Premiering a decade ago on MTV's Liquid Television, 'Aeon Flux' was one of a handful of shows that served as a predecessor for experimental cartoon networks like Adult Swim. An avant-garde show with anime influence and undertones of fetishism, 'Aeon Flux' always seemed like it had a deeper meaning but was obtuse enough for that meaning to remain out of reach.
'Aeon Flux' felt like it was trying hard to do something different and novel, which is what makes its film adaptation so disappointing. Its acting and plot development are on par with efforts such as 'Underworld,' 'Elektra' and 'Catwoman,' and while it's taken some of the show's creativity and avoids the horror of its predecessors, it still meets the same formula of fast, flashy and forgettable.
On the surface, 'Aeon Flux' seems to have the same plot as its television basis: A terrorist by the name of Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron) is contracted by her masters to eliminate Trevor Goodchild (Marton Csokas), head of the totalitarian city-state Bregna. As she continues her mission, she uncovers that not only is her group operating under false pretenses, but the entire city is caught up in a conspiracy going back more than four centuries.
The plot may have some similarities, but the film looks nothing like the original show, stripping away the industrial dystopian feel and replacing it with the ambience of a tropical resort. In some ways these changes are preferable, but the polished look makes everything feel overly false and commercialized, as though they saved money by shooting at a museum.
Theron makes a good effort at playing Flux, having perfected the quiet self-amused tone from the TV show and grabbing the audience's attention with efforts of agility that put martial artists to shame. However, for Theron it's a major step back from her roles in 'Monster' and 'North Country.' Unlike fellow Oscar winner Halle Berry, Theron is talented enough that she doesn't need to leap from buildings in tight black leather.
Theron's acting skill is wasted in 'Aeon Flux,' where characters seem to be so disconnected from their surroundings it's possible none of the actors filmed a scene together. Even when the plot seems to get interesting by bringing up issues of genetics and reincarnation, characters can't seem to change their facial expressions or move past a monotone voice.
This wooden acting especially damages the relationship between Goodchild and Aeon, which was one of the most fascinating parts of the original series but is now devoid of mystery and tension. While the show made it seem as if they were polar opposites who couldn't help but be drawn to each other, Theron and Csokas only share confusion in the first half of the film and casual disinterest in the second. It's a romance with hardly any complications and easily one of the film's biggest letdowns.
'Aeon Flux' is not horrible, but it is unremarkable. The gadgets and explosions are all attractive but don't give the film any real sense of support, and Theron's relegation to eye candy is just wasted potential. It's probably true that mainstream film isn't set up for the depth 'Aeon Flux' went to, but there's no real excuse for turning it into another babe-in-black-leather film.
