(M) Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Frances McDormand

Based on the MTV animated series created by Peter Chung, Aeon Flux is set 400 years in the future, when disease has wiped out the majority of the earth's population except for one walled, protected city-state, Bregna, ruled by a congress of scientists.

The story centres on Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron), the top operative in an underground rebellion led by The Handler (Frances McDormand). A highly-trained soldier on the front lines of a war against the perfect society, Aeon is one of the few to suspect that this perfect life is hiding a perfect lie.

The dynasty of Goodchild (Marton Csokas) lords over the city, and anyone that disagrees with what the dynasty dictates, disappears.

When Aeon is sent on a mission to kill Goodchild she uncovers a world of secrets that will shatter the perfect world.

What is most striking about the film is its visual style. Director Karyn Kusama lets loose with bizarre images and imaginatively-realised sequences - such as a jaunt through a deadly garden - that give the picture an otherworldly quality that is missing from most sci-fi fare.

Charlize Theron is athletically lithe enough to embody the character of Aeon; it's when she speaks that the screenplay lets her down. I also have no idea what possessed the excellent actor Frances McDormand to accept what amounts to a bizarre cameo role.

What struck me about this film was that it was visually interesting and based on a tantalising idea but, ultimately, badly written. That's a shame. The calibre of acting talent deserved more.

Adrian Drayton