Plot Synopsis"Mortal Engines" is a science fiction action-adventure movie directed by Christian Rivers and produced by Peter Jackson. Embed in a post-apocalyptic world, the movie is based on the novel of the same name by Philip Reeve. It informs the story of a future world devastated by the "Sixty Minute War", which caused enormous geological upheaval.
Setting and Main CharactersThousands of years after civilization was damaged by a cataclysmic occasion, humankind has adapted, and a brand-new lifestyle has progressed. Giant moving cities, known as traction cities, wander the Earth on substantial wheels, devouring smaller towns to renew their resources. Amongst these cities is London, now a giant device making every effort to make it through on a world lacking resources.
The motion picture follows the life of Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), a low-class apprentice historian of London, and a disfigured, mystical, harmful fugitive called Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Hester has a personal vendetta against Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving), London's head of the Guild of Historians, and an effective guy hiding a deadly trick.
Dispute and ResolutionTom and Hester satisfy when she tries to assassinate Thaddeus, fueled by a thirst for vengeance over the murder of her mom. Caught in the dispute, Tom is expelled from the city, and both he and Hester now must browse the perilous Outlands. Having a hard time to stay ahead of the city's state-of-the-art defenses, they form a tentative alliance that results in an experience which might change the course of the future.
As London approaches a fixed city protected by a wall of the "anti-traction league", Valentine uses a weapon from the vintage, powered by a piece of ancient technology referred to as the Quantam Energy Weapon (M.E.D.U.S.A.), to breach the wall. Thaddeus' daughter, Katherine Valentine (Leila George), discovers her father's true objectives and sets to stop M.E.D.U.S.A. with the aid of Apprentice Engineer Bevis Pod (Ronan Raftery).
As a last showdown occurs within the city of London, Hester, Tom, Katherine, and Bevis successfully closed down the superweapon, face Valentine, and stop London from destroying the fixed settlement. Hester avenges her mom by eliminating Valentine and Tom rescues her from falling off London, while Katherine and Bevis endure the attack on the city.
Last Thoughts"Mortal Engines" presents an interesting principle of mobile cities, amazing visual effects, and a post-apocalyptic world that reinforces themes of survival, power, revenge, and redemption. However, there was criticism for its lack of character depth and development. Regardless, it closed with a poignant message about the cyclical nature of history, society's propensities to duplicate its mistakes, and the sustaining human spirit's tendency towards hope, forgiveness, and the pursuit of a much better future.
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