Immortals (2011)

Imagine a movie where ancient warriors battle for the power of the gods. Now, imagine that same movie but in a much more intense, in your face, unavoidable kind of way. That, ladies and gentlemen, is Immortals.

The plot of the latest action flick from director Tarsem Singh, a relative newcomer to the directing scene but well known for his work directing 2000's The Cell, is simple almost to a fault. Greece is divided between the Hellenic Greeks and those who hail from Crete. The two groups go to war with one another over the mythical Epirus Bow — the weapon said to have the power to unleash an army of immortal Titans. There are also gods who struggle with whether or not to interfere with the affairs of mankind, mortals with the strength of the gods, oracles, minotaurs and countless other ancient icons present in Immortals. All things considered, the plotline is tired and overdone.

The cast of Immortals is surprisingly filled with some of arguably the most talented actors of multiple generations. Henry Cavill stars as Theseus, the strong but reluctant soldier who is destined to save mankind from utter destruction. Fans will remember Cavill best for his long-surviving character Charles Brandon in The Tudors. Cavill clearly put in hours upon hours of hard work to get in shape for this physically demanding role, and his skills as an action star are impressive to say the least.

Mickey Rourke takes on the role of King Hyperion, the barbaric ruler of the Cretan Greeks. Rourke plays this nasty role with the sort of creepiness and brutality that only Rourke can give, and thus is perfectly cast.

Stephen Dorff brings to life Theseus' right-hand man Stavros and proves that he can hold his own among such heavy-hitting action stars as Cavill and Rourke. Freida Pinto, who played the unforgettable role of Latika in Slumdog Millionaire, plays Phaedra, the "virgin oracle" who has been blessed with the gift of visions. Pinto is, as always, beautiful, graceful and a joy to watch onscreen.

Rounding out the stunning talent of Immortals is the great John Hurt, who brings to life the wise and mysterious "Old Man." Hurt is as strong as ever in this small but powerful role.

Kellan Lutz, Isabel Lucas, Daniel Sherman, and Luke Evans round out the gods as Poseidon, Athena, Aries and Zeus, respectively.

is a shame that the immense acting talent present in Immortals is overshadowed by what can only be called an attack on the senses. The 3D is overwhelming and dizzying and the soundtrack plays so loudly that you can't hear yourself think.

All things considered, Immortals is a bland story with over-the-top effects and unfortunately no cast in the world could make that enjoyable. However if you thought that 300 was the best thing since sliced bread, then Immortals is probably exactly what you're looking for.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars