A desperate queen hires the enigmatic witch Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich) to journey across the treacherous Lost Lands in search of the power to fulfill her heart's desire. Joined by the warrior Boyce (Dave Bautista), Alys faces monsters, magic, and betrayal in a barren world where survival comes at a heavy price.
In the Lost Lands sets out to deliver a high-concept action-adventure, blending post-apocalyptic landscapes with the promise of pulse-pounding heroics. Yet from the outset, it feels weighed down by its own ambitions.
Released in 2025, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Jovovich, Bautista, and Blade's Arly Jover, In the Lost Lands is a frustrating mix of slow motion and CGI excess. The film's script, by Anderson and Constantin Werner, struggles under clunky exposition and awkward pacing, with flashbacks inserted with little narrative justification, interrupting whatever momentum the story - based on George R. R. Martin's short story - attempts to build.
The abundance of CGI, while visually striking, ultimately robs the action sequences of tension and danger - the stakes feel manufactured rather than earned. Anderson's grounded vision and visual flair, once evident in Soldier, Event Horizon, and Resident Evil, are missing here. Milla, action star of the likes of Resident Evil, The Fifth Element, and Ultraviolet, delivers agile combat within otherworldly set pieces reminiscent of Alice's adventures or a Joan of Arc-like heroism - yet these only highlight what the film could have been. Bautista feels he's just going through the motions, wishing he'd picked that other job, and looking forwards to the next. Despite the talent involved, something has clearly gone wrong. It's hard to tell who this film is being made for, or if the filmmakers even expect a sequel to justify the world-building.
In some ways it feels like Rebel Moon, but without the same connection; incidentally, its look echoes 300, only transplanted into a future setting. Perhaps I'm simply out of step with contemporary tastes, but while these films may be aimed at younger audiences, In the Lost Lands fails to connect - visually impressive yet emotionally hollow, a spectacle without weight.
Overall, it's a film of flashes and fury, but ultimately lacking substance. Those seeking true tension, coherent storytelling, or characters to invest in will be left frustrated.
No comments:
Post a Comment