Legion: Movie Review
Legion is the latest post-apocalyptic film to hit the market, and it stars Paul Bettany in an unconventional yet angelic role. The movie marks the first major release for writer/director Scott Stewart, who’s been on the visual effects side of filmmaking for years, but is now working on bringing his own projects to life. Legion is a Christian-themed movie, with a splash of zombie-horror, Western ideals, and a whole lot of action.
The Players:
- Director: Scott Stewart
- Writers: Peter Schink and Scott Stewart
- Cast: Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Doug Jones, Kate Walsh
- Cinematography: John Lindley
- Music: John Frizzell
The Plot:
When God grows tired of humans and their disobedience, he sends the Archangel Michael (Bettany) to wipe them off the face of the earth. More specifically he needs to kill the one child that can stop God’s wrath and save mankind. The only problem is that child hasn’t been born yet, and the mother is a waitress at a small diner in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Michael defies God’s Will and decides to save the child, which turns the restaurant into a war zone between heaven and earth. He will have to combat an entire legion of angels led by the heavily favored, Gabriel.
The Good:
- Entertaining: The film has plenty of action but it wasn’t filled with over the top gore. There was a decent amount of entertainment value within the characters and their interactions with one another outside of the violence.
- The Dumb Moments: There is nothing more annoying than watching a girl run out into a sea of zombies only to meet her maker. The writers did a pretty good job of integrating the characters dumb actions with the story. Although it was clearly to create conflict, the purpose played out very well.
The Bad:
- You Got The Guns Where?: Paul Bettany starts the movie on a mission to get guns, so he walks into a closed store and grabs a bunch. How does he know that this particular place has the goods? Who knows? It seemed like the shop owner wasn’t even aware that there was enough ammo to arm a small militia in the back room. Check that off things to explain to the audience.
- The Acting: There were moments, flashes even, where the acting of the two main characters, Charlie and Jeep (Black), was some of the worse I’d ever seen. And even the ridiculously talented Charles S. Dutton found himself muttering in a bad southern accent.
- The Names: This may be a little nit-picky, but the name Jeep is lame. Obviously the writers were trying to get creative, but that one was just a little too much. Every time the waitress Charlie screamed his name it sounded like, “Cheep! Cheep! Cheeeep!”
- Defies Logic: Without giving too much away there are several issues with Charlie and all things related to her baby. First of all, a woman that is eight months pregnant will not be as agile as she is. Two, she smokes (enough said). Three, she has the superhuman ability of giving birth in a minute. Apparently, the key to easy childbirth is Paul Bettany coaxing you along. Finally, not only can she pop that thing out like a torpedo, but she is up and running around just minutes after without any sort of medical care or anesthesia. One can only suspend belief up to a certain point.
- Miscasting: This problem is very closely related to the bad acting. A few of the casting choices were not as good as they could have been. Kate Walsh was irritating and not nearly old enough to have a teenage daughter. There were a few issues with Dennis Quaid as well, which is unfortunate considering his acting background.
Overall:
Surprisingly, this movie was actually enjoyable, and is a good popcorn flick to see over the weekend. The plot and parts of the film are certainly flawed, but all in all it was still entertaining, and that’s what you’re paying for.
Rating: 6/10
Legion hits theaters on January 22, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010 6:25AM
I like this movie a lot and it good
Friday, January 22, 2010 4:13PM
Good to see a review. And Kate Walsh is easily old enough to have a 20 year old she is 42..Too bad there's some bad acting because there are some great actors in it.
Friday, January 22, 2010 7:57PM
me no like movie and it bad
Friday, January 22, 2010 1:29PM
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Friday, January 22, 2010 11:42PM
grimlok like movie
Saturday, January 23, 2010 2:16AM
Loved seeing Lucas Black! Thought it was a very good movie and very entertaining….loved it, will recommend to my friends…Dennis Quaid was ok, thought the review was a bit harsh on him..
Saturday, January 23, 2010 8:38AM
The teen girl was hot. The gangsta-dad was cool and thats all I really liked.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 6:23PM
Seen this movie last night and i rather enjoyed it…The reviews up above it said:
. Some woman who give bIrth are that agile..Remember the Indian's. They gave birth and were out planting and working in the villiage that very evening…DUHHHHHHH…
Yes sad but true some woman who are pregnant do smoke (bad choice to do so, but true).
And about the ( superhuman ability of giving birth in a minute ) the Angel "Michael" forseen what was going to happen it was written,planned, he knew but she did not. That is why he made that comment, he knoew.. Was I the ONLY one who caught that??? Duhhhhh, again..
Saturday, January 23, 2010 6:23PM
And when i had my 3rd daughter i was in labor for only 3-4 hrs and she did shoot out. The Doc was almost to late getting tothe room. My daughter alomost fell on the floor if the doc wouldn;t have came in at the very last moment..(TRUTH)
And i had NO anesthesia when giving birth to my 4 children..And 1 of my babies was almost a 10lb baby. With 3 of my children i was up and walking around that same day..And i am sure there are MANY MANY woman out here like that..
But i had to make truth to some of the "THE BAD" reviews. There is truth in alot of the Movie..
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 8:42PM
In case you all missed it, the name Legion is what satan's followers call themselves when responding to Christ in the Bible. Get it? Lucifer is a Liar. But he is god to his followers. Get it? Lucifer
is starting the Final Battle. michael, with a small "m" repents. His death confirms him being forgiven by God, with the big"G". Great movie.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 12:43PM
Legion was what one man called himself when possessed by several demons, and whom they did not want Jesus to ban them to the eternal abyss of hell. They were scared of Jesus (Gospel of Matthew, Mark, OR Luke). Lucifer is not starting the final battle; Michael nor Gabriel would fall under the temptation of the devil to do his work. In the movie, Michael says that it was his job, appointed by God, to kill the baby. He disagrees with God's orders because he believes that God has lost his own way. Michael actually states in the movie that he is doing what God NEEDS him to do and not what he WANTS him to do. He believed his actions were the right thing to do. You do not repent for something you believe in.The only repenting he might have done would be for not being able to stop Gabriel. The return of Michael back to Earth is to show God's renewed faith in humankind.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 8:53AM
THe film is based on a very stupid premise: That God in his infinite wisdom could be misguided. You are supposed to assume someone created(Michael ) could know more than his creator who is all-seeing (sees all sides of the argument) and all-knowing (knows the motives and premises of all the players).
We are supposed to believe he would destroy us by necessarily sending an army of angels, he doesnt have to, all he has to do is reduce his involvement in our affairs. He can simply allow us to destroy ourselves, no need to send angels, we are doing a fine job already
Friday, February 5, 2010 5:28AM
This is a really bad movie, they never should have made it.
Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:25PM
Too deep man, just eat the popcorn and enjoy the flick!
Saturday, February 13, 2010 8:30PM
utter garbage
Sunday, February 21, 2010 1:18PM
Felt that the movie was blasphemous…
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:58PM
HENCE YOU GO BACK TO …
In case you all missed it, the name Legion is what satan's followers call themselves when responding to Christ in the Bible. Get it? Lucifer is a Liar. But he is god to his followers. Get it? Lucifer
is starting the Final Battle. michael, with a small "m" repents. His death confirms him being forgiven by God, with the big"G". Great movie.
Monday, March 1, 2010 1:39AM
first of all, how can a child save the world from God’s wrath????
secondly,didn’t God promise noah that he wouldnt ever again send a flood to destroy the Earth. but now ,he sends a flood of angels?????
Monday, March 1, 2010 9:46AM
i think that the movie has excelled in many fields.
just bcos the story talks of things one cant comprehend it doesn't mean that the movie is bad.
this is like any other movie for eg: percy jackson and……………………the movie portrays that greek mythology is real and that zeus is the king of gods. it shows that there are different gods for diff. things.this is in contrast with the common christian belief.
y take the filim seriously? after all, its just a filim.what evil has ever come from watchin a filim?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 7:50AM
I just started watching the movie and after the opening seen I am already disliking it. Like why would Michael the archangel disobey God? He is behaving like Lucifer. Then when the cop turns into something else it is clearly a demon not one of God's messengers. A devil worshiper made this movie. I will watch the rest since I spent my bandwith on it but me no likey already.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 11:49PM
Again, they got my attention with trailer. Luckely, I didn't spend any money on watching the movie, I would be so sorry. I downloaded it of the Internet, and I regret the time spending watching it. Very boring, predictable, bad directing… 2/10