Upside Down

Upside Down creates a fascinating universe beyond our imagination. It is so amazing, it could have been something groundbreaking. The story is a romance that is suppose to defy gravity. It starts with a great promise and many imaginative ideas were featured. Unfortunately, the journey suffers incoherence and leaves several unsettled details. It tries to tell a deeper meaning about love but none of it worked because of its terribly underdeveloped plot and awful romance. It could have at least given some sense to their love but it doesn't provide much exploration to their relationship. The visuals are undeniably breathtaking but the plot gets the opposite which results a story that fails to be compelling.

The idea is wonderful. Who could imagine a world like that? It may be scientifically unbelievable but it doesn't matter. As long as it has a substantial story. Sadly, that story is unable to achieve its message. Even if it's quite gripping, the film calls for something better. The central plot is about a man who risks everything to get his love back. The first and second act really shows a lot of intrigue to the premise but falters when it goes through the rest. The biggest problem is probably the romance. It is poorly portrayed. It's hard to understand why do they love each other. Yeah, they had a childhood together and they are good looking but what else? That's almost the only thing we knew about them because every time when it stumbles to their relationship, it becomes a montage of inaudible chatter thus never really get to know them more. Even the talents couldn't save their love. Jim Sturgess is always charming as a lover boy. He gets a lot of things to do in most vital parts but only did little to the romance. Same goes to Kristen Dunst, except she is mostly underused. In other cast, Timothy Spall appears as an older version of cliché best friend roles in romantic comedies.

It also leaves some unanswered questions in the end but that ending chooses forget almost everything from those questions. Despite of the story's inconsistency, the visuals are the landmark here. It is a brilliantly designed world that can be both trippy and fascinating. Mashing several styles like steampunk and typical futuristic details. Much magnificent is when it take turns between the aspects of the two worlds. There are two sequences that can be goosebumps worthy. These portraits are so gorgeous, it is best to see in cinema. It would still be worth watching if you're one of those people who doesn't care about the story even if its flaws are inevitable, but it still deserves something better.

Upside Down is visually breathtaking but it didn't go beyond that. The romance is beyond bland and it spends most of the time doing stuff that achieved so little to the plot. When I said the romance is beyond bland I mean it has no personality, no depth, no meaning. It's pretty vague. This likely proves that even the most stunning visuals cannot bring justice to a problematic story. It's disappointing because it wastes the potential of the visuals and the first half. Instead of being compelling, it rather shows how beautiful the two's relationship is with a grand scale universe in the background. Aside of the love story, the context between the two worlds are intriguing but there is nothing else about it besides of what it was explained which it isn't enough. It still has its merits. In a nutshell, the film itself is like the two worlds. The visuals are on the top, and the rest are on the bottom. Make sense?

The story behind the movie is interesting, it was a pleasure watching. The special effects and imagery as a whole are astonishing, although at certain times "unfinished", "half-rendered". The actors fit well in the story, and it's needless to say they performed good.

Still, I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that at this time the movie is still on post-production and what I've seen was a not a final version. In U.S. the movie will start in December 2012, but producers decided to start returning money in Eastern Europe, falsely thinking that people here have lower standards for special effects and stuff.

Anyway, the idea is good, execution too, and after the movie i expected cookies to float up from the box :)

The story is basically a new version of Romeo & Juliet. Since the movie has really stunning graphics and unique world setting, my eyes were enjoying catching every details scene by scene. Actors/actresses are good that they made the love story so sweet. I just think the story might has a better ending if more budget was allocated to the film making. I think it is a bit too short right now. When you are going to watch this film, I would advise you to keep your mind open to the story. Don't be too picky about the details of the two universes and their technology. Anyway, The story is so romantic and original, it is worth to watch in the cinema. I feel refreshing after watching the film.

If there is one thing "Upside Down" has going for it, it's the visuals. Good God, the film is gorgeous to look at. We've seen hints of a similar visual style in the "Total Recall" remake and "Inception," but the filmmakers milk the unique look in "Upside Down" in as many frames as possible. At times, the visual puns can be a bit too obnoxious to the point it becomes stupid, but overall, they portray the "dual gravity" idea really creatively. Of course, with fantasy films like this that operate within its own set of rules, you usually have to ignore the implausibilities and just go along for the ride.

However, the story is a whole different matter. As the film opens to explain the world's rules through voice over rather than showing it on screen, I knew I was in for trouble. Within the first five minutes, exposition after exposition is thrown to the audience at such a quick pace it's almost impossible to keep up. It also doesn't help that the dialogue is downright embarrassing. With the film's over-reliance on narration, "Upside Down" leaves little time for its characters to develop which consequently makes the story as a whole feel contrived.

For example, the love interest that grows between the film's two main characters comes out of nowhere. Unfortunately, actors Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst don't have the chemistry to sell their newfound romance authentically as well. Every story development feels fake and mechanical where it should feel natural. Furthermore, the film lacks any real climax, so the last 20 minutes where everything should build up to a resounding resolution, instead, just fizzles out to an anti-climatic, deus-ex-machina-like ending as if the story didn't know how else to end.

"Upside Down" has a great idea that should have been a lot better than it ended up being. However, it's obvious the filmmakers were more interested in focusing on the visuals than actually telling a good story. "Upside Down" proves that as awesome as visuals can be, it can't overshadow incompetent storytelling and a weak plot.

Honestly, I learned about the film only from advertising. After watching the trailer, I was surprised, it's not every day you see a high-quality, well planned picture. The idea seemed to me interesting enough, the music is great, and the cast is excellent, well, I decided to go to this motion picture, hoping to see something new and unusual. I can not say that the film is completely lived up to my expectations.

Think of all the visuals will love movies, because each frame is similar to an independent picture, and it is no exaggeration and sarcasm. The two worlds are quite different, they are difficult to compare, but they are both beautiful in their own way. One world - the sunny metropolis, second - steam punk gloomy town. Honestly, I can say that this film can inspire a fabulous art objects and musical masterpieces.

In the soundtrack of authorship Audiomachine I fell immediately after watching the trailer. He's not intrusive, but maintains an atmosphere of the film.

The first ten minutes of the film the audience tell the universe itself and its rules. All these beautiful drawings and attached personnel. All anything, but this story seems to be dull and boring. Such a beginning influenced by my perception of the story the hero's life. Therefore tie melodrama seemed to tighten, although the film does not seem boring.

Most of all I "hit" the ending picture. Get the feeling that cut out a epilogue and then leave all the work. In my opinion, the trailer was much more interesting movie, I do not know, perhaps because he was more intrigued audience, or because he was more dynamic. In general, received a quality, beautiful, do not strain your brain melodrama. In general, to rejoice: French film happy ending!