What is Universal Pictures Mortal Engines?
Mortal Engines is a 2018 science fiction film produced by Universal Pictures, based on the novel of the same name written by Philip Reeve. The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where cities have been turned into giant vehicles that roam the land, consuming smaller towns for resources.
The story follows Hester Shaw, a young woman seeking revenge against Thaddeus Valentine, the man who murdered her mother. Along with Tom Natsworthy, an apprentice historian from London, they find themselves on a journey that will change the course of their world forever.
Directed by Christian Rivers and produced by Peter Jackson, Mortal Engines was a visual spectacle that received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. Despite its stunning visuals and imaginative world-building, many felt that the film suffered from a weak script and lack of character development.
The movie starred Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw and Robert Sheehan as Tom Natsworthy, with Hugo Weaving as Thaddeus Valentine and Jihae as Anna Fang. The film was released in December 2018 and although it did not perform as well as expected at the box office, it still managed to develop a dedicated fan base who appreciated its unique and ambitious world-building.
Overall, Mortal Engines remains a thought-provoking film that blends action, romance, and dystopian fiction into an exciting adventure that offers a glimpse into a world that is both terrifying and captivating.
Frequently Asked Questions about universal pictures mortal engines
Mortal Engines is a young-adult science fiction novel by Philip Reeve, published by Scholastic UK in 2001. The book focuses on a futuristic, steampunk version of London, now a giant machine striving to survive on a world that is running out of resources.
Product information
| Publisher | Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (30 May 2017) |
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| Paperback | 320 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1338201123 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1338201123 |
| Reading age | 12 - 17 years |
Children over 13 years are likely to enjoy Mortal Engines, but they might find much of the action and violence mildly disturbing. The movie has some graphic violence, as well as frightening and existential themes, so we strongly recommend parental guidance for viewers under 13 years.
London is on the move again: the traction city trawls the world on wheels, capturing and eating smaller towns. But when he is thrown off the city by his childhood hero Valentine, young hero Tom joins forces with the mysterious Hester, and is soon forced to reassess life as he knows it.
Mortal Engines is pathologically wedded to its steampunk aesthetic. Often it feels like being battered half to death with a copy of Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.
In April 2019, Deadline reported that Mortal Engines, a steampunk adventure set in the distant future, was the biggest box-office bomb of 2018, losing a staggering $174.8 million for financiers like Universal Pictures.
About This Edition
| ISBN: | 9781407189147 |
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| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 336 pages |
| Series: | Mortal Engines Quartet |
| Suitable For: | 11+ readers 13+ readers |
Sex/Nudity: A boy dreams of rescuing pretty girls from danger; boys try to impress girls; a boy has a crush on a girl; men cat-call at a girl; a character suggests various girls to a boy as potential romantic interests; children swim naked (not sexual); on a few occasions, characters contemplate the possibility of ...
The game is full of gory violence. People are ripped apart beheaded get there intestines ripped out. A game ofc not made for kids but my 8 and 11 year old nephews could handle it. Some characters swear sometimes but rarely.
April 29, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… Mortal Engines is a lifeless fantasy epic that is mildly enjoyable at times, but suffers from several grave afflictions that ultimately incur steep viewing consequences.
Plus, the plot itself was difficult to market, which is why other studios had already passed it over by the time Universal picked it up. Mortal Engines is set in a dystopian world in which humanity is divvied up into roving “predator cities” that move and attack smaller cities.
In the novel, it refers to the fact that the society of Municipal Darwinism is not sustainable living and that the cities' engines are indeed mortal.
There's an extremely tame romance between the main female and male characters; they touch hands, gaze into each other's eyes, and finally hug.
It is (in my opinion) very good. There's worldbuilding, there's story, good characters: all sorts of stuff. But what really seems like a master stroke to me is that it isn't set in a fantasy world like middle earth; it's set in our future. Half-remembered fragments of our culture survive.
Our verdict? Mortal Engines is a fine read for any capable teenage reader and for those more mature Star Wars nerds, there's plenty to like as well.
Mortal Engines is a young-adult science fiction novel by Philip Reeve, published by Scholastic UK in 2001.
