Ultraviolet (film)

Infobox_Film
name = UltraViolet


caption = Promotional poster for the film "UltraViolet"
director = Kurt Wimmer
writer = Kurt Wimmer
starring = Milla Jovovich
Cameron Bright
Nick Chinlund
producer = John Baldecchi
Lucas Foster
Tony Mark (Executive)
music = Klaus Badelt
cinematography = Arthur Wong
Jimmy Wong
editing = William Yeh
distributor = Screen Gems
released = March 3, 2006
runtime = 88 min. (theatrical version)
94 min. (extended version)
language = English
budget = $30,000,000 (estimated)
website = http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/ultraviolet/index.html
amg_id = 1:288614
imdb_id = 0370032

"UltraViolet" is a 2006 science fiction / action film. It was released in North America on March 3, 2006. The film was written and directed by Kurt Wimmer and produced by Screen Gems. It stars Milla Jovovich as Violet and Cameron Bright as Six. The film was released onto DVD and Blu-ray Disc on June 27, 2006.

The film uses the basic premise of John Cassavetes's 1980 cult classic "Gloria",See [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004504-ultraviolet/about.php Ultraviolet] at "Rotten Tomatoes", where the synposis details the links of the film to the book] about a woman and a young boy on the run from the mafia, and transposes the story to a dystopian futuristic setting where genetically enhanced mutants are fighting a guerrilla war against a totalitarian government dictatorship. Many comparisons have been made between "UltraViolet" and "Equilibrium", Wimmer's previous film.

The opening credits is a montage of comic book covers, indicating that the atmosphere of the film is heavily inspired by comic books and manga. The impression of the movie as a live-action comic book or anime is further reinforced by the extensive use of bright-hue colors, as well as soft-focus on close-ups to give the faces of the characters a blurred, air-brushed appearance. A novelization of the film was written by Yvonne Navarro, with more back-story and character development. The novelization also differs from the film in a number of ways, including a more ambiguous ending and the removal of some of the more improbable plot twists.

An anime titled is currently being produced by the Japanese anime satellite television network Animax, and animated by Madhouse.cite web|url=http://www.animekon.com/news-472-Ultraviolet-Anime-Announced.html|title=Ultraviolet Anime Announced|publisher=Animekon|language=|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Taglines

*"The Blood War is on."
*"First they made her a weapon. That was their second-biggest mistake. Now they've made her a target..."

Plot

"Ultraviolet" takes place in the year 2076, in the years following a global pandemic of a blood-borne, highly infectious disease known as hemoglophagia. Those afflicted with the disease are referred to as "hemophages", and have many super-human attributes similar to those of the vampires of legend. After the media began actually referring to carriers of the disease as "vampires" to increase ratings, superstition and fear began to rule the population. Using fear of the contagious disease to seize power and keep the population in check, a militant medical establishment known as the Arch-Ministry takes control of the government and begins rounding up and exterminating all infected citizens.

The heroine of the film is Violet Song jat Shariff (Milla Jovovich), a young woman who was infected with hemophagia, in the process losing both her husband and her unborn child. Violet is now an emotionally dead killing machine, a member of an underground resistance movement of hemophages waging a guerrilla war against the Arch-Ministry and its megalomaniacal, mysophobic leader, Vice-Cardinal Ferdinand Daxus (Nick Chinlund).

Infiltrating a government laboratory, Violet steals a weapon developed by the Arch-Ministry to exterminate all hemophages on the planet, only to discover the "weapon" is a child named "Six" (Cameron Bright), a young clone of Daxus (sixth out of a series of eight).

Violet's fellow hemophages attempt to kill Six, believing that his body contains cultured antigens developed to exterminate all hemophages. Violet breaks ranks with the hemophages and flees with the boy, believing that a cure for the disease can be reverse-engineered from his tissues. On the run from both the government and the hemophages, Violet's only ally is Garth (William Fichtner), a hemophage scientist who is secretly in love with Violet. However, Garth, upon analyzing a sample of Six's blood, tells Violet that the child has not been infected with anything that can kill or cure hemophages. The puzzled Violet starts to wonder exactly why she has been misled, what kind of antigen is inside Six, and why humans would want him if he does not have the power to destroy hemophages. Garth tells Violet that Six's infection is killing him, and that he has only hours to live.

At first Violet seems to regard the somewhat catatonic Six as merely a lab sample, but as Six begins to show increasing signs of personality a bond begins to form between the two. Her softer emotions begin to awaken once more as she grows fond of the boy, and he of her.

Daxus eventually gets in contact with Violet and gives her instructions to the Archministry Building. Recognizing that her maternal instincts have surfaced, Daxus offers to make her a duplicate of Six if she will give him the genuine article. She refuses and demands that Daxus give her the antidote for Six's disease. He refuses. Violet ultimately learns from Daxus that the disease in Six's body is designed not to kill hemophages, but rather to kill humans. With the hemophages nearly exterminated, the Arch-Ministry needs a new threat to supposedly "protect" the population so that they can maintain their hold on power. Daxus plans to infect the world with the antigen, then control the population by selectively distributing the only cure. He and hundreds of soldiers fire on Violet and her car but she somehow manages to dodge the thousands of bullets all aimed directly at her. After trying to shoot her and hitting what turns out to be a mirage, Daxus finds out that "Violet" was a projection and the real Violet was far away watching the events with Six.

Both Violet and Six are dying from their respective ailments, so rather than fight a futile battle against Daxus, Violet takes Six to a playground where the two spend the last few moments of Six's life in an idyllic setting. Daxus and his men arrive and he shoots Violet and orders that Six be taken to Daxus's stronghold, where he will be disassembled, and a portion of him used to create a new clone.

However, Garth manages to bring Violet back from the dead because of his feelings for her. But now that she is grief-stricken over Six's death, she has no desire to resume her life as an unthinking killing machine. However, she is alerted by Garth to a newscast showing the day's events, and when Violet sees the news footage of herself weeping over Six's body, and she recalls a tear dropping onto Six, she suddenly realizes that he may not be truly "dead" after all. She immediately rises from her bed and decides to launch a final assault against the Arch-Ministry's headquarters to retrieve Six's body. After loading her suit with enough ammunition to wage a small war, Violet enters the Archministry and forces her way deep in the building, just as Daxus and his men are about to dissect Six as if he were a mere specimen.

At first her victory seems sure, as she easily neutralizes Daxus' initial attack with a handheld flamethrower by extinguishing its pilot light with a spray of her own blood and deflecting the stream of fuel with her sword. However, Daxus draws a sword of his own and nearly matches Violet blow-for-blow in a vicious duel. He then shutters the windows, plunging the room into darkness. Although he lacks Violet's strength, Violet lacks his excellent night vision; he is also a hemophage. Daxus, smirking, explains himself - he was one of the original lab technicians researching the hemophage virus, and after an accidental exposure, used the enhancements he gained from the disease to aid in his rise to power. He inflicts several wounds before Violet ignites her fuel-soaked sword upon the stone floor, evening the odds once more. Violet and Daxus then duel once more with flaming swords. Daxus inflicts several flaming wounds on Violet. Finally, Violet manages to set him on fire with his own discarded flamethrower and finishes her enemy by slicing him in half.

In the end, Six is brought back to life, and Violet reveals that he was resurrected because one of the tears that she shed upon his "death" fell into his eye. It contained the hemoglophagic virus (which immunizes him from Daxus' anti-human virus). Six himself reveals that he knows the cure for hemoglophagia, which can save Violet's life. The two of them drive off into the sunset as the Arch-Ministry's headquarters burn. Violet states that she is uncertain if she will die from her wounds or her terminal-stage hemoglophagia, but that evil-doers had better beware if she does not.

Fictional technologies and concepts

"Hemoglophagia"

Hemoglophagia, otherwise known as the Hemoglophagic Virus or HGV, is a blood disease (possibly comes from the Greek word "αιμοφαγία", meaning "blood eating"). This was once a rare pathogen allegedly responsible for historical accounts of vampires, but was then modified through genetic engineering by the U.S government as part of a project to create superhuman soldiers. These modifications also made the disease far more contagious, and it soon escaped into the general populace, where the media labeled its carriers "vampires", whipping the tragedy into a constant atmosphere of superstition and fear. To help suppress the fact that the quarantine procedures are actually a witch hunt, the authorities have discouraged the use of the term "vampire" in favor of labeling carriers of the disease Hemophages. However, there can be no doubt that the authorities are engaged in a witch hunt; in the opening scene a detective cuts his finger on a Hemophage fang and is immediately executed by his partner.

Hemophages are biochemically affected by the disease in different ways and to different degrees, resulting in a remarkably wide range of abilities.

Dimensional compression

Sometimes referred to as Flat-Space technology, dimensional compression is used to store objects in a pocket dimension. Simple objects are stored/retrieved and more complex ones systematically deconstructed/reconstructed in a flow of sparkling lights. A significant number of items can be stored for easy retrieval without burdening the user with either weight or size. The technology mainly takes the form of easily overlooked wristbands, although one-inch scabbards holding 42-inch swords are also seen. Handguns (some with 18-inch swords stored in their six-inch grips with enough room remaining for great amounts of ammunition), and ammunition are also hidden in this manner (the bullets flying from the wristbands into the magazines on command).

The technology is also used to create habitable pocket dimensions, such as the briefcase/backpack used to transport the ten year old Six and the semi trailer with the internal dimensions of a warehouse (containing Garth's research lab and armory).

Dimensional compression is the basis of one of the light hearted scenes in the movie. A security scanner checks Violet, saying "Number of weapons found:", pauses shortly as Violet's weapons are displayed, and says "many", in an astonished voice, as it is unable to calculate the exact number.

During the final battle, Daxus pulls out a flamethrower and a sword from nowhere. This might be a result of editing, but judging by the size of Violet's pocket dimensional wristbands, Daxus's ring might have been one of those dimensional containers.

Gravity leveling

Gravity levelers are devices about the size of combination locks that redirect (rather than nullify or reduce) gravity, enabling a person to stand and manoeuvre on walls, or even ceilings. Violet uses her personal gravity leveler to ambush a squad of guards, firing on them from within a ceiling air vent. Her motorcycle is also equipped with one of these devices, enabling her to engage in a firefight with a helicopter gunship by driving up the side of a high-rise building.

Printed phone

In the film Violet buys a printed phone. The paper device has the ability to produce holographic images when attached to an extra peripheral. This technology has a basis in reality. In the early 21st century inkjet printer companies such as Epson demonstrated their ability to create functional circuit boards with printer technology.The concept is discussed at length in the non-fiction book [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0465027458 Fab] by Neil Gershenfeld.]

General technology level of fictional universe?

There is some confusion as to how widespread these technologies are within Violet's world. The introductory comic on the official website refers to both Dimensional Compression and Gravity Leveling as Garth's personal inventions. However, investigators in the opening scene of the movie are surprised to find flat-space technology in the enemy's possession, and Six is transported in his own personal flat-space zone. Later, police forces are equally surprised by Violet's possession of a gravity leveler.

Other technologies

In an early scene, Daxus is seen breaking a seal on, and then drinking, a hot drink from a self-heating mug. Self-heating products, both foods and drinks, have been available in the real world for some years now, most of them using an exothermic chemical reaction to heat their contents.

Cast

Response

Ultraviolet was released in North America on March 3, 2006, with Screen Gems deciding not to screen the film for critics. The film was universally panned by critics, with a freshness of only 8% (6 out of 72 reviews are counted with a fresh rating) on the critical aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes."UltraViolet" [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004504-ultraviolet/ profile] at RottenTomatoes]

Criticisms

Critics have taken issue with some of the movie's fight scenes, claiming them to be unrealistic and confusing. Specifically they mention the much-anticipated "Gun Kata 2.0" scene, which expands on the Gun Kata ideas created in "Equilibrium". Although the scene is true to the original style, excessive use of CGI and shaky camera movement cause some to find the sequence hard to follow. Others, however, have said that the scene is realistic to the world portrayed in the film. Other complaints include issues with the actual choreography (with some pointing out that it is unrealistic for soldiers to be incapacitated by a broken arm).

One flaw that may have been responsible for "Ultraviolet"'s poor reception by movie critics [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004504-ultraviolet/ Critical reviews] at Rotten Tomatoes] is its plot, which appeared to be very thin in the final release print. "Ultraviolet" had doubtlessly inherited many core plot elements from movies like "Resident Evil" (which Wimmer is said to have watched immediately before writing the movie, and which also stars Milla Jovovich) and "Doom", in which a secret lab discovers a way to genetically manipulate human beings. These plotlines have already been developed extensively, and thus "Ultraviolet" was mocked as being exceedingly unoriginal.

Another view is that the plot could have carried "Ultraviolet" more had it been better executed. The backstory was not fully explained until the end of the movie, while some subplots were still left to viewers to piece all of the information together. It is possible this was a deliberate device aimed at making the film open-ended by allowing the audience to make up their own minds about the story. Violet's motives in the movie are not clearly (or fully) explained as some of her actions can be seen contradicting each other. It is also not made really clear how Six knows that Violet can be cured of her disease.

Criticism has also been aimed directly at Screen Gems, who are said to have edited the fight scenes for content and eliminated some of the plotline by cutting more than half an hour from the film (which was later restored in the novelization). Comparisons made of a rough cut version screened in the spring of 2005 and theatrical cut of the film show that segments had been cut. The original edit was more focused on Violet's desire toward her family and was suggestive of her being merely swept up in the government plot rather than the pro-active operative she appears in the theatrical release. The genetic mutation and her illness (and imminent death) were apparently parts of a secondary storyline. [http://www.equilibriumfans.com/Ultraviolet_Rough_Cut.htm Unofficial "Equlilibrium" Fan Site Article] detailing the differences between the rough cut and the final cinema version] The unrated DVD restored approximately 7 minutes worth of footage from Wimmer's cut, clocking in at 94 minutes, versus the theatrical release's 87 minutes.

According to "Rotten Tomatoes", Milla Jovovich was not pleased with the PG-rated release print, saying that she had been locked out of discussions of the film in the editing stages, and had not been allowed to see her own performance, which she felt, might have been improved if she had had some input. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil_extinction/news/1662363/ ROTTEN TOMATOES: Milla Jovovich On Resident Evil And Her Ultraviolet Beef ] ]

Trailer reaction

In 2005, the film's trailer was leaked over the Internet. Kurt Wimmer then visited several message boards and demanded all clips be removed in order to keep the film's plot a secret. The online fan community responded well to this, and all the clips were removed from distribution until the theatrical trailer was publicly released in January 2006. It uses "Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Edition)" by Rob Dougan as the soundtrackWhich also features on "The Matrix" soundtrack (though not in the trailer)] as well as "24" by Jem.

Upon its announcement, "UltraViolet" was met with equal criticism and anticipation through various forums and movie websites. Some viewers of the teaser trailer (released on UGO.Com), referred to the film as "Resident Evil on steroids"Fact|date=February 2007A similarity increased by the fact that Jovovich also narrates the film in a similar way to how she narrates parts of ""] because of the quotation:

It all started when a Government lab discovered a virus that caused genetic mutation

Other resemblances were noted between "UltraViolet" and "Æon Flux". [http://www.avrev.com/blu-ray-movie-disc-reviews/sci-fi-fantasy/on-flux.html] The trailer also suggests Jovovich's character to be a super-soldier, suggesting a similar plotline to "Soldier" (that of a government trying to exterminate her).

Box office performance

As of August 30, 2006, the film has grossed $31,056,644 USD in worldwide box office totals. The budget for "UltraViolet" was estimated at $30,000,000. Although the film beat its budget, it wasn't successful in the North America market.Figures from the [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ultraviolet.htm film summary] (which includes boxoffcie totals, gross etc.) on [http://www.boxofficemojo.com boxofficemojo.com] ]

Production

Production for the film began in early February 2004 and was shot in various cities across China, most notably Hong Kong and Shanghai. Production was finished in late June 2004. The movie was shot digitally on high-definition video using a Sony HDW-F900.

DVD

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on June 27, 2006 in North America.Movies.go.com [http://movies.go.com/movies/movie?name=ultraviolet_2005&genre=scifi&studio=Sony%20Screen%20Gems profile page] detailing North American release date] The film was not shown in cinemas in Australia due to poor box office response in North America Fact|date=February 2007, but instead went directly to DVD in August 2006. There are two versions of the film, an unrated version (94 minutes long) and a PG-13 version (88 minutes long). The North American, European, South American, Hong Kong, Korean Blu-ray is the PG-13 version of the film. However the Japanese Blu-ray contains the Unrated version of the film. [http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000IJ7NA8] The film performed quite well in the DVD market, grossing over $35.1 million in rental sales.Rotten Tomatoes list of [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/videodvd/top_rentals.php top grossing DVD rentals] where Ultraviolet is featured at 37 as of September 17, 2006 (grossing $35.1 million)]

Special features

The DVD version includes two special features.
* A four-part documentary: "UV Protection: The Making of "UltraViolet"," with chapter stops.
* Audio commentary with Milla Jovovich.

Extended version

The extended DVD version includes additional footage, increasing the running time and adding more to the storyline / plot. In this release there are additional scenes which include:
* A scene giving more in depth information on hemophagia. Including how it improves strength, speed, vision, hearing, bone strength and healing, but reduces lifespan to approximately 12 years.
* A scene (near the opening of the film) which explains that Violet has reached the end of her lifespan, and has only 36 hours left to live. A later scene shows Violet's reaction to her estranged husband's creation of a new life.
* The level of blood and gore is also increased by a small amount.

Some critics have pointed out that in the 88-minute cut, it seems (according to the flashback) as if Violet's husband had been shot and killed in the sequence which shows how she was infected with the hemophage virus. This may or may not have been the result of bad editing; it may also have the intention of the studio after they decided to release the film in an edited version. However, this would directly contradict the scene (included on the extended, unrated DVD) in which Violet discovers that her husband has remarried believing her to be dead.

Footnotes

References

* IMDB sources: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370032/ Film profile page] (2006), [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370032/ratings Full film ratings] (2006)
* Rotten Tomatoes, " [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004504-ultraviolet/about.php Ultraviolet Profile page] " (2006), Accessed 31/08/2006.
* Equilibrium Fansite Article, " [http://www.equilibriumfans.com/Ultraviolet_Rough_Cut.htm ULTRAVIOLET: Rough Cut vs. Studio Cut] " (2006), Accessed 16/10/2006

ee also

*Ultraviolet (1998 TV serial)

External links

* [http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ultraviolet/index.html Official Website]
*
*
*
*