Tencent Pictures, Screen Gems, Toho Co. Ltd., Constantin Film and Impact Pictures’ Monster Hunter (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is a film about the real world and a new world. In the new world, humans co-exist with a variety of large and savage monsters. A Hunter (Tony Jaa), a warrior who is trained to kill the powerful creatures, was separated from his team when the ship they were travelling in was attacked. In the real world, United States Army Captain Natalie Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her team search for a group of missing soldiers in the desert. A sudden storm comes from nowhere and they find themselves in a portal to the new world. There, they come across the remains of the missing soldiers and their vehicles. As a horned monster, a Diablos, approaches them, the Hunter, who has been observing this, fires a warning signal to the team. However, the Diablos kills several of the team members.
The survivors hide in a cave but are attacked by Nerscyllas. Artemis is the only team member who survives that attack. She soon runs into the Hunter. They decide to become friends although language is a major problem. Artemis learns that the portals are created by a Sky Tower. The Hunter reveals to her that to reach the Tower, which is across the desert, they will have to kill the Diablos. The Hunter trains Artemis to kill the Diablos. The two eliminate the Diablos but the Hunter is badly wounded.
Soon, the Hunter and Artemis encounter Apceros which are tortoise-like creatures. There’s also a Rathalos, a dragon-like fire-breathing monster. Artemis and the Hunter are rescued from the Rathalos and Apceros by a group of hunters led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). The Admiral explains that if Artemis would help them kill the Rathalos, she could return home. Do Artemis and the Hunter succeed in killing the Rathalos? Does Artemis return to the real world?
Paul W.S. Anderson has written a story and screenplay based on the video game Monster Hunter. The script lacks novelty of any kind whatsoever. One has seen many films with similar dangerous creatures attacking humans. As such, although there is a hint of excitement in the drama, total lack of freshness in the script almost completely dilutes the impact. Also, since the script moves on a single track, boredom creeps in at many points.
Milla Jovovich does a fine job as Natalie Artemis. Tony Jaa breathes fire into the character of the Hunter. Ron Perlman is so-so as the Admiral. Clifford ‘T.I.’ Harris Jr. (as Lincoln), Meagan Good (as Dash), Diego Boneta (as Marshall), Josh Helman (as Steeler), Jin Au-Yeung (as Axe), Hirona Yamazaki (as Handler), Nic Rasenti (as Sergeant Roark), Nanda Costa (as Serious Handler Lea), Jannik Schumann (as Aiden) and Aaron Beelner (as Palico) lend fair support.
Paul W.S. Anderson’s direction is alright. Paul Haslinger’s background score is quite good. Glen MacPherson does a fine job of the cinematography. Kerry Gregg’s stunts are reasonably exciting. Production designing (Edward Thomas) and art direction (Mark Walker) are of good standards. Doobie White’s editing could’ve been crisper. Dubbing is appropriate.
On the whole, Monster Hunter is a poor fare which will not be able to sustain at the box-office. The current times, when people are not coming to cinemas in large numbers because of the fear of the coronavirus, will only tell on the business and add to its tale of woes.
Released on 5-2-’21 at Maratha Mandir (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru SPE Films India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity & opening: very dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was very weak everywhere. The original English version has also released simultaneously. Even that is not expected to do well at the ticket windows.