| "Leviathan" | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Edward Goin |
| Produced by | American McGee |
| Written by | Edward Goin |
| Starring | Susie Brann Jean-Phillipe Maurer |
| Music by | Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys |
| Cinematography | Edward Goin |
| Edited by | ACE Film Studios |
| Studio | ACE Film Studios |
| Release date | October 31, 2015 |
| Running time | 10:31 |
| Language | English |
| Image gallery (11) | |
"Leviathan" is the first short in Alice: Otherlands. It delves into the mind of Jules Verne. It is followed by "A Night at the Opera".
Plot[]
On the Moon, Jules Verne is gazing at the sky, watching the stars. Alice Liddell appears and tells him that she believes he is going the wrong way. He wonders how she was able to get to the Moon and asks if she is lost, Alice returns the question and invites him to come back down to Earth. He looks into the far reaches of the galaxy, pondering his final science-adventure novel, when Alice comments that he has not yet shown them far enough.
Alice inviting Verne into the rocketship.
Verne dismisses her statement and asks her "what could be deeper than the Earth?", before he starts to follow her to a rocket ship. She idly replies that it is not the right question, but supposes that it is a start. Having been mildly offended at her manners, he proceeds to tell her that she has not properly introduced herself, yet seeks his companionship on an adventure. Alice discloses her name and that, like him, she also never refuses a Voyage Extraordinaire. Verne then boards the rocket ship, after her.
As the ship falls down to Earth, causing its hull to catch fire, Verne seems to notice that Alice does not fear the fire. She states that she does not fear it anymore, and that her fears are not "of lasting relevance." They continue to descend to the Earth's stratosphere in a hot air balloon. Alice asks what Verne fears, and he replies that he "look[s] to the skies not in fear, but with intent." She then cuts the ropes of the hot air balloon with her Vorpal Blade, much to Verne's astonishment.
The hot air balloon falls into the ocean, and they find themselves steering the Nautilus. Several tentacles are circling around the submarine, and a tentacle appears outside the viewing window. Alice then reflects on her relationship with Bumby, saying that "not all men of science are driven by noble pursuits", when the deceased doctor's face morphs on the tentacle. She grips her Vorpal Blade and almost draws it out, as she again asks Verne what he fears. The tentacle's eyes lit up and notices the Vorpal Blade, before returning to normal and disappearing out of sight. The tentacle monster is revealed to be the Leviathan, manifested from Alice's psyche. Verne captains the Nautilus's steering wheel and they emerg in a cavern.
Alice and Verne discuss the dark nature of humanity.
In the cavern, Alice and Verne find caveman scribbles, depicting figures engaged in battle using bows and arrows: humanity fighting and killing itself. Alice and Verne discuss unintended consequences caused by noble intentions, and the dark nature of humanity. He tells her that "deeper than the humble beginnings of man is his dark nature." She asks if he "will take [them] there" and offers her hand. He holds her hand and they are transported on a war tower.
Verne wonders if the place they have found themselves in is actual hell, and Alice states that his fear "may one day become reality." He comments "only hell on Earth can halt man's destined ascension to the heaven", as he is caught in surprise when the cannon's fire shakes the tower. Verne tells Alice that they "lead mankind to one of two inevitable ends", as he agrees when she states that he now knows the question. He looks at the revolving door with a "1960" above it and walks toward it, saying that he "has been here before and now returned with a question and a purpose." Verne notices that Alice has disappeared, and he walks into the door that leads to the vision of a futuristic Paris.
Cast[]
- Susie Brann as Alice Liddell
- Jean-Phillipe Maurer as Jules Verne
External links[]
- Leviathan (YouTube)
- Leviathan (Vimeo) – Subtitled version
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