There might be a presumption of seriousness about a ravaging-monster movie in which the monster stays off screen for the first hour, and comes freighted with political symbolism. (To say nothing of the English subtitles! Or of the venerable presences of Jacques Perrin and Edith Scob!) But there is plenty of ridiculousness in refutation: from the Matrix-y camera moves and abrupt changes of speed, to the Hong Kong brand of martial arts practiced by an 18th-century French naturalist and his Mohawk Iroquois sidekick. The monster's first appearance, at least, is good cheesy fun, till spoiled by a rational, albeit incomprehensible, "explanation." Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Vincent Cassel, Emilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci; directed by Christophe Gans. (2001) — Duncan Shepherd