Introduction:
Uglies is one of the most expected films of the 2024 science fiction drama genre with McG as director which is based on Scott Westerfeld’s young adult novel series. Fixing the flick in a postmodern world where society enforces aestheticization through operative means, the movie is a critique of issues to do with identity, conformity, and resistance. Starring Joey King as Tally Youngblood, Brianne Tju as Shay, and Keith Powers as David, Uglies will surely catch the attention of a readership of the saga and beyond. This paper takes a critical view of the film’s release date, plot, reception, technical, and acting and ends with a critique.
Release Date:
Uglies started airing on September 13, 2024, and the series streams solely on Netflix. The release of the film was widely anticipated because of the association with the cherished and famous series of books and devotee attention to the dystopian drama so rampant in modern films.
Crew:
| Crew Role | Name/s |
|---|---|
| Director | McG |
| Producers | John Davis Jordan Davis Robyn Meisinger Dan Spilo McG Mary Viola |
| Screenplay | Jacob Forman Vanessa Taylor Whit Anderson |
| Editors | Martin Bernfeld Brad Besser |
| Music Director | Edward Shearmur |
Cast:
| Actor/Actress | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Joey King | Tally Youngblood |
| Chase Stokes | Peris |
| Keith Powers | David |
| Brianne Tju | Shay |
| Jan Luis Castellanos | Croy |
| Kevin Miles | Auryn |
| Kelly Gale | Sage |
| Zamani Wilder | Astrix |
| Masood Ali Khan | Prime Minister Morrell |
| Robert Palmer Watkins | Sol Youngblood |
| Jillian Murray | Ellie Youngblood |
| Charmin Lee | Maddy |
| Gabriella Garcia | Sussy |
| Jordan Sherley | An |
| Brett Hoyle | Nico Rodrigo |
| Will Poston | Warden Caster |
| Dutch Johnson | Lt. Zevon |
| DeVon Johnson | Az |
| Michelle Pokopac | Smokie #3 |
| Tendal Mann | Smokie #6 |
| You Mizuno | Nurse |
Story:
In a future where humanity has exhausted its natural resources, society has adopted a radical solution: people in their junior year submit to a forced surgical procedure to look like the “Pretties” by the age of sixteen. This change becomes an attempt to erase differences in the physical body and create a new more perfect-looking body.
The story is based around Tally Youngblood (Joey King) a teenager who is excited about her surgery, but objects to it once her friend – Peris (Chase Stokes) gets through the operation he does not care about friendship anymore. She befriends another “Ugly”, Shay (Brianne Tju) with whom she happens to have a common birthday. Shay does not believe in the surgery and will try to run away to “The Smoke” a non-conventional civilization. This is the case in the series when Tally, played by Marlene Queen with femininity, is forced by Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox) to work as an informer for the government, for her surgery.
When Tally becomes a spy for the outside world within The Smoke area and knows its leader David played by Keith Powers she starts reconsidering the meaning of beauty and having the desired look. It shifts back and forth between Tally and the Pretty to her friends and the Pretty that she has been given it as a resolution. The climax is configured about the rebellious nature of societies and the freedom-fighting magnitude.
Review:
Regarding the reception of the movie Uglies, such viewers brought the IMDb rating slightly above 6.5/10. Thus, the film has been pros seasoned with frantic visual design and acting but regaled with reproaches for the LG algorithms of pace and characterization.
Positives:
- Visual Aesthetics: In this dystopian film, the production designers make good use of CGI to give this world a realistic feel. Shmoop points out the contrast between Unattractive – Uglies’ Grey boring existence and the technicolor world of Pretty Pretties.
- Strong Performances: Talented Joey King did a good job as the main character Tally, she played this role showing the transformation of the character from innocent to aware of herself. Next to her hot performance, Brianne Tju is pointed out for her role of Shay revealing the rebellious nature of the character.
- Relevant Themes: The topic of beauty standards and the pressure that people put on each other is topical right now, so when watching the film, the audience can both identify the materials and apply the knowledge they have to the movie.
Negatives:
- Pacing Issues: There were several complaints which could be summed up to stating that the pacing of the film is not very smooth with some transition sequences from one informative scene to the subsequent spectacular one.
- Character Development: There are some weak scripts presented here where secondary characters especially appear to be a little shallow to add fictional stakes to the main characters.
- Predictable Plot: Some ideas may be predictable and familiar for listeners familiar with dystopian texts, or identical to ideas described in other dystopian texts.
Technical Aspects:
- It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get through Uglies and thus fits within the familiar continuous long movie structure while somehow providing a vast amount of background information within the limits of the time.
- Cinematography
- Lighting: The point made by the director about the contrast between characters and Uglies and the aesthetic beauty of Pretties is also most beautifully enacted through the cinematography of Chris Menges. By using color grading the emotional undertone of different sequences is enhanced quite well.
- Direction: McG wants to broach action with character focus in part 2. However, the critics’ opinion that associating style with substance often radically reduces the latter can be applied here as well and he brilliantly manages to provide an enthralling spectacle.
- Editing: The editing is fast yet it has a few problems where some scenes seem like they have been either rushed through or where the filmmakers took an owl being way too long. Such a lack of unity can disturb the watcher at the moments that matter most in shooting a Coke commercial.
Performance:
- Joey King as Tally Youngblood: Joey King goes through changes in the character Tally from a conforming follower model citizen to a rebellious thinker. She manages to depict weakness besides strength as she fights different powerful personalities.
- Brianne Tju as Shay: Tju plays Shay with charm as well as attitude and toughness. She represents rebellion against conformity and also precipitates the change of Tally. It seems genuine that she has a friendship with King.
- Keith Powers as David: Keith Powers as the protagonist David has a dashing presence along with passion iconized. Though his character works as a love interest for the protagonist Tally, some of the viewers were really disappointed with their relationship compared to the book’s depiction.
- Laverne Cox as Dr. Cable: Cox also does a good job in portraying the character of Dr.Cable and being a commanding officer, she is very much in showing intent that goes much further than simple on-screen professionalism. She brings depth to the interpretation of the story as it concerns power relations within and across society.
Moviepoptime Review:
This is based on the books but to my knowledge, I have not read them but this is a good movie to watch, has a good background story that will make you think that nothing in life is supposed to be perfect. A spoonful of teenage rebellion against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world where pretty is what the person expects to turn into. This film makes people recall a world in which people are judged based on their physical appearance and not by their character.
I wish they made a second part because I would like to know what becomes of Tally. Hopefully, If there isn’t going to be a sequel we will have to read the books to find out what happens to Tally and the others.
Conclusion:
Uglies is an exciting attempt at bringing Scott Westerfeld’s novel series into the world of film and television and exploring issues of beauty standards, identity, and revolt from the lens of a dystopia. On the upside, it is very strong on visual entertainment and has fine performances from its lead players, but it also has problems with pacing and outright cliché the way it was put together. Nonetheless, Uglies retains its importance today, it is now that the problem of beauty standards is at the top of the agenda.
Its themes represent the battle between one’s self and the world and can be understood by people and remain close to their own lives seeing Tally fighting for herself. It is for this reason that Uglies is must must-watch for lovers of the dystopian genre who look forward to tales that are character-based and come along with themes like beauty and identity.
This makes it easy for any person to watch it on Netflix for instance audiences who have been yearning for provoking movies that make them question societal aspects of contemporary life. In as much as the audience learns about Tally’s transformation and how she fights personal conformity amid a society that sought it,:${ fears we must confront as we face increasingly globalized cultures of sameness.
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