONE }~ . 8.25 Glorious Marks out of 10 🚀 🔥❗.
cool movie, if you're 5
apo_cello16 February 2021
Absolutely terrible
Homer_Ate219 February 2021
A fun film ruined by the editing, again.
Nekron9811 July 2021
As everyone else has mentioned its an fun monster adventure with a very likeable cast, plenty of action and decent effects.
But just like the last Resident Evil film its horribly over edited by director Paul W. S. Anderson and editor Doobie White who seem intent on using a style that nearly everyone in the audience hates.
A shame really, looks like they made a solid action monster movie and ruined it in Post.
But just like the last Resident Evil film its horribly over edited by director Paul W. S. Anderson and editor Doobie White who seem intent on using a style that nearly everyone in the audience hates.
A shame really, looks like they made a solid action monster movie and ruined it in Post.
Hard to watch
silascriss16 February 2021
Story: None
Character development: None
Memorable songs: None
Acting: Poor
Where'd all the money go: CGI
CGI quality: Sci-fi
I had heard this movie was trash, but I watched it anyways to support Ron Perlman (Hell Boy) and Milla Jovovich (Alice)
I had heard this movie was trash, but I watched it anyways to support Ron Perlman (Hell Boy) and Milla Jovovich (Alice)
Way better than Mortal Kombat
ReliableReview4 May 2021
I don't analyze movies for character development plot faithfulness to source material or any such nonsense. Bottom line is was I entertained and most resoundingly yes. I thought this was better than Mortal Kombat which I feel it's a 6.5 and far better than Wonder Woman 1984 which is more like a 5. Just great monster fight scenes and fun goofy chemistry between the two leads. Love the international cast of actors and the monster CGI was well done. With a movie called Monster Hunter you know what you're getting and it delivers. You don't watch a Monster Hunter movie for plot character development logic or narrative coherence. You watch it for monster hunting action and you get exactly that. Awesome!
Surprisingly good, considering it's another game adaptation from P. W. Anderson
Field7810 December 2020
Big movie versions of popular games remain a difficult genre, given that it is still impossible to interactively draw the audience into a story in ways that a game can, but it hasn't stopped Hollywood from trying. Despite a relatively consistent lack of artistic recognition, the prospect of game fans forming a large paying audience for the movie adaptation is simply to hard to resist.
I guess you could call Paul W. Anderson somewhat of an expert in the field, since he was the one to bring Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil and Alien vs Predator to the big screen. Yes, I know, AvP was more of a movie franchise crossover (but in all fairness, it was a game franchise long before it became a movie). And yes, there was and still is a lot of hate for what Anderson has done, even though some of his adaptations are about the only ones that have been financially successful (and thus must have their fair share of fans).
I'm in two minds about his work: I can enjoy Mortal Kombat as an amusing special-effect-camp B-movie, and for the same reasons, I appreciate especially some of his later Resident Evil movies (the first two remain bad in my opinion); I was okay with the forgettable Soldier, Death Race, The Three Musketeers and Pompeii. Event Horizon and AvP really got panned by critics and audiences alike at the time, even though I really liked them, but both currently enjoy a surprising amount of cult success. Nevertheless, I recognize the weaknesses in Anderson's movies: he can film some decent action scenes, but he isn't the best writer of stories or dialogues. Nor does he have a nose for acting talent: the casting and direction of his (usually cheap and mediocre) actors often provides ample targets for ridicule (yes, that's you, Kiefer Sutherland ridiculously trying to emulate Jeremy Irons in Pompeii).
So I went into Monster Hunter with the expectation of another forgettable creature feature with some amusing action sequences at best. But to my pleasant surprise, this is one of his best efforts at writing and filming, because for once he doesn't waste a lot of time with nonsensical plot developments, contrived character depth and forced laughs. In fact, he keeps the plot pleasantly basic, with a team being dragged into a parallel world full of dangers, and not much else in the form of unnecessary plot embellishments.
Some find the story seriously lacking but I wasn't bothered by it at all, since it basically unfolds automatically as Milla Jovovich (aka Mrs Anderson) takes us on an adventurous journey of exploration of this strange world, where the danger can come from both monsters and its human inhabitants. No endless clunky expository dialogue, no scenery-chewing villains who are endlessly monologuing; just show, don't tell: we get dropped into the action and have to learn the rules as we go. Sure, it's still a basic pulp novella (or game script) where stock characters are as easily introduced as they are dispatched as moster bait, most of the characters chase MacGuffins that get a minimum of explanation, and the ending has more sequel hooks than your average super hero or slasher franchise, but I wasn't bored for a second. The cinematography of the locations also looks breathtaking, making me often wonder where such places can be found on Earth.
What little plot there is forms enough scaffolding for a lot of action that looks surprisingly convincing, given the amount of CGI that was undoubtedly necessary to bring the huge monsters to life (and appropriately yucky, considering that it received the highest rating in many countries). Don't put too much faith in reviews that say that the effects look fake, and that the action scenes are blurry due to a lot of shaky cam and choppy editing. There is a lot of kinetic action, big monster brawls as well as some martial arts (no surprise with Tony Jaa in the cast), but in all of them, I had a reasonable overview of what happened. There is not a lot of dialogue, so the cast doesn't have to rely on clunky lines. Jovovich impresses with a lot of stunt work that (I assume) must have left her bruised and battered, and gives a decent performance for a change (but she is like a female Schwarzenegger for me; I'm never really bothered by her lack of acting skills).
This all results in a movie that is spectacular and even tense at times, with some well-planned action scenes and even some black humor rather than the cringeworthy comic relief from some of Anderson's previous movies. For those who like big-budget sci-fi pulp such as Stargate and John Carter, I can highly recommend watching this on the big screen. Especially with 4DX.
I guess you could call Paul W. Anderson somewhat of an expert in the field, since he was the one to bring Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil and Alien vs Predator to the big screen. Yes, I know, AvP was more of a movie franchise crossover (but in all fairness, it was a game franchise long before it became a movie). And yes, there was and still is a lot of hate for what Anderson has done, even though some of his adaptations are about the only ones that have been financially successful (and thus must have their fair share of fans).
I'm in two minds about his work: I can enjoy Mortal Kombat as an amusing special-effect-camp B-movie, and for the same reasons, I appreciate especially some of his later Resident Evil movies (the first two remain bad in my opinion); I was okay with the forgettable Soldier, Death Race, The Three Musketeers and Pompeii. Event Horizon and AvP really got panned by critics and audiences alike at the time, even though I really liked them, but both currently enjoy a surprising amount of cult success. Nevertheless, I recognize the weaknesses in Anderson's movies: he can film some decent action scenes, but he isn't the best writer of stories or dialogues. Nor does he have a nose for acting talent: the casting and direction of his (usually cheap and mediocre) actors often provides ample targets for ridicule (yes, that's you, Kiefer Sutherland ridiculously trying to emulate Jeremy Irons in Pompeii).
So I went into Monster Hunter with the expectation of another forgettable creature feature with some amusing action sequences at best. But to my pleasant surprise, this is one of his best efforts at writing and filming, because for once he doesn't waste a lot of time with nonsensical plot developments, contrived character depth and forced laughs. In fact, he keeps the plot pleasantly basic, with a team being dragged into a parallel world full of dangers, and not much else in the form of unnecessary plot embellishments.
Some find the story seriously lacking but I wasn't bothered by it at all, since it basically unfolds automatically as Milla Jovovich (aka Mrs Anderson) takes us on an adventurous journey of exploration of this strange world, where the danger can come from both monsters and its human inhabitants. No endless clunky expository dialogue, no scenery-chewing villains who are endlessly monologuing; just show, don't tell: we get dropped into the action and have to learn the rules as we go. Sure, it's still a basic pulp novella (or game script) where stock characters are as easily introduced as they are dispatched as moster bait, most of the characters chase MacGuffins that get a minimum of explanation, and the ending has more sequel hooks than your average super hero or slasher franchise, but I wasn't bored for a second. The cinematography of the locations also looks breathtaking, making me often wonder where such places can be found on Earth.
What little plot there is forms enough scaffolding for a lot of action that looks surprisingly convincing, given the amount of CGI that was undoubtedly necessary to bring the huge monsters to life (and appropriately yucky, considering that it received the highest rating in many countries). Don't put too much faith in reviews that say that the effects look fake, and that the action scenes are blurry due to a lot of shaky cam and choppy editing. There is a lot of kinetic action, big monster brawls as well as some martial arts (no surprise with Tony Jaa in the cast), but in all of them, I had a reasonable overview of what happened. There is not a lot of dialogue, so the cast doesn't have to rely on clunky lines. Jovovich impresses with a lot of stunt work that (I assume) must have left her bruised and battered, and gives a decent performance for a change (but she is like a female Schwarzenegger for me; I'm never really bothered by her lack of acting skills).
This all results in a movie that is spectacular and even tense at times, with some well-planned action scenes and even some black humor rather than the cringeworthy comic relief from some of Anderson's previous movies. For those who like big-budget sci-fi pulp such as Stargate and John Carter, I can highly recommend watching this on the big screen. Especially with 4DX.
Lots of action!!!!
aj-7948120 December 2020
Monster Hunter
marmar-6978010 December 2020
Monster Hunter is yet another weak and bland video game based film from a factory of crapy films made by Paul W,S. Anderson and of course that this film has a lot of bad staff in it.Action was very ugly looking and shaky cam was present here in some scenes which just ruined this film even more.Characters are empty and just so plain badly written and without any sign of arcs or development or even sign that they are actually humans cause based on acting i thought they were emotionless robots.Monster Hunter is another bad film and i hope that this crapy director stops making films cause he is awful in doing them
It is what it is.....
flicklover23 January 2021
I am not a fan of films based on video games. Most action films these days already feel like video games so why would we expect films based on video games to be any better? Because there is virtually NOTHING decent to see in a theater these days I decided to go see this with very low expectations. I know I can see just about anything at home streaming but I still would rather see a film in a movie theater.
Story? Forget that!!! Milla Jovovich stars as army Captain Artemis of a squad of soldiers who are in a desert and suddenly go into a portal. They are slaughtered by savage monsters. Jovovich lives and befriends the Hunter, played by Tony Jaa. Apparently, he is the main character in the video games but the Jovovich character is the main one here. The film has virtually no story. Very little dialogue. A staple of this type of film. Alot of CG monster creating havoc and Jovovich kicking butt. That's it.
Monster Hunter is pretty much what I thought it would be. Big, dumb and at best moderately entertaining. I expecting not to like it, but I did enough to have an average time.
Grade: C
Story? Forget that!!! Milla Jovovich stars as army Captain Artemis of a squad of soldiers who are in a desert and suddenly go into a portal. They are slaughtered by savage monsters. Jovovich lives and befriends the Hunter, played by Tony Jaa. Apparently, he is the main character in the video games but the Jovovich character is the main one here. The film has virtually no story. Very little dialogue. A staple of this type of film. Alot of CG monster creating havoc and Jovovich kicking butt. That's it.
Monster Hunter is pretty much what I thought it would be. Big, dumb and at best moderately entertaining. I expecting not to like it, but I did enough to have an average time.
Grade: C
As terrible as you would expect with few good points
daisukereds18 February 2021
Choppy editing, slowmotion scenes, lack of story and good dialogues (or at all) are all Paul WS Anderson's trademark. That and the fact that B-movie actress Milla is in it are sure-fire indicators of a bad movie.
Still, the jungle location straight out of the game, the monster design and visuals are great quality and the adaptation having little to no fan-service are positives. Some action fights are good, at least the ones without cuts every 2 seconds. I also believe they made the right choice of having almost no dialogue at all, because it would have definitely made it worse.
All in all, it feels like the first 2 episodes of a TV series. The TERRIBLE ending and lack of plot/content is too much of a detriment even if I didn't outright hate it.
All in all, it feels like the first 2 episodes of a TV series. The TERRIBLE ending and lack of plot/content is too much of a detriment even if I didn't outright hate it.
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