Mortal Engines
Director: Christian Rivers
Writer: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Based on: Philip Reeve’s book
Cast: Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, Stephen Lang, Colin Salmon, Mark Mitchinson, Regé-Jean Page
Seen on: 20./21.7.2026

Plot:
In a future where large moving cities prey on smaller ones, if they are not fast enough, Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar) is on a mission known only to her. But when the small town she currently resides in is swallowed by London, she is brought one step closer to her goal. London is ruled by Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving) who takes a keen interest in the old tech that was the downfall of humanity a long time ago. Apprentice historian Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) shares that interest. When all of their paths cross, big things are set into motion, not just cities.

I don’t know why I didn’t watch this movie in the cinema when it came out. I know that I had it on my radar and I definitely found it intriguing but then I somehow ended up not watching. Catching it now at home, I almost wish that I had seen it back then but I can’t really regret that I didn’t because it’s just not all that good.

The thing that made me wish to have seen the film 8 years ago was mostly that back then, I was still much more interested in these kind of fantasy stories with a young adult angle. I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know if it also feels that way or is actually written for young adults, but the movies certainly has that vibe. And I am in my forties now, I have kind of grown out of it (not that I don’t enjoy one every once in a while, but I enjoy older protagonists more).

There was also a little part of me that thought that the cities probably would have looked better on the big screen, but I am actually not certain about the quality of the special effects, so maybe that wouldn’t have been true. In any case, whether it is more me and my disinterest or the film itself, it really didn’t feel all that memorable or fresh to me. In fact, I’d say that apart from the beginning where London chases down another city, we have kind of seen all of it before, only better.

The plot here is so much paint by numbers that I could have practically predicted it from the first 15 minutes or so. It only manages to surprise a little when it makes absolutely no sense. The mix of predictable and nonsensical is quite something, I have to admit – you don’t get that every day, usually movies are either-or (or sometimes, when we’re lucky, neither). A lot of it depends on random happenstances that are ultimate facilitators.

What’s even worse, though, is that the characters are paint by numbers, too. Why should we care about any of them? I have no clue. They are mostly boring and bland with occasional stereotypes thrown in. In the end, it makes the film completely forgettable – because I just couldn’t bring myself to care about any of it.

Summarizing: yawn.