Monster Hunter review

MONSTER HUNTER: 

ANOTHER CAPCOM VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF PAUL W.S. ANDERSON AND MILLA JOVOVICH…YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO WITH THIS! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** out of 4

SCREEN GEMS

Milla Jovovich in Monster Hunter

 

            Here we go again! After the financially successful Resident Evil film series came to a close in 2017 with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Resident Evil franchise) and director Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Resident Evil franchise) return to bring another popular Capcom video game series to the big screen with Monster Hunter. Unlike, Resident EvilI have never played any of the Monster Hunter games before so I have no idea whether or not this film is a faithful representation of its source material, so I will be judging it as a movie instead. 

            Most of Paul W.S. Anderson’s movies are at best, mindless but entertaining junk food for the brain with Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Alien VS Predator, and the first Resident Evil movie being perfect examples of it. Objectively no, none of these are good movies but if you enjoy turning your brain off and watching something stupid and ridiculous, they’re all fun watches. 

            However, after the releases of other recent video game-based movies like Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog, both of which were critical and commercial hits I wondered if Paul W.S. Anderson’s video game movies would finally start following the trend of well-received film adaptations of games. That is not the case with Monster Hunter, although as a dumb Paul W.S. Anderson film there is still some mindless fun to be had with it. 

            The film’s plot is very thinly written that often rehashes plots and scenes from other, better movies (There is a sandstorm sequence almost exactly like the one from Mad Max: Fury Road early on in the film!) with poorly developed side characters that are just there to die at the beginning (With some exceptions, mind you!), obnoxious editing especially during the action sequences, and both creative and recycled monster designs (Tolkien should sue Sony over one of them!). But, if you don’t care about any of that and just want to see some dumb action and bad dialogue or if you’re a fan of the Resident Evil films, you’ll probably enjoy this movie. 

            The film follows United States Army Captain Natalie Artemis (Jovovich) who mysteriously ends up in a strange world populated by a wide variety of large and savage monsters that possess incredible powers and unstoppable, terrifying attacks with no way to return to the real world. In a desperate battle for survival against these monsters, Artemis teams up with a shady hunter (Tony Jaa-Ong-Bak trilogy, Furious 7, Detective Chinatown 3) who has found a way to fight back. 

            The film also stars Ron Perlman (Blade II, Hellboy 1 and 2, Pacific Rim) as The Admiral, Tip T.I. Harris (American Gangster, Takers, Ant-Man 1 and 2) as Lincoln, Meagan Good (Think Like a Man, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Shazam!) as Dash, Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages, Scream Queens, Terminator: Dark Fate) as Marshall, Josh Helman (X-Men: Days of Future Past/X-Men: Apocalypse, Mad Max: Fury Road, Wayward Pines) as Steeler, and Jin Au-Yeung AKA MC Jin (2 Fast 2 Furious, The Man with the Iron Fists, Revenge of the Green Dragons) as Axe. 

            Overall, Monster Hunter may satisfy those looking for dumb, entertaining trash but if you’re expecting a strong story, compelling characters, and things outside of the Milla Jovovich/Paul W.S. Anderson formula (Which has gotten stale the seventh time around, by the way!) then you will be greatly disappointed. Parts of it did feel like I was watching Resident Evil 7 but with monsters instead of zombies and more likable main characters in the form of Artemis and the Hunter, I actually was getting into the moments of them just sitting around, talking to each other, and teaching one another about different things (Including a running joke with one of them reacting to a certain confectionary, SpongeBob style…I’m not kidding!) which was a shock to me because I was expecting all the character development to fall flat. 

            The action sequences however, I’m split on because while there are some fun and exciting monster battles, many of them are either shot or edited horribly to the point where they’re difficult to make out. Flashing lights, shaky-cam, and an overabundance of slow-motion to name a few, not quite Michael Bay or Angel Has Fallen level bad but they often ruin what could have been some pretty exciting and intense action scenes.

            To me, Monster Hunter is a very mixed bag, for those who just want to see mindless but enjoyable garbage with some legitimately good performances by Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, and Ron Perlman tucked inside it, you’ll probably have a fun time. However, for those looking for something more than that, don’t even bother because this film is stupid and ridiculous all the way through. 

            Fans of Milla Jovovich, Paul W.S. Anderson, and/or the Resident Evil film series, go see it! Everyone else, watch something else instead.