I only saw this movie because of the actress. Dai Si has played secondary roles in a few fantasy series, where she often has bad luck in love. Because I felt sorry for her, I looked for a movie where she plays a main character.
It turned out to be a very action-oriented SF (science-fiction) 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 SF story in any way, it would be that it does not leave many open threads for us to build further upon with our imagination (fan-fiction).
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 neverending 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 if 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 SF movies from thirty years ago were great, there is no reason to complain. Mutant 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 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 noone 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.
The male hero has a lot of drive and he is even a bit intellectual in that he can make speeches. I think he is quite likable.
Honestly, most people would find this movie unwatchable, but at least it is the best Chinese SF movie I have ever seen. Even better than the other one I have seen.
