Rating: 
Summary: Seriously story- and acting-deficient.
Review: Swordfish doesn't present itself as a particularly smart movie to begin with, but unfortunately, bad-to-heinous choices in storytelling, structure, camera work and pacing conspire to make this a big visual headache, effectively negating what might have been a fun popcorn movie.Hugh Jackman shows that even an actor of his charm and considerable ability can do nothing when the script amounts to zero. The characters in Swordfish are paper-thin, not the least of which is Jackman's main character, supposed superhacker Stanley. John Travolta has done this vicious-villain role many times before and better, most notably as the devil-may-care stealth pilot of Broken Arrow, a far superior action piece in every way. Halle Berry gives one of the most miserable "performances" I've seen recently from a name star. Her feeble attempts at emotional expression and teeth-clenching dialogue delivery grate on the nerves at every turn, yet we are with her so often that there's no escape. I literally cheered when her character is suspended from a wire cable and asphyxiating. Don Cheadle is the only actor who doesn't quite embarrass himself thanks to his skills, yet his character is underutilized; given more screen time, he could have saved the film and offered up a worthy adversarial force to Travolta. Director Dominic Sena's music-video sensibilities are evident at every turn. There's plenty of show-offy shots and camera trickery in this film, but none of them feel natural as in The Matrix. Starting from the first scene, a pointless, boring pop-culture dissection of Dog Day Afternoon (feeble imitation of Reservoir Dogs, ten years after the fact), Sena's camera is a migraine-inducer -- hyperactively panning from character to character, obsessively racking focus, punching in and slamming out with seemingly no motivational force other than Sena's desperate attempt at forcing excitement onto a scene that carries no tension. Jackman's face reflected in a metal ball, virtuoso surround-dollies, bouncy handheld camera...it all invites a big "who cares". And Hugh Jackman has never looked more embarrassing than in the cutesy montage in which Stanley looks for a way to crack a certain computer problem. The unconventional structure is incredibly forced as well -- there's no reason why most of this story is told in flashback, and in persisting with this structure, Sena merely disrupts the (already shaky) flow of events so that the siege of the bank becomes hackneyed. Jackman and Cheadle's characters just blink onto the scene inexplicably and whole chunks of potential tension-building scenes are hacked out, leaving only the sense that here's a filmmaker who's desperately trying to be hip by tapping into an unconventional story structure, but just shoots himself in the foot in the vital narrative and emotional departments. Looking at the two alternate endings offered in the DVD extras, I can only say that I think Sena picked the worst one possible. Down endings don't necessarily mean good ones, and in the case of Swordfish, the official ending merely makes futile every single gesture in the film. There's no sense of triumph, tragedy, or even irony, just a sense that you've watched a noisy, violent exercise in excessive pyrotechnics with no aftermath, not making a statement about anything. The final 20 minutes of the film are like a dumbed-up parody of Dog Day Afternoon without an iota of the emotional content, all the gunfire, explosions and stunts only pointing out how emotionally void this whole film is.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't spend too much on this
Review: I'm not really sure why this one bombed so much for me. John Travolta, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, lots of explosions, loud music, clever gadgets and plot, but it just didn't excite me like I was expecting it to. Rent it? Definitely, but don't spend too much to buy your own copy.
Rating: 
Summary: This ain't no chick flick!
Review: Ok, is "Swordfish" an intelligent, suspensful thriller? Nope. Was it ever intended to make the Academy Awards nomination list? Nope. Then what is it?
... Yes, it is senseless violence, gratuitous nudity and sex that don't "add to the storyline," and paper-thin plotting. If you have sufficient knowledge of computer security, you'll probably grit your teeth at some of the obvious flaws in the cracker aspect of the story. However, this movie is also great action and incredible stunts. And, yes, I think I WILL "marvel at director Dominic Sena's biggest money shot--a 360-degree pan as a robbery hostage is blown to bits by a bomb that pelts a surrounding SWAT squad with deadly ball bearings." When I saw the first 10 minutes in the theatre, I simply said, "Wow."
If you want high-brow "artsy" movies, go rent "Gosford Park" (my own personal snore fest for this year's Oscar race). If you want a fun, thrilling little movie that has yummy eye candy--Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, depending on your preference--pick up "Swordfish." Sometimes movies are meant to simply entertain and be fun. "Swordfish" accomplishes that. You'll want this one on DVD because the sound and picture quality are not even close on the VHS edition. This is a watch-again popcorn-flick that this chick was happy to add to her DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes entertaining time-waster.
Review: John Travolta's a kind of terrorist/illusionist/self-appointed "freedom fighter" who enlists the help of Hugh Jackman, not really reformed master hacker-criminal who'll try one last gambit (involving electronic bank theft) especially if it means a better life for his daughter who lives with his irresponsible ex-wife...and, I guess, it means that stolen money can be stashed away in secret cofers for future espionage.
Judging by the grandiosity of Travolta's tricks and illusions (near the end he's able to engineer a bus air-lift with a fake double of himself) it's amazing that he's not rich enough to fund his own schemes.
Halle Berry's role is highly predictable as the extremely sexy partner-in-crime who seduces Jackman into agreement. But she's not all s-e-x, she can outGOLF him! She's a *multi-talented* psychopath! We are supposed to admire this character!
We are provided with two endings on the videocassette. The alternate is appalling - we are supposed to be impressed when Travolta and Berry ride off into the sunset, not the winners and nor the losers. What wild adventure is next for these happy travelers who leave mass destruction and chaos behind?
Rating: 
Summary: Odd and Disappointing
Review: This is yet another film delving into the world of hacking. The way that the film was shot was interesting - unusual camera angles, slow motion and effects kept me watching. The costuming of the characters was terrific. The storyline, however, lacked. There were moments the movie was limp and spent too much time on mundane incidents. The acting was contrived and not believable. Don't pay to see this one.
Rating:
Summary: Twists, Turns, Zigs, and Zags.
Review: I really didn't have any desire to watch SWORDFISH, but since it was the last video left at our local video store, I picked it up. I didn't know anything about the movie except that it starred John Travolta and Halle Berry ... I was quite suprised at how entertaining and engaging SWORDFISH was. The beginning of the movie confused me because I didn't know what was going on, but as the film progressed by going back in time, I was made to understand. Things were made clear and pieces fit together. After the confusing, yet highly intriguing opening five minutes of the film, the movie slows down considerably and doesn't pick up again for about forty minutes. I don't know why that is but in action flicks, character development usually doesn't keep tempo with the rest of the film and rarely adds anything to the story. Hugh Jackman plays the main "good guy" in this tale of international terrorism and national conspiracy. Jackman's character is hired by a man called Gabriel (John Travolta) to hack into a computer system to "rob" the federal government of several billions of dollars and transfer the dough into a foreign account without leaving a trace. As the movie progresses, one becomes aware that Gabriel is either a psychotic international terrorist or one perversely-dedicated secret agent. The movie is full of action, but except for the first five minutes, most of it doesn't happen until the last thirty minutes. Also, there are all kinds of twists, turns, zigs, and zags. Like Jackman's character, the audience never really knows who to trust or who's a "good" guy or who's a "bad" guy. Pieces to the puzzle are scattered throughout, but unless you think like Sherlock Holmes, you won't see them all. A second viewing is almost a must. Though this is an action movie, it is also a thought provoking film. Not only does it keep you guessing about who are the "bad guys" it also raises some important issues concerning democracy, freedom, justice, truth, and the American way. Since September 11th, 2001 the world has changed and the issues the movie raises are more important than ever...
Rating:
Summary: Can you hear me now.........GOOD!!!
Review: For [price] you get to see Topless Halle Berry (She look sooooo sexy!!!). I don't care what everyone thinks. She looks really good and the movie is worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: context
Review: If you like movies without any context or theme, movies that weren't worth making, you'll sure like this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: For those who enjoyed The Matrix and other high quality, fast speed technology based films, this is another film that will NOT disappoint! I was very suprised how well John Travolta performed in this role!!!
Rating:
Summary: I wish that happened to me while tapping the keyboards
Review: Jackman is the new Clint Eastwood but I fear that the film making talent just isn't there to give him his own iconic 'Dirty Harry', an affliction troubling many up and coming Hollywood stars today. His look of bewilderment and horror at the surreal nightmare he's trapped in during the robbery burns itself on your memory. Unfortunately, his subsequent willingness to except his cut of the appalling enterprise which cost the lives of innocent hostages disappoints and disgusts, even if he has a child to support in this barely watchable and frequently ugly would-be satirical examination of 'the ends justify the means'.
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