Based on the novel of the same name by Philip Reeve, the first of four in the series, Mortal Engines takes place in a post-apocalyptic steampunk world where cities now travel using gigantic treads and engines. These mobile cities attack and cannibalize each other. After an assassination attempt on a London bigwig named Thaddeus Valentine fails, the failed assassin and a random London citizen end up on their own and looking for a way to take Valentine down and presumably destroy mobile London?
Maybe that doesn’t happen in this movie, but you don’t throw a line in a trailer about something capable of blowing up cities without using it later.
You also probably noticed Peter Jackson’s name thrown around quite a bit in this trailer. He was one of three credited writers on the screenplay and helped bring production of the film to New Zealand, where he famously filmed his adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Thing is, those are two very different franchises in quality. When you tell me the person behind those two film franchises is making something, my first question will always be, “but which one will this movie end up like?”
So how will Mortal Engines compare? We’ll see. It’s an interesting concept, and I love the visuals of the moving cities. Hugo Weaving can also make anything worth your time to watch. Maybe keep an eye on this one.
Mortal Engines rolls into theaters on December 14.
