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Swordfish

Swordfish

List Price: $14.96
Your Price: $11.97
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A ton better than [poor] teen films like XXX.
Review: I truly can understand other reviewers negative comments about this film. Unfortunately, the film industry has been putting out heaps of [stuff] like "The Fast and the Furious" and "XXX". However, unlike those movies, Swordfish isn't a [poor] teen flick that makes you feel retarded after watching it. I mean, this film has some definitely interesting ideas about dealing with terrorism. Ironically, made before 9/11, Swordfish involves a black ops agent who acquires the help of a hacker who's down on his luck. Mayhem soon follows as Hugh Jackman's character realizes the kind of mess he's gotten himself into. I gave this film 5 stars because I actually apprecieted the fact that the characters were comprised of thirty something actors. These days, Hollywood tries too freaking much to appeal to teenagers by having films featuring meat heads like Vin Disel. Plus, in a wierd way, this movie stands out for me since there's sort of no real qoute on qoute "bad guy" in this film. The director of Swordfish also did the incredibly awful "Gone in 60 Seconds". However, he definitely makes up for it with this movie. Take the time to watch Swordfish, for an action flick, it definitely has some interesting views about such important topics like global terrorism, which is something that's lacking in today's films.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bad Bad Bad
Review: This film gets 2 stars because of the first 10 minutes - including the obviously Tarrantino inspired bit of self-reflexive dialogue. Then the film falls apart and becomes a tired action film - complete with ridiculous "tech talk" about firewalls and such nonsense and a flying bus. Miss this film at all costs.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Its not citizen kane, but who cares?
Review: Not an awful movie like everyone says. Full of action and cool shots. Nice twist on the ending. Cool deleted scenes and 2 alternate endings. One is worthwhile and the other kind of bites. Don't believe the hype, if you like action and innovative camerawork, then this movie would suit you. Don't think that it will become a classic, you'll probably watch it once.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Definitely not as bad as critics say
Review: Prior to viewing this film, I had read all the poor reviews from critics regarding it, but I still wanted to see it anyway. Perhaps this was because I knew that critics rarely gave action films good reviews at all, or perhaps it is because I knew I just happened to like this sort of film, but I watched it anyway.

It's actually a pretty good film. Sure, I can see how some critics could say that on the surface it has no plot and is poorly acted. However, if you take the time to look deeper, you discover that this is really not the case. Travolta's character in particular carries with him a lot of depth---he is always five steps ahead of everyone else, and the director does a great job carrying this throughout the movie. In addition, Hugh Jackman does an excellent job playing the role of Stanley, the hacker Travolta's character needs. And, of course, Halle Berry delivers a great performance also. All in all, I think it was acted very well, and I watched the movie twice just to catch everything.

In some respects, it's your typical action movie, but in others, it's a completely different flavor. You be the judge if you like it or not---but it is certainly worth viewing to find out.

As an endnote, I think the film holds some great implications for the post-9/11 world....if nothing else, it will make you think about the ideas it raises in regards to controlling terrorism.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A fun way to pass a couple of hours
Review: I'll admit I often enjoy movies for shallow reasons. For instance, I'm a fan of Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who, in addition to his demonstrated thespian skills, is quite attractive. I never tire of looking at him, and I've made a point of seeing all his American films, no matter how good ("X-Men") or bad ("Someone Like You"). Which explains why I went out of my way to see "Swordfish," which was actually better than I expected. A fast-moving plot powered by John Travolta's over-the-top performance, along with Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle and blink-you'll-miss-'em roles for Drea de Matteo of "The Sopranos" and esteemed playwright/actor Sam Shepard. Berry's ballyhooed nudity was gratuitous, but she projected actual acting chops in this film, along with Jackman, who didn't waste the dollars spent on his dramatic training. Three flying buses for this thoroughly enjoyable flick.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Techno Thriller
Review: This movie has guns, bombs, hacking, bank heists, helicopters, and a great beat.

Hugh Jackman (Wolverine from "X-Men") plays a retired computer hacker who is brought back into the business of computer fraud because John Travolta knows that he's the best of the best. Hugh accepts because he needs the money in order to get custody of his daughter, currently under the protection of his ex-wife. From there Jackman finds himself back in the cutthroat underworld of crime. Travolta stars as a the bad guy crime boss in this movie, with Halle Berry as his right hand woman. Very interesting roles for each of the actors/actresses involved.

With a great soundtrack by electronic god Paul Oakenfold, this film makes a great techno thriller, along the lines of "the Saint" and any of the Bond flicks.

I highly reccomend this film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Excessively Trite
Review: John Travolta, a scientology fan, pretends to be a Luddite who is radical and technically-savvy. L. Ron Hubbard would have been proud of his friend's portrayal of a tempermental dictator who seems to find human life a disposable commodity. He pursues his own brand of global justice, employing gun-toting goons, hackers, and a bevy of pseudo-models to entice and simultaneously distract the hackers. (Yes, I know it sounds self-defeating).

In his own grandiose scheme gone awry, Travolta hires Jackman, apparently because of his legendary technical skills, but probably because of his charming James Dean-esque looks. It takes a thin plot line about Jackman's past and a few no-means-yes innuendos from Halle Berry's character to entice our nerd protagonist. He reluctantly joins forces with the two, trying to keep his libido in check in the process.

Several special effects and sexual undertones later, and you'll realize why everything (from beginning to end) is completely predictable about this film.
The director does have a visually provocative way of handling action scenes. It keeps the movie's rating from falling any lower.

Strictly bargain-bin material.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: barely average
Review: Halle Berry with Her vibe can't save this film.John Travolta is still Coasting with another Mail in type of film.this film reminds me of a few different films&never finds itself.it's just a Film that is Grandstanding it's Own Hype for the most part.watching it once was half too much.some decent Action parts is why I give it a two.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Travolta Camps, Halle Vamps, and Jackman Slices....
Review: ...and I am ending up giving an extra star because I digs Dominic Sena's style and direction, but...

The plot started wearing thin shortly after Halle lies to Jackman about being DEA. I thought that the car chase/shoot out was very well done, but the 'twists' presented were cliche. Any number of modern crime dramas will have the same effect as far as surprising the audience. Resee "Speed", Johnny Travolta's own "Face/Off", or "Die Hard With a Vengeance"...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hugh Jackman Main Reason To Watch
Review: Yes, the only reason I watched this film is that I think Hugh Jackman is such a terrific leading man. He didn't disappoint me here either. I thoroughly enjoyed him as a top notch computer hacker newly released from prison who is trying to get his life together. He is recruited by John Travolta to do the computer hack of a lifetime for a huge monetary score. Where this film is preposterous though is with that John Travolta role. His playing a criminal mastermind is so over the top that I found myself laughing out loud every time he came on camera to indulge in yet more action adventure violent excess. Halle Berry is unrecognizable as the same actress who stars in "Monster's Ball" and is probably glad of that fact. She was strictly undressed window dressing in this film. Next to Hugh Jackman, the other two saving graces to the film are: 1) a 360-degree panoramic stop motion bombing scene that is incredibly artistic albeit violent and 2) a huge bus being carried over a city by a helicopter as Travolta's getaway vehicle.


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