Future World is a science fiction action film released in the U.S. in 2018, which was co-directed by Bruce Thierry Cheung and James Fraco, with story development from Jay Davis. Fraco is accompanied by Suki Waterhouse, Jeffrey Wahlberg, Milla Jovvovich, and Lucy Liu, who also star in the movie. The film attempts to depict the grim reality of a post-apocalyptic future where mankind fights for survival. Future World features an epic tale of a world where humanity has artificial intelligence, post-apocalyptic survivalism, and lost morals. The film aims to deliver a thrilling and deep experience, but fails to do so due to unimaginative narrative, shallow concepts, and lack of direction.
Synopsis
The narrative of Future World takes place in a barren dystopia set in the future where human society has collapsed due to warfare, climate melting, and extreme globalisation. The world is devoid of any Order, limit, or resources. This modern world requires extreme physical power along with access to superior weaponry in order to survive.
In the midst of a barren wasteland, a gentle oasis exists, ruled over by a dying Queen portrayed by Lucy Liu. Her son, the Prince played by Jeffrey Wahlberg, has been given an ‘inspirational’ task. He must leave the safety of the oasis where he resides to look for a cure that, according to rumors, has the ability to save his mother. His quest is anything but simple.
Prince has to navigate through incredibly perilous and savage regions filled with lawless zones packed with violent warlords and rogue groups all trying to carve out a faction. One of his many formidable foes includes the ruthless Warlord, portrayed by James Franco, who leads a biker gang with an iron hand. The Warlord rules over Warlord’s Ash, an advanced female android, played by Suki Waterhouse, who was built as a weapon but is in the process of gaining a mind of her own.
During his epic journey, Prince encounters Ash, who starts her journey as a mere subservient android, but during her self-discovery she manages to free herself from the Warlord’s clutches. This dynamic duo must now overcome numerous obstacles such as the alluring yet deadly Drug Lord played by Milla Jovovich, an addict who has the unnerving ability to seduce and control even the strongest of men and women, who has also claimed dominion over her empire of drugs and lies.
In South Of Heaven, as Ash evolves with the android features, the plot explores difficult questions concerning the Android’s conception of life, identity and whether they are able to express emotions like morality. Apart from this, the Prince has to face the harsh challenge of seeking the medicine to heal his mother who is suffering in silence. Perhaps that, in turn, could restore some hope to the incredibly desolate world.
Assistants and Main Roles
Directors:
James Franco
Bruce Thierry Cheung
Writers:
Jay Davis
Bruce Thierry Cheung
Main Cast:
James Franco as Warlord: a ruthless and psychotic dominator that takes delight in chaos.
Suki Waterhouse as Ash: the android who is in the process of gaining independence as a semi autonomous humanoid android.
Jeffrey Wahlberg as Prince: a boy embarking on a journey to free his mother.
Milla Jovovich as Druglord: a femme fatale who controls her domain through drugs.
Lucy Liu as Queen: the frail sovereign who heralds the start of the adventure.
Margarita Levieva as Lei: an enigmatic individual driven by personal agendas
Snoop Dogg as Love Lord: one of the most whimsical characters in the remainder lands.
Method Man as Tattooed Face: along with numerous others, this guy poses a risk in the sands of the desert.
Scott Haze as Gutter: Warlord’s friend and most violent and loyal follower.
Wilmer Calderon as Skinny: a fluid ally and opponent living in the sand.
Cinematography:
Peter Zeitlinger
Editing:
Alex Freitas
William Paley
Music:
Toydrum
Production Companies:
AMBI Group
Black Sparrow Films
Dark Rabbit Productions
Grindstone Entertainment Group
Distributor:
Lionsgate Premiere
Themes and Cinematic Style
At its thematic core, Future World attempts to examine:
The moral issues involving artificial intelligence and the possibility of a machine having consciousness.
The civilization’s downfall because of environmental annihilation, technological exploitation, and human avarice.
The overwhelming hope, determination, and love overshadowed by violence, cruelty, and despair.
The film leans heavily into the visual tropes of post-apocalyptic cinema. The set design, costuming, and color palette are no doubt inspired by films such as Mad Max with its leather-clad warlords, dusty vehicles, and connection with barren deserts. Sadly, rather than revitalizing the genre, the film often comes across as a hodgepodge of superior works that lack tonal and executional cohesion.
The pacing fluctuates, with overly long action sequences broken up by even slower-paced contemplative sequences that pathetically attempt to offer depth. The film’s underdevelopment of Ash as an existential figure is frustrating, though she is aided by a compelling performance from Suki Waterhouse, who lends some emotional heft to the role.
Critical Reception
Future World received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics and audiences agreed that the film suffered from poor execution due to its unoriginal premise, lack of creativity, absurd plotlines, and subpar performances.
The film is rated 0% on most critic rating websites, meaning that it is widely considered to be a bad movie. It is also rated 3.2 out of 10 on IMDb which indicates that people do not think highly of the film.
Most comments revolve around these issues:
A narrative structure that appears incoherent and lacking smooth transitions.
Characters whose motivations are inconsistent and illogical to the point that they become difficult to categorize.
Poorly constructed conversations within the film containing unnecessarily complicated explanations.
Artificial intelligence and dystopia themes were explored without fulfilling expectations, applying to the film’s overall narrative.
Even though the film’s visual style and production design received some praise, it failed to change the opinions of most viewers. These aspects were described as visually appealing yet lacking in substance. Even with a star-studded cast, including Franco, who plays the Warlord, people viewed the performances as dull or exaggerated. Franco’s portrayal of the Warlord is a prime example, as it teeters between over-the-top and nonsensical.
Conclusion
The groundwork for an engaging science fiction epic existed in Future World with a talented cast, an evocative setting, and themes surrounding AI, climate change, and unchecked ambition. However, it suffered from subpar plotting, shoddy direction, and lack of character and story development.
The film still highlights how subpar genre films struggle when prioritizing style over substance. Future World contains post-apocalyptic and dystopian elements so viewers may find some aesthetic pleasure in the film, particularly its surreal, stylized sequences. Most, however, find the film a cautionary tale about squandered opportunities in the science fiction genre.
After attempting to navigate the existential wasteland of the world, Future World becomes yet another cinematic mirage, failing to provide any engaging thoughts and picturesque visuals.
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