CHARMING CRIME CAPER IS A FITTING FINAL BIG-SCREEN OUTING FOR ACTING LEGEND ROBERT REDFORD
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Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw Robert Sheehan as Tom Natsworthy Sissy Spacek and Robert Redford
centuries after the cataclysmic Sixty Minute War. Survivors huddle on mobile metropolises fashioned from scavenged parts that “ingest” the resources of rival cities to feed roaring furnaces.
The largest of these behemoths is London, commanded by Mayor Magnus Crome (Patrick Malahide) with guidance from academic Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving).
Masked assassin Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar) sneaks aboard London and attempts to assassinate Valentine. Apprentice historian Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) intervenes before a fatal blow can be struck and, during the subsequent chase, he tumbles off a gangway and regains consciousness next to Hester in the wilderness.
The fugitives are forced to work together as they encounter famed pilot Anna Fang (Jihae) and a half-human, half-machine warrior called Shrike (Stephen Lang).
Mortal Engines is a solid opening chapter, which trades in gobsmacking set-pieces.
Hilmar is an appealingly spunky heroine and verbal rat-a-tat with Sheehan’s apprentice allows the darling buds of romance to appear.