In many James Bond films, 007 ends up battling the villain in an underground fortress, a deep sea fortress, an overground fortress, or, at the very least, a faraway fortress. And we never really know how he got there or why the villain chose that as his headquarters but there we are, disbelief suspended, rooting for our hero. The malevolent villain in his malevolent fortress surrounded by malevolent underlings. But - and this is important - we expected that from Bond. After all, the ENTIRE WORLD was at stake. And what better to bring down the world than a fortress?
In 'Luther: The Fallen Sun', the entire world is not at stake. Given, a lot of innocent people do die, but does our villain really need a faraway fortress? No, of course not. But 'Luther's ...' got one. And, if actor Idris Elba were auditioning to be the next Bond, it would make sense to have the film's climax at that fortress. It would make sense for Luther - like Bond in Casino Royale - to be tied up and tortured at that fortress. It would make sense for Luther - like Bond - to battle the bureaucracy and have it's female head - like Bond's 'M' - become an important ally. Yes, at that fortress.
This Luther is unlike any that came before. And that is a bad thing, make no mistake. Do not go into this looking for London, or grit, or romance, or anything that made Luther, 'Luther'. In one early scene we see Luther posing atop a skyscraper, the camera rolling back from him, showing him off as a Batman-like super hero. Which, as we Luther fans know, he is not.
People are being killed all over London. What do they all have in common? Only Luther can figure it out. And he does. And we have no idea 'how'. He just does. Down to the most minute detail. He just does. And the 'who' behind the killings; he figures that out as well, and with ridiculous ease.
Luther is jailed early in the film (a totally unnecessary plot development). Why? The answer is vague but he does escape jail with - yes - ridiculous ease. And like every stereotypical thriller, locating the villain becomes personal. In this case it's the female head of police - like Bond's 'M' - who is imperiled.
I could go on. There's the whole Norway 'business' .... but enough. This Luther is bad stuff and if anyone tells you it ain't, that person (a) never watched the earlier Luthers and / or (b) should never be listened-to about anything, ever again.
In 'Luther: The Fallen Sun', the entire world is not at stake. Given, a lot of innocent people do die, but does our villain really need a faraway fortress? No, of course not. But 'Luther's ...' got one. And, if actor Idris Elba were auditioning to be the next Bond, it would make sense to have the film's climax at that fortress. It would make sense for Luther - like Bond in Casino Royale - to be tied up and tortured at that fortress. It would make sense for Luther - like Bond - to battle the bureaucracy and have it's female head - like Bond's 'M' - become an important ally. Yes, at that fortress.
This Luther is unlike any that came before. And that is a bad thing, make no mistake. Do not go into this looking for London, or grit, or romance, or anything that made Luther, 'Luther'. In one early scene we see Luther posing atop a skyscraper, the camera rolling back from him, showing him off as a Batman-like super hero. Which, as we Luther fans know, he is not.
People are being killed all over London. What do they all have in common? Only Luther can figure it out. And he does. And we have no idea 'how'. He just does. Down to the most minute detail. He just does. And the 'who' behind the killings; he figures that out as well, and with ridiculous ease.
Luther is jailed early in the film (a totally unnecessary plot development). Why? The answer is vague but he does escape jail with - yes - ridiculous ease. And like every stereotypical thriller, locating the villain becomes personal. In this case it's the female head of police - like Bond's 'M' - who is imperiled.
I could go on. There's the whole Norway 'business' .... but enough. This Luther is bad stuff and if anyone tells you it ain't, that person (a) never watched the earlier Luthers and / or (b) should never be listened-to about anything, ever again.