Is Robert Pattinson’s “Æther” art’s biggest fan? Most certainly not! According to people who’ve seen it in the theaters, Pattinson’s latest movie is yet another example of the Englishman’s gift for making corny films that appeal mainly to people who already like the actor/director/writer. But what do the critics say? We looked into 16 reviews compiled by critics on the internet to get a better sense of what’s going on with “Æther.”
The Reviewers’ Perspective
For the most part, critics were kind to “Æther.” Most of them gave the movie a B- or higher, which is generally considered to be a favorable rating. This is particularly impressive since many of these reviews were written before the movie even came out! Let’s have a look at what different critics have said about the movie:
The Audience’s Perspective
In general, audiences were also pretty positive about “Æther.” They gave it a B or higher on Google Play and a 91% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But how does the movie’s current rating compare to other recent releases by Pattinson? Let’s dive into the reviews a bit.
Last Year’s Movies
Looking back on last year, the most recent films by Pattinson all received generally positive reviews from critics. In fact, the only movie that currently holds a fairly negative rating on Rotten Tomatoes is the much older “The Lost City of Z.” That said, audiences gave “The Lost City of Z” a B+ rating and the actor’s other recent films a B- or higher. This suggests that while many people may have seen “Æther” and didn’t like it, they may have liked some of Pattinson’s other movies more.
The Evolution Of Style
If you compare “Æther” to other movies by Pattinson, you’ll see a definite shift toward darker, more brooding movies. It’s not that these types of films are completely new to the actor—he has quite the back catalog—but it seems like he’s become more comfortable in his roles and is finding more success as a result. If you consider his other movies, you’ll see that while they range from goofy comedies to action blockbusters, they are all characterized by a certain dark, Gothic mystery that hints at the fantastical. Case in point: the titular character of “High Hopes,” whose “hopes” are actually a misanthropic vision of futility and hopelessness that are reflected in his pessimistic outlook of life. In that movie, his character was based on David Bowie, and as fans of both will surely attest, there’s an unmistakable similarity in their characters’ outlooks. It probably goes without saying that Bowie influenced many cultural figures of our time, and if you don’t know who he is, you should probably look him up.
Lack Of Innovation
It’s clear that over the past year, Pattinson has become more confident in making the type of movies that he wants to make. And what type of movies are they? You’ll have to read the reviews to find out, but the short answer is: not particularly innovative. Looking back on his previous movies, you’ll see that they all had a similar plot: a young man finds himself in a fantastical situation. The difference is that whereas the protagonist of the previous movies was usually surrounded by quirky and lovable eccentrics, the protagonist in “Æther” is completely unrepentant. This makes for a more uncompromising, even a bit antagonistic, character. As a result, he’s probably the unlikeliest of our Gothic heroes.
Why Does It Suck So Much?
When you look at the list of “Top 100 Movies of All Time,” you’ll notice that there are very few horror movies on it. This wouldn’t be so strange if it weren’t for the fact that the overwhelming majority of films on that list were created in the 20th century. It’s only in the 21st century that we really started to see films that were characterized by darkness and horror. It’s almost as if the filmmakers of the 20th century were intimidated by the subject matter and opted for a lighter tone. If you consider that a lot of the horror movies from that era were based on actual historical events, like the Spanish Inquisition or the Salem Witch Trials, you can see the correlation between the “tampering” mentioned in the title of “Æther” and the historical events that these films were inspired by. It’s as if the filmmakers of that era felt guilty about getting so close to the grim reality of these historical events and preferred to keep a safe distance, imbuing their films with a certain je ne sais quoi that one finds in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
The Good
All things considered, “Æther” is a decent movie. It’s not great, and it definitely has its flaws. But if you’re looking for something different and don’t really mind a few clichés, you might end up enjoying it. It also has a great cast, with Pattinson playing the lead role, and it features some great actors and musicians that you may have heard of.
The Bad
While the movie has its charms, it’s also not an exceptional work. There are a lot of other, higher-quality movies that you could be watching instead. Similarly, many of the characters in “Æther” seem rather two-dimensional. They have distinct personalities and quirks, but they don’t exactly seem like people you’d want to spend much time with. Then again, a misanthropic antihero is probably someone you’d want to spend time with. Just because they’re not the most likable characters doesn’t mean that they’re devoid of charm. One of the things that makes them interesting is the conflict that they pose to the audience. On the one hand, they’re totally aware of how obnoxious and self-absorbed they can be and, on the other hand, they’re in denial about it. As a result, the audience ends up feeling sorry for this character and what he’s going through. It doesn’t make for a very pleasant viewing experience.
Overall Impression
In the end, the jury is still out on whether or not “Æther” is actually an improvement over his previous works. On the one hand, it’s clear that he’s become more comfortable in his range and has started to branch out and experiment with new approaches. At the same time, many fans of his previous movies will no doubt be underwhelmed by this effort since it mostly feels like a rehash of what they know and love. Ultimately, as with any other Pattinson movie, it comes down to you. If you’re not one of his many fans, you might not find much to like about this latest offering. On the other hand, if you are a big fan of the “Twilight” movies or of the quirky English humor to which he’s became so famous, you might end up enjoying “Æther” despite its faults.