Immortel (ad vitam)

It is a strongly contradictory work in all respects, affecting each viewer in a completely different way. The formal experiment combining computer animation with live-action succeeded for the filmmakers, but at times they are a little too blatant in showing how special they are and how the viewer's jaw should drop in amazement. However, the transitions between these two "worlds" are presented in a non-violent way, so after five minutes you won’t have any issues getting your bearings. The problem is more so in the content. Although it appears to be a perfectly interwoven mosaic of the futuristic world of 2095 (a rather bold time horizon for what we see in the film) and Egyptian mythology, it is instead a ridiculous puzzle in which there is no point in looking for deeper meaning. Immortal is more or less a successful thief. This is despite the fact that the N.Y. City set design in the style of Blade Runner and The Fifth Element is an homage in its own way (albeit a bit on the edge). Nevertheless, given my review of the film, my impression is extremely positive and I will need to watch it again, if only because of the somewhat confusing introduction. PS: Linda Hardy is incredibly beautiful in a fragile way and Thomas Kretschmann, on the other hand, is as cool as ever! (20/06/2006)

Remarkable in its details, but terribly unbalanced in its entirety. Bilal's film convinced me through certain parts of the artistic solution - in particular the visual stylization of the environment of a depressive cyberpunk agglomeration is top-notch. On the other hand, the animation of people falters and the film is especially unable to express the subtler emotions at all. Fortunately, live actors are a different breed, such as Nikopol played by the traditionally great Thomas Kretschmann and the fragile mysterious Jill Lindy Hardy. The script is very uneven, which was created according to an obviously much more complex comic book template, but from which, only a confused list of names and fates leading nowhere arise for the uninitiated. This means that for a long period in the film, a supporting story is created, and its visuality cannot replace a certain uprooting of dialogues and destinies in the middle of an inhospitable fictional world. There is no denying that everything is different for people who know comic books... However, since I am not one of them, I must necessarily consider Immortal to be confused and sometimes boring attempt of the new generation, which is only able to evoke a readable atmosphere and generate a certain emotional charge at the end. Enki Bilal took on more than he could handle, overflowing it with symbols and images, thus resigning himself to not grabbing the attention of the uninitiated. In addition, as a filmmaker he was unable to keep his work in a coherent whole, which is a mistake that is difficult to blame on the original comic book... (02/01/2006)