This weekend, Australian production company Village Roadshow Pictures, in co-production with Warner Bros. Studios released Jupiter Ascending, staring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum in the lead roles.
The story follows Jupiter Jones, a Chicagoan with European ancestry who despises her job in the family-owned Russian janitorial business. Jupiter lacks true aspirations except for the material things. Jupiter’s world changes when she discovers that her genetic structure is that of Alien royalty, from the Abrasax family. The current heir to the estate (Earth) is Balem Abrasax the eldest of the family’s heirs.
With the protection of an intergalactic bounty hunter Caine played by Channing Tatum, Jupiter must survive to claim the rights to earth and to insure earth and all its inhabitants don’t get harvested as part of profitable galactic industry.
Audiences will appreciate the visual presentation of the film. The character design, weaponry, vehicles and galactic landscape are all beautifully done. Though visually Jupiter Ascending passes, structurally it contains quite a few lapses narratively. For those audiences who are not ready to take the time to understand the concepts of genetics, space, reincarnation and economics all rolled into one, this may not be the space opera for you.
Jupiter Ascending is worth the trip to the movies with a few friends. Especially if you’re seeking imagination and new worldly concepts, you might enjoy exploring the universe of Jupiter Ascending.
If you’re wondering how the opening weekend went to help with your decision, Jupiter Ascending opened with a weekend take of around $18-$19 million. This result is quite less than what the studio and critics projected and drastically short of its estimated $175 million budget.
No new news of anything motion picture-oriented for Mila Kunis in coming months, but fans can expect to see her undertake an executive producer role for the CW Network’s Meridian Hills. Up next for her co-star Channing Tatum is the sequel to 2012’s Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL is releasing in theaters this summer.
