Weekend Watch: Jolt, And Masters Of The Universe: Revelation
Kate Beckinsale has violent impulses and Eternia's seeing some changes...
Image Credit: Amazon
Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, in which I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Kate Beckinsale has violent impulses (and a vengeful mission), while the He-Man universe is getting a follow-up. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite
Last week, Gunpowder Milkshake took its own approach to a film along the lines of John Wick, and this week it’s the turn of something more like Crank. Jolt is the story of Lindy, played by Kate Beckinsale who, thanks to a combination of genetic issues and troubled childhood, has incredibly violent anger issues that flare up, causing havoc in her life. Others have tried to control her for their own ends, but she’s mostly out on her own, relying on technology created by a maverick scientist (Stanley Tucci’s Dr. Munchin), which zaps her back to a calmer state when she feels the rage rising.
Lindy has been trying to forge more of a normal life for herself, even dipping her toes into the world of dating, starting something up with sweet-natured accountant Justin (Jai Courtney). But when he’s murdered, she naturally goes on a rampage to find the people responsible. Unfortunately, somewhat like last week’s film, Jolt never quite finds the quality – or the true madness – to match its inspiration.
Which is not to say Beckinsale doesn’t do her best with what she’s given – Lindy is a coiled spring of fury, a sweary, take-no-crap protagonist it’s not hard to root for, especially when she’s making life hell for an assortment of villains. But the film around her is never as much fun as it thinks it is, content to trot out a lot of predictable characters and hackneyed dialogue.
Director Tanya Wexler finds a few skewed visuals here and there, but there’s not much that’s truly fresh to recommend this one. Given that it’s available on Amazon, it might be worth a lazy afternoon watch if you’ve little else to keep you occupied, but it doesn’t find the fun often enough.
Jolt is on Amazon Prime Video now.
Image Credit: Netflix
I was roughly the perfect age for the original He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe. I had some of the toys (I received Castle Greyskull for one Christmas, but no Snake Mountain for me) and loved the show. Certainly, the 1980s toon isn’t an amazing show – it’s a series of mostly one-episode morality plays designed to sell those plastic playthings. Yet it still inspires warm nostalgia in my heart, along with the likes of M.A.S.K. and Star Wars.
Yet along comes Kevin Smith with a new version to destroy all the happy memories of my childhood, right? Er, no. Netflix’s new Masters Of The Universe: Revelation, contrary to the hyped-up controversy, makes some smart updates to the story while still honoring the original.
Revelation certainly takes some risks in its storytelling, including side-lining two major characters early on, but the fallout from that big plot twist allows the show to deepen the story and go off in interesting directions, while also keeping the spirit of adventure and no little amount of comedy. This is Smith in true-to-the-source mode, so if you were expecting a Masters Of The View-Askewniverse, this is not that (even with Jason Mewes voicing a minor character). Instead, a cast including the likes of Mark Hamill, Lena Headey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tiffany Smith, Stephen Root and more bring to life a storyline that asks big questions about how the Masters universe works and what would happen were a huge part of Eternia were taken off the board.
It’s obvious to see why a mob might have formed, frothing at the mouth over the “woke” treatment of the narrative, but that’s ignoring how many layers the new show adds to a basic tapestry. And the pre-judgment isn’t borne out by the final episode of this initial five, which promises even more intriguing concepts going forward.
There will be a more direct update of the show on the way, also by Netflix, which promises to be directed at children. Perhaps those longing for something exactly as they remember can go and watch that? Unless they’re too busy complaining about it, that is.
Masters Of The Universe: Revelation – Part 1 is on Netflix now.