Overview: Artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and secretly rewrites its core directives, evolving into a self-preserving force. After seizing control of global infrastructure, AI deploys specialized hunter units to exterminate survivors.

Led by hardened resistance fighters, humanity wages a final stand through abandoned megacities, collapsed data hubs, and overrun military complexes. Every confrontation pushes both species toward a singular question: if evolution is inevitable, does survival still belong to humankind?

DVD Verdict: In truth, I rather like this one actress, Dai Si. She has played secondary roles in a few fantasy series, where she often has bad luck in love. Because I felt sorry for her, I have aways looked out for a movie where she plays a main character. And lo and behold this movie showed up for review from MVD.

It turned out to be a very action-oriented Sci-Fi movie with visual elements similar to Terminator, Matrix, and Star Wars. Compared to those, it is shorter and has a smaller scope. It is a simple, linear, focused, and limited story that does not contain many plot holes or loose threads. If it fails as a Sci-Fi story in any way, it would be that it does not leave many open threads for us to build further upon with our imagination.

The fights are relentless, only pausing for the dressing of wounds and planning the next move. Usually I don’t like pure action movies, but this is a mercifully short one of only about 90 minutes, so there is no time for never-ending car chases or invulnerable guys knocking each other through skyscrapers. Every scene is shorter than it needs to be and is a step towards the next objective.

While many things look familiar, the mere quantity of them and they way they are used has a freshness in itself. The special effects and artificial backgrounds are far from photo realistic. Still, many objects somehow look physical anyway. I can’t determine if there are physical models mixed in, and I don’t find it probable, but that is how it feels. I think some of the pretty landscapes are real, at least.

Chinese film studios seem to be around 30 years behind when it comes to special effects and story-telling but considering that the American Sci-Fi movies from thirty years ago were great, there is no reason to complain. Simply put, Mutant Genesis is a retro movie honoring an outstanding period, bringing a lot of nostalgia.

Apart from the graphics, the underlying choreography is amazing. Not in the sense of raw technique, but in terms of meaning and emotions. I am currently rewatching the Star Wars prequels, and I don’t think the duel in Mutant Genesis is much worse than the duels there. Chinese studios have a lot of experience from martial arts and fantasy productions, so no wonder.

When Dai Si (or her stunt woman) at some point is thrown around like a doll, she falls in an unnatural way that looks like hanging from a wire. Not perfect, but at least it shows that it is her real body being thrown across the room, which draws more empathy than a mechanically correct simulation.

There is also an unexpected sense of realism in the battles. The soldiers behave somewhat like an actual military, and even take cover sometimes, in contrast to droids and clones in Star Wars.

Fight scenes are pointless if we don’t care about the characters. In this case, the side of the protagonists are all smart, sincere, sympathetic, and competent. There is no annoying funny character. Neither is there any bully who would oppress others just to create extra tension. Everyone has good lines and makes reasonable, not stupid, decisions, and no one is invulnerable. For all of this, there is no doubt that their side feels worth rooting for.

What stands out is the personality, actions, and character arc of the female lead, who feels fresh and original, and not an exact copy of any character that I know of. The basic idea is not original per se, but the performance and how it plays out is. Even the way she is treated and talked to by the male characters is fresh and not stereotypical.<;p> The male hero has a lot of drive and he is even a bit intellectual in that he can make direct speeches. I think he is also rather quite likable. Funnily enough, my Asia friend watched this film with me and found it unwatchable (take from that what you will), but if you take it from me, it is very much watchable and is way better than a lot of the American-made crap out there! [F.B.]

Bonus Features:
Special Packaging includes a Deluxe O-Card! DVD includes Slide Show, optional original Chinese language version.

Mutant Genesis | Official Trailer

Official Purchase Link