"Mortal Engines" is set in a post-apocalyptic future where cities are mobile and consume each other for resources, following "Municipal Darwinism." The story follows Tom Natsworthy, a historian from London, and Hester Shaw, a mysterious girl seeking revenge against Thaddeus Valentine, the man who killed her mother. As they uncover Valentine's plan to use a superweapon called Medusa to gain power, they join forces with the Anti-Traction League to stop him. The film culminates in an intense battle to prevent the destruction of the Shield Wall protecting the static city of Shan Guo, with Hester and Tom ultimately thwarting Valentine's scheme and looking forward to exploring the world together.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The movie "Mortal Engines" is set in a post-apocalyptic future.
2. A devastating war called the "60-minute war" occurred in the past, causing widespread destruction and rearranging the continents.
3. The war resulted in the formation of mobile cities, known as "traction cities", which can move on wheels.
4. A system called "municipal Darwinism" was established, where larger cities could hunt and consume smaller ones.
5. The city of London is a major predator city that hunts and consumes smaller cities.
6. The main character, Tom Natsworthy, is a low-class apprentice historian of London.
7. Tom meets a girl named Hester Shaw, who is seeking revenge against Thaddeus Valentine, the deputy lord mayor of London.
8. Hester's mother, Pandora Shaw, was an archaeologist who was killed by Valentine.
9. Tom and Hester team up to stop Valentine's plan to use a quantum energy weapon called the "Medusa".
10. The Medusa was used in the 60-minute war and caused widespread destruction.
11. Valentine plans to use the Medusa to attack the city of Shang Guo, an anti-traction city that has all the resources London needs.
12. The anti-traction league, led by Anna Fang, is working to stop Valentine's plan.
13. Tom and Hester join the anti-traction league and help them in their mission to stop Valentine.
14. A cyborg named Shrike is sent to kill Hester, but ultimately spares her life when he realizes she has found someone she loves.
15. The necklace that Pandora gave to Hester contains a crash drive that can override the Medusa's firing sequence.
16. Tom, Hester, and Anna manage to stop the Medusa from launching, but not before Valentine kills Anna.
17. Valentine confronts his daughter Catherine and asks her to come with him, but she refuses and runs away.
18. Valentine decides to crash London into the shield wall to break it, but Tom and Catherine manage to stop him.
19. Tom destroys the engines of London's airship, preventing it from crashing into the wall.
20. Hester confronts Valentine and ultimately kills him with a missile launched by Tom.
21. The movie ends with Tom and Hester hugging and promising to travel the world together.