Writer: Ng Suzhen

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Watch this if you liked: “The Fountain”

Best described as a love story supported by the twisted laws of physics due to the premise of two worlds with differing gravitational pulls, audience might get thrown off in the beginning by the attempt at describing the science of both worlds as well as Jim Sturgess' dreadful attempts at narration.

Voiceovers may truly be the bane of his career as the effect feels like a novice parent trying to tell his kids a bedtime story. It is lucky that his performance has much more depth than his recitations.

More romance than science fiction, the story circles around Adam (Jim Sturgess) and Eden (Kirsten Dunst) who meet each other during their childhood while walking the mountains. The meeting eventually leads the two from different worlds to fall in love despite the fact that it is illegal to cross into the threshold of the other world.

Of course, being young lovers consumed by passion, any law other than the importance of their romance is not deemed as essential information to process. It is no surprise that tragedy eventually strikes when the two rendezvous in Down Below, where Adam dwells. Both pay the price in their respective ways and ten years go by before the pair meets again.

The naming of both characters comes as some sort of prelude to a significant occurrence for both worlds, but the clincher for the event is never really fully explored as Adam's and Eden's love eclipse much of the science fiction factor.

Separated by the status difference and barrier between both worlds (Up Top is rich and affluent while Down Below is poor and desolate), the only place that allows both universe to truly collide is through Transworld, a company that allows employees from Up and Down to share a working space 'side-by-side'. When Adam discovers Eden working for the company, he immediately applies for a job there by enticing the employers with an anti-gravity beauty cream that he has been working on.

Adam struggles to blend his way into Up Top without falling or burning to his death as materials that pass to the other world will go up in flames. His efforts turn out to be a success until he visits the bathroom. Let us just say that while Adam may be a capable scientist, he does not really think through everything.

The efforts he makes for Eden are tremendous, which is flat out one-sided as Eden does little except to look pretty, shed a couple of tears and throwing incredulous looks at him. The tragedy faced by the star-crossed lovers is neither heartbreaking nor legendary as you know that their relationship will somehow become a turning point for the condition of both worlds.

That being said, "Upside Down" is a feast of cinematic visuals with breathtaking effects taking place at every corner to make almost colliding worlds Up Top and Down Below become a reality in the film.

Word of advice though, if you are prone to motion sickness, try not to watch the movie with a full stomach. Things may turn out more dizzying than expected with its boggling laws of physics in physical as well as verbal form.

Cinema Online, 27 December 2012