The
Spoils Of Babylon (2015/Anchor Bay
DVD)
Picture: C- Sound: C Extras: D Film: C
Legendary
author (self-proclaimed) Eric Jonrosh (Will Ferrell) claims to have
made the best dramatic soap opera series of all times (but had to
shorten it to a film due to cuts) tells the tale of the Morehouse
Dynasty. The rise of oil tycoon Jonas Morehouse, his strong willed
daughter Cynthia, and his adopted son Devon. Devon becomes the
adopted son of Jonas Morehouse and grows up together with Cynthia.
As they go from rags to riches, a forbidden love blossoms between
Devon and Cynthia. Devon goes off to war to avoid his hidden passion
for Cynthia, but Cynthia continues to wait for her beloved Devon to
return. However, when Devon returns married, Cynthia goes into a
jealous rage in The Spoils Of Babylon (2015).
Devon's
wife then 'accidentally' dies in a fire and Devon falls into despair,
drugs and delusions and Cynthia nurses him back to health, but not
before she gets pregnant with Devon's child. Cynthia then quickly
marries to hide her child as another man's son. Both Devon and
Cynthia continue to live apart years while still longing for each
other. Even after their father dies, Devon forbids each other to
openly express their love. Their son grows up unknowingly about his
true parentage plots to remove Devon from the family shares, but upon
discovering the truth vows revenge on Devon. Then things take a turn
for the worse!
This film felt like it was like watching an
entire soap opera series into one movie. Each scene was all about
getting as much drama out of it as possible. While the movie had a
cast of stars (Jessica Alba, Kristin Wiig, Tim Robbins, Tobey
Maguire), it was more like watching it make fun of soap opera satire
of the '60s and '70s.
Unfortunately,
the anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image (particularly bad) and
lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix are very much on the soft side and there
are no extras, so this is a very basic release indeed.
-
Ricky Chiang
