New Wachowski film ‘Jupiter Ascending’ debuts at Sundance

The Chicago-based Wachowski siblings, best known as “The Matrix” moguls, are back on the big-screen with a follow-up to “Cloud Atlas.” The 2012 epic struggled to earn back its budget at the worldwide box office and earned mixed critical reviews, including a four-star rave from late Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert.

According to a recent report on Variety.com, the crowd’s reaction to a Tuesday screening of “Jupiter Ascending” — described on IMDB.com as the story of “a young destitute caretaker” who “gets targeted by a ruthless son of a powerful family that live on a planet in need of a new heir” and then “travels with a genetically engineered warrior to the planet in order to stop his tyrant reign” — was less than enthusiastic. Some people, the write-up noted, even walked out mid-movie.

Not everyone in attendance was downbeat, however, including a screenwriter who expressed his admiration for the $175 million film.

“I actually liked it,” he told Variety. “But the Sundance context is weird. There were so many people in the audience scoffing and sneering. They are forgetting they are watching a movie targeted primarily to teenage boys. I’m sure those 15-year-old boys, and hopefully girls, will like it.”

“Jupiter Ascending” opens Feb. 6.

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