Milla Jovovich was once considered among the most exciting and promising rising stars in the action movie sphere, but the past few decades haven’t granted her the right projects to make her the household name that many once expected, andIn the Lost Landsonly reconfirmed it. The actress started her career in dramas likeChaplinand Richard Linklater’sDazed and Confused, before making her transition into sci-fi and action with 1997’sThe Fifth Element.Most ofMilla Jovovich’s best moviesfollowed shortly thereafter, with 2002’sResident Evilmarking her most iconic role to date.
TheResident Evilfranchise quickly became Jovovich’s biggest success, with Paul W.S. Anderson’s eccentric and stylistic movies capturing the spirit of their video game source material in consistently interesting ways. Her lead performance was the one constant that kept this series alive at its lowest points, andthe many sequels took up the majority of her subsequent filmography. While projects likethe recentIn The Lost Landsprove that she’s capable of stepping outside this series, it’s fair to say that she’s not found too much success outside ofResident Evil.
In The Lost Lands Is Another Underwhelming Action Movie For Milla Jovovich
The GRRM Adaptation Is An Unfortunate Misfire
Unfortunately,In The Lost Landsdoesn’t seem like the movie that’s going to break Jovovich’s unfortunate streak at the box office (or with critics). Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the movie is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s acclaimed fantasy short story, which follows a feared witch and a mysterious hunter who travel into the dangerous “Lost Lands” in search of a prize for their desperate queen. In typical George R.R. Martin fashion,the story is filled with intense world-building and rich characterswho really bring this atmospheric tale to life.
Where To Watch In The Lost Lands: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich star in the Paul W.S. Anderson adaptation of a fantasy short story from Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin.
However, Anderson’s movie fails to capture much of the stylistic flair and scopeless ambition that made Martin’s original story so interesting. Despite the author’s involvement in this project, much of that tale’s magic is lost in themessy dialogue and excessive special effectsofIn The Lost Lands. Jovovich does a great job of making her character interesting through her physical performance, but the script is ultimately way too thin and scattered for the final product.In The Lost Landshas set a record-breakingly low Rotten Tomatoes scoreand is on track to perform just as underwhelmingly at the box office.
The Fifth Element Was Milla Jovovich’s Last Great Action Movie
It’s Been A Long Time Since Jovovich Exceeded Expectations
Whilethere are certainly things to enjoy in theResident Evilmovies, particularly for those who’ve played the video games and recognize the intricacies of this fictional universe, it’s hard to call any of the films great. They’re entertaining at times, but the franchise ultimately struggles with its inaccessibility; not only is the series so deep that it’s essentially impossible to jump in at such a late stage, but the recent sequels also feel stuck in their early-2000s filmmaking style. To find a truly excellent action movie in Jovovich’s filmography, we have to go even further back toThe Fifth Element.
This great sci-fi movie was directed by Luc Besson and takes place several years in the future, following a group of surviving humans as they hunt for the mysterious “fifth element” that could help them win an apocalyptic war.The excellence of Besson’s movie lies in its simplicity; the stripped-back story allows audiences to focus on the detailed world-building and brilliant character work on display, which is amplified by strong performances from Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Bruce Willis.
The action genre wouldn’t be the same today without Besson’s movie, and its DNA is noticeable throughout many of the biggest blockbuster movies of the past few decades.
The Fifth Elementis a bonkers thrill ridethat deserves all the recognition it constantly gets from classic sci-fi fans. The action genre wouldn’t be the same today without Besson’s movie, and its DNA is noticeable throughout many of the biggest blockbuster movies of the past few decades. Unfortunately, it set the bar incredibly high for Jovovich’s career and the actress hasn’t quite managed to replicate that level of success since.
Why Milla Jovovich’s Action Movies Rarely Work
The Poor Streak Isn’t Totally Jovovich’s Fault
It’s hard to say why Milla Jovovich’s career hasn’t taken off, because she’s a very talented and charismatic actress who fully understands the strength and dedication needed to pull off such physically demanding roles asResident Evil’s Alice. Her performance inThe Fifth Elementproves thatshe can be engaging and captivating when she needs to be, but the fact remains that many of her recent movies just haven’t brought out that side of her. The problem lies in the scripts themselves, which often fail to understand what audiences are looking for in modern action movies.
The problem lies in the scripts themselves, which often fail to understand what audiences are looking for in modern action movies.
The days of over-stylized, practical action movies likeResident Evilare safely behind us, but many of Jovovich’s recent movies feel like they’re trying to replicate that same structure. Perhaps it’s due to her continuing collaborations with her husband/director Paul W.S. Anderson, whose films aren’t always welcomed with open arms by critics. I’m sure there’s a great project on the horizon for Jovovich, but it needs to be something that genuinely pushes the genre forward - instead of merely relying on nostalgia for the past.
Will Any Of Milla Jovovich’s Upcoming Action Movies Be Great?
The Actress Could Have Some Hidden Gems On The Horizon
Jovovich has two projects officially in development, and they could both end up being huge surprises that get the actress’ career back on track. The first of these isMidnight, an upcoming action-thriller that marks the directorial debut of American filmmaker Joshua Otis Miller.Very few details are currently known about the project, but it’s confirmed that bothRosario Dawson and Alexandra Shipp will be starring alongside Jovovich- with the former also serving as the film’s producer. We don’t have enough information aboutMidnightto predict how well it will perform, but there’s no denying the talent involved.
“I Immediately Turned Into This Big Manwhore”: Dave Bautista Explains “Career Turn” In New Fantasy Action Movie In The Lost Lands
Dave Bautista is a new kind of character in Paul WS Anderson’s In The Lost Lands, where he finds himself “making out with every female in the film.”
Although many audiences have beenhoping forResident Evil 7in the future,that’s unlikely to be the movie that finally breaks Jovovich’s poor streak. However, the actress’ upcoming sci-fi thrillerWorld Breakeris much more likely to be the hidden gem her fans have been searching for. The film will be directed byThe Machinist’s Brad Aderson and stars Luke Evans in another major role alongside Jovovich, though plot details are being held firmly under wraps. It’s possible thatWorld Breakerwill be another underwhelming action flick likeIn The Lost Lands, but there’s also a chance it exceeds expectations.
