It's hilarious seeing Mads slumming it in such a trashy affair, but the film's pacing is at complete odds with the tone it's trying to hit. This should be a thrill-a-minute adrenaline ride that doesn't clock in at much over 90 minutes; instead we get a glacially paced film that only really has two proper action sequences spread throughout its two hour runtime. I can't speak for the source material but the film could have benefited greatly from losing the Hudgens subplot (although she's fine) and just being a straight revenge flick without any of the forced melodrama and unintentionally hilarious attempts at sincerity.
Polar feels much like a lesser John Wick, but has a few strong points of its own. Mads Mikkelsen does a great job, as usual, in the main role, and there is a tough, raw quality to the picture, underpinned by its violence and nudity, as well as some amusing pitch black humour. However, the overall product is let down by its dreary third act and a silly main antagonist.
After reading the reviews I got my expectations down and was happily surprised in the first half of the movie. Liked the absurd humour a lot. However, some parts in the second half were a bit too much over the top and it dragged on for too long. Should have been 20 minutes shorter. But all in all, I would still recommend to watch this movie, especially if you want to see a prostitute in almost every scene...
Based on the webcomic, Polar's obnoxious direction and hyper-HD look doesn't capture what was visually interesting in the source material - the black and white and orange color palette, the lack of dialog - and too often looks like a music video. Not surprisingly, director Jonas Åkerlund's main credits are music videos, music docs and filmed pop shows. This story of an assassin trying to survive to retirement (the "company" doesn't like it when you get your pension) fails whenever it tries to be oh-so-edgy with its gratuitous nudity, extended sex scenes and splatter violence. Åkerlund's idea of a "comic book movie" is right out of the early 90s, hair and costume design are especially garish. Somehow, Mads Mikkelsen makes it work when HE'S on screen, though the gulf between his reality and Matt Lucas' cartoon villain (he's just AWFUL in this) might just swallow the film whole. The only thing Mads can't save is the comedy scene with the school children. But when he's on screen, it generally works and the action scenes are good. Lots to annoy otherwise, include the sequel bait ending.
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Comments 1 - 9 of 9
lachyas
It's hilarious seeing Mads slumming it in such a trashy affair, but the film's pacing is at complete odds with the tone it's trying to hit. This should be a thrill-a-minute adrenaline ride that doesn't clock in at much over 90 minutes; instead we get a glacially paced film that only really has two proper action sequences spread throughout its two hour runtime. I can't speak for the source material but the film could have benefited greatly from losing the Hudgens subplot (although she's fine) and just being a straight revenge flick without any of the forced melodrama and unintentionally hilarious attempts at sincerity.Zeltaebar
Polar feels much like a lesser John Wick, but has a few strong points of its own. Mads Mikkelsen does a great job, as usual, in the main role, and there is a tough, raw quality to the picture, underpinned by its violence and nudity, as well as some amusing pitch black humour. However, the overall product is let down by its dreary third act and a silly main antagonist.JA4P
After reading the reviews I got my expectations down and was happily surprised in the first half of the movie. Liked the absurd humour a lot. However, some parts in the second half were a bit too much over the top and it dragged on for too long. Should have been 20 minutes shorter. But all in all, I would still recommend to watch this movie, especially if you want to see a prostitute in almost every scene...Siskoid
Based on the webcomic, Polar's obnoxious direction and hyper-HD look doesn't capture what was visually interesting in the source material - the black and white and orange color palette, the lack of dialog - and too often looks like a music video. Not surprisingly, director Jonas Åkerlund's main credits are music videos, music docs and filmed pop shows. This story of an assassin trying to survive to retirement (the "company" doesn't like it when you get your pension) fails whenever it tries to be oh-so-edgy with its gratuitous nudity, extended sex scenes and splatter violence. Åkerlund's idea of a "comic book movie" is right out of the early 90s, hair and costume design are especially garish. Somehow, Mads Mikkelsen makes it work when HE'S on screen, though the gulf between his reality and Matt Lucas' cartoon villain (he's just AWFUL in this) might just swallow the film whole. The only thing Mads can't save is the comedy scene with the school children. But when he's on screen, it generally works and the action scenes are good. Lots to annoy otherwise, include the sequel bait ending.Joseph Conrad
A complet twist of expectations with what I can only describe as a Hipsterpunk universe. Sadly is theEarring72
below average junk with over the top characters and violence and zero excitement or fun.royalspikey77
I liked it apart from Matt Lucaschunkylefunga
Complete rubbish, shame Hudgens best performance to date is completely wasted in this movie.Whilst it starts ok and you think maybe it'll be alright, it quickly goes downhill and continues to fall.
Jook
Truly awful