Say what you will about Lana and Andy Wachowski, but I don’t agree with the common sentiment that they haven’t made a good film since The Matrix. I’ll admit that Speed Racer wasn’t their finest hour, but it still had a lot of things to admire. Cloud Atlas, however, was every bit as impressive as The Matrix and I’m stunned that it wasn’t able to find the same success. Now, the Wachowski siblings are bringing us Jupiter Ascending, which once again looks to be another ambitious sci-fi film that will likely divide critics right down the middle.
Starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, the plot revolves around Jupiter Jones (Kunis), a Russian immigrant who is targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe due to the fact that she shares a genetic similarity. Tatum plays a half-albino ex-military hunter, with wolf and human DNA, who is sent to carry out the job but eventually ends up protecting her.
Of course, you wouldn’t know any of that from just watching the trailer, as it doesn’t do much to further explain the plot. Instead, it serves mostly to give us an additional look at the film’s visuals and the world that the Wachowskis have created. Both of which are very impressive, if not a little too far-out and bizarre.
So far, I’m completely on board with Jupiter Ascending, despite still being pretty confused as to just what the hell is going on with the story. It looks quite similar to Cloud Atlas, which is definitely a positive in my books, and even though they have dropped the ball a few times, I think that the Wachowskis have more than proven themselves in the sci-fi genre, to the point that any film they put out is worth giving a chance.
Co-starring Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth and James D’Arcy, among others, Jupiter Ascending will land in theatres on July 18th. Check out the new trailer below and let us know if you’re still a fan of the Wachowskis.