Legion

The release of the 2010 feature Legion, directed by Scott Stewart, was, if anything, a bust. This movie, though entertaining, failed to harness a coherent plot and made little to no sense in its entirety.

However, the overall idea of this film was in fact quite interesting, and would have worked well had it not failed on so many levels. The movie begins with the Archangel Michael (played by Paul Bettany) arriving on earth and stealing a police patrol car to drive out to a small diner, located in the middle of nowhere, called Paradise Falls (a rather stupid and random name for a diner, even considering its less than subtle biblical allusion). This restaurant then becomes the central keep of the patrons as they battle, alongside Michael, to defeat various enemies, including people who have become possessed, angels, and finally the Archangel Gabriel.

Little information is given about why this apocalyptic event is taking place, and what is told about the recent occurrences is vague and senseless. There comes the scene where the patrons, including Dennis Quaid as Bob Hanson, ask Michael about why the world is ending and why they are being maliciously attacked by angels. Michael calmly and silently replies that God has lost all faith in humanity and has decided to send angels to “exterminate” the human race; as opposed to a massive flood which he sent hundreds of years ago the last time he “lost faith.” Furthermore, the only hope humanity has of surviving is if the pregnant waitress, Charlie (played by Adrianne Palicki) gives birth, for her child is the next messiah…maybe. I say maybe because none of this is really explained, and there is no detail to why this is all happening. Why has God lost faith in humanity? Is it because of what we have done to the environment, or our warmongering, or our selfish behavior? Your guess is as good as mine. Also, why is this unborn child the only hope humanity has? Who knows? These are vital details about the plot that are never dealt with. When confronted with the question about his decision to help the diner patrons, Michael responds that he, unlike God, Gabriel, and all the other angels, still has hope in humanity, and he feels that it is his duty to see to it that Charlie’s child is born. Once again, we ask similar questions: why does Michael still have faith in humanity? Is it because he can see the best in people? Why does he have this connection to Charlie and her unborn child? Maybe it’s because, biblically speaking of course, Archangel Michael helped the Virgin Mary when she was pregnant with Jesus, but at the same time, one can only assume, for it is never revealed. Why is this all happening? Obviously the film writers Paul Schink and Scott Stewart where too focused on the what, and forgot about the why.

These lapses in the plot are large and frequent. The fight scenes keep the viewer entertained, but they fail to make-up for the lackluster performances, plot and dialog.

Additionally, there is a small side-plot between Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are two of God’s favorite angels. Michael claims that Gabriel is making a mistake by fighting for God, and should instead rebel and encourage God to stop his plans for ending humanity. Gabriel refuses and thus the audience witnesses a semi-enjoyable fight scene between the two angels as they sort out their personal vendettas towards each other in the greasy, dirt ridden kitchen of the diner. SPOILER ALERT: The fight comes to an end when Gabriel defeats Michael, and right before he has a chance to kill Charlie, the heavens open up and rays of light beam down as Michael comes flying from the sky (obviously because he was sent back to heaven after his death) and saves the day. How predicable, good always triumphs.

The movie overall, as previously stated, made almost no sense. It was an interesting idea that could have done very well if it were not for the shoddy writing. There were some appealing shots and some interesting visuals, but the poorly executed plot, along with the mediocre acting, made this movie a complete waste of time. Thumbs down.

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Three Kings

Taking place during the 1991 Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein, Three Kings follows the efforts of four American soldiers who attempt to steal seized Kuwaiti gold bullion from Iraqi bunkers. Uniquely photographed, and refreshingly experimental, Three Kings provides viewers with a visual masterpiece that not only communicates a riveting plot, but does so with an immense sense of style. The performances from George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze are natural, the cinematography is gorgeous, the plot is well layered, and musical score rounds out a visual and auditory masterpiece that is sure to entrance viewer.

The College Dropout

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The Great Gatsby

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