Home :: DVD :: Mystery & Suspense  

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem
British Mystery Theater
Classics
Crime
Detectives
Film Noir
General
Mystery
Mystery & Suspense Masters
Neo-Noir
Series & Sequels
Suspense
Thrillers
Swordfish

Swordfish

List Price: $14.96
Your Price: $11.97
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 .. 34 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is My Opinion, But You're Welcome To It
Review: I can usually figure out the endings to most "ingenious criminal with hostages" movies, and this one was almost one of them. Fortunately, it was fresh and unique enough to satisfy my tough standards. I'm not one to give away endings to even very old movies, so read on without fear of important spoilers.
The deal? There is $9+ billion in old, unused, Government money, and Travolta's character wants it to help funding....oh, wait, he doesn't reveal what he's funding until the middle of the movie. So all I'll reveal is that Travolta's character has some interesting friends.
John Travolta does a great job playing the mastermind of a scheme to nap billions in old Govenment money. And Hugh Jackman is almost perfect as the brilliant Computer Hacker who's main motivation is just wanting to be a Father to his Daughter. (it's not revealing too much to say that his dishonorable job has nothing but honorable motives behind it)The only thing that I didn't like about his performance, was that I noticed some spots where his pronunciation of some of the same words changed, which reminded me he was an Australian playing an American. (He nailed the American dialect in X-Men though, so I know he's capable)
Don Cheadle, an actor who has so far never disappointed me with his performances, plays it just hot tempered enough with a cool manner, as the FBI Agent trying to figure out and foil Travolta's plans.
Halle Berry, sadly, failed to impress me very much with her performance. It was obvious to me that she did very little to prepare for the role. (I personally think Pam Grier would have brought more to the role, but maybe Pam would have passed on the role due to the odd "reading a book while topless" scenes)
By the way, in the scene when Travolta tells Jackman go for a drive with him, DO NOT MOVE! I won't give anything away, JUST STAY SEATED and you'll be blown away by what happens!
I loved the way the movie opened, Travolta's monologue was incredible! BUT, they showed too much after that given that it's all a scene that shows what happens near the end of the film! So you already know pretty much who is still alive, giving the "is he/she about to die?" scenes throughout the movie far less power.
I personally recommend renting or buying the DVD version, not only because the action looks better on it, but there are some really nice bonus goodies on it, like THREE alternate endings, which answered a couple of questions I personally had.
All in all, I highly recommend this film, and have already added it to my DVD collection.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Catch the Swordfish, it's good
Review: "SwordFish" is far from perfect, but it isn't that bad. Hugh Jackman is a relesed from prison for computor hacking. He is approached by Halle Barry and John Travolta to do one last hack. In exchange, they will help Jackman get custody of his daughter. Ok, the plot is no where near believable, but it is fast, exciting and fun. The computor science isn't very accurate, but you can look past that. The crime in question is so brilliant, it can't be possable. So, with plot and story so silly, what holds this together? What else; John Travolta in another scene chewing performance as a character who isn't who or what you think he is. He is funny, frightning, and a little sad. Jackman is totally likeable as a man doing everything for his daughter. And there is Halle Barry's infamous nude scene is was blown way out of proportion. But like I said, it's a roller coaster ride that's over before you know it, which is probably a good thing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Intense Action - Intriguing Plot
Review: Swordfish has so many twists that you don't know who is going what and who is telling the truth. The casting was great. Hugh Jackman is lost in all of the confusion. Who are these guys he has been hired by, criminals, drug dealers or related to the Government as they say they are?

Most interesting and intense is the scene in the bank. The movie begins with that scene and flashes back to the events that eventually get back to the bank. It is a very well done. It made wonder, there is an explosion, a very large one, it made me wonder if that is how explosions really are. Especially the ones of a murder bomber type.

Travolta does a good job as the leader of the group, and Halley Barry seems to do a good job, a little silly at times. There is one scene that really was not worth being in there of a sexual nature.....however, such are our movies today.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Another stupid delivery by Travolta
Review: This is the kind of movie that serves as an example for picturing the worst Hollywwod has to offer. Ok, sometimes it's good to watch a pop corn brainless movie, but at least we expect some sort of decent screenplay and coherence. This movie has none.

The screenplay is a mess. It's a shame to witness Sam Sheppard and Tate Donovan doing absolutely nothing in three minutes of screen time at best...Travolta is at his usual bad performance, the guy is becoming a joke in the movie industry (altough earning a lot of money).

Berry's part is also astonishingly stupid for an Oscar winner.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally cool movie! It goes for BROKE!
Review: Amazing movie, you would never guess its THAT good when you first go in to see it! The start of the film was just not expected! That 360-degree slow motion turn was just SUPERB! Very, very cool, the best I've ever seen in a 360 shot! The sound was just great. Then there was that bus!:--- 'AIRBOURNE!', yeah I'm talking about the bus! This movie is priceless! The cast was all-great, but I don't think Don Cheadle did too well in this film.
The story was great, pushed to a great extent and it turned out believable! Truly a classic, SWORDFISH! Great Action! Great Plot! Great Cast! Stands out above many action flicks!

10/10! (In this case 5/5!)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Standard plot, Interesting action, Moderate intelligence
Review: John Travolta plays a villain that doesn't bite. Goody. And behind the bullets and exploding things, there is some intelligence (Although not a lot, but some is better than none). Also good. Hugh Jackman, though playing a very standard ex-con hero character ("I'm just an ex-con trying to live a new life and get my kid back"), does a great job and almost - almost - makes his role seem new and different somehow. But don't be fooled. Every prisoner is like that.

The plot, without going into TOO much detail, is that a really good hacker (Stanley, Hugh Jackman) is hired by this freaky, mysterious guy (Travolta) who's planning to rob a bank of nine and a half billion dollars of DEA money....

The sex-related stuff is pretty stupid and distracting. In other words, unnecessary. Needless to say, the movie follows that whole "sex sells" thing. But forget about the sex. The movie has some other stuff to offer.

The action is reasonably good, especially explosion-wise. I'd have to give this movie a pretty high rating on the explod-o-meter, because it's creative with it's pyrotechnics, and it does it a lot.

The chase scenes are also pretty good, except for the running-down-a-hill part. You have to wonder, when the guy you're chasing falls down a huge hill and can't get back up onto his feet because he's too busy breaking his bones while falling, would YOU jump down that hill, too? Apparently, the LAPD and the FBI answer: Yes, definitely. In fact, they would call for back-up to jump down the hill, too.

There are a number of minor problems with the movie, but it's a pretty good action flick. I just wish I saw it with a different audience that didn't take it so seriously. There were many times when I cracked up laughing and realized that everyone else was silent.

The plot is simple, yet "complex." By "complex," I mean that there are a few plot twists and junk that try to come off as intelligent. A few of them work, and give the movie some credibility, while the others are as unnecessary as the sex.

The acting is very good, considering that it's an action movie, and the music ain't bad either. Best when watched while in a good, non-serious mood.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: remember 9-11
Review: I saw this movie the sunday before Sept 11 2001, and if you remember the arguments it's really interesting, probably this movie would be a blockbuster if it was released after that incident or with good marketing (remember "wag the dog" in the Clinton sex scandal). Just remember that more billionaries got richer after 9/11 than ever in the history of the US, not one important company was present in the two towers when the planes crashed (so that means that only in the twin towers the people got to work after 10am!! give me a break!), etc. So if you are a believer of all the CNN scenario of the 9/11 incident don't watch this movie 'cause your going to laugh, but.. if you think that the truth is yet to be relased WATCH THIS MOVIE.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is My Opinion, But You're Welcome To It
Review: I can usually figure out the endings to most "ingenious criminal with hostages" movies, and this one was almost one of them. Fortunately, it was fresh and unique enough to satisfy my tough standards. I'm not one to give away endings to even very old movies, so read on without fear of important spoilers.
The deal? There is $9+ billion in old, unused, Government money, and Travolta's character wants it to help funding....oh, wait, he doesn't reveal what he's funding until the middle of the movie. So all I'll reveal is that Travolta's character has some interesting friends.
John Travolta does a great job playing the mastermind of a scheme to nap billions in old Govenment money. And Hugh Jackman is almost perfect as the brilliant Computer Hacker who's main motivation is just wanting to be a Father to his Daughter. (it's not revealing too much to say that his dishonorable job has nothing but honorable motives behind it)The only thing that I didn't like about his performance, was that I noticed some spots where his pronunciation of some of the same words changed, which reminded me he was an Australian playing an American. (He nailed the American dialect in X-Men though, so I know he's capable)
Don Cheadle, an actor who has so far never disappointed me with his performances, plays it just hot tempered enough with a cool manner, as the FBI Agent trying to figure out and foil Travolta's plans.
Halle Berry, sadly, failed to impress me very much with her performance. It was obvious to me that she did very little to prepare for the role. (I personally think Pam Grier would have brought more to the role, but maybe Pam would have passed on the role due to the odd "reading a book while topless" scenes)
By the way, in the scene when Travolta tells Jackman go for a drive with him, DO NOT MOVE! I won't give anything away, JUST STAY SEATED and you'll be blown away by what happens!
I loved the way the movie opened, Travolta's monologue was incredible! BUT, they showed too much after that given that it's all a scene that shows what happens near the end of the film! So you already know pretty much who is still alive, giving the "is he/she about to die?" scenes throughout the movie far less power.
I personally recommend renting or buying the DVD version, not only because the action looks better on it, but there are some really nice bonus goodies on it, like THREE alternate endings, which answered a couple of questions I personally had.
All in all, I highly recommend this film, and have already added it to my DVD collection.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: sword fish
Review: this movie is a really good movie one of my favorites....because it (...)is real realistic and stuff. i suggest seing this movie and buying it

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Password: STUPID.
Review: Dominic Sena' Swordfish will go down in history as the movie where Halle Berry was topless for the first time onscreen. Sadly, that's the only thing people will ever remember about this awful movie.
Swordfish is supposed to be about this ex-con computer hacker (Hugh Jackman) recruited by Gabriel and Ginger (John Travolta and Halle Berry) to hack into a government computer system and steal billions of dollars in seized drug money. At least that's what the plot is roughly supposed to be. Somewhere after Halle Berry's gratuitous and unnecessary topless scene the plot becomes totally incoherent in its attempts to create twists and turns to shock the viewer. These logic-bending turns make an already weak story turn into a logic defying brain-mushing pile of drivel. There is no structure to the story and how it's set up; the scenes don't come together to make sense or even make a cohesive story. Stuff just happens because the producers wanted car chases, shootouts and explosions in the film even though there's no reason for them to be there. This film is for the short attention span crowd that likes XXX and The Fast and the Furious; trying to figure out why things happened in this mindless movie will give you an aneurysm.
Long story short, there are shoot-outs with guys in black SUVs, He hacks the system and gives them the money, Gabriel flies out in his helicopter to shoot senator who was helping him Afterward, there's a bank robbery they take hostages, Big explosion from opening scene explained, Gabriel hangs Ginger, He hacks system to get them money in bank, Gabriel shoots Ginger, hostages get on bus, For no reason, helicopter picks up a bus, malfunctions bus lands on building, Hostages fall off building and blow up, more stuff blows up, Gabriel gets in a Helicopter flies away, Jackman blows it up with a rocket launcher even though he has never used one in his life, Gabriel is confirmed dead, BUT HE'S NOT GABRIEL! He's an INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST. Jackman gets his daughter and drives off into the sunset. In the end, Ginger and Gabriel (who somehow survives being blown up in a helicopter) goes to a foreign bank get the stolen money and ride off in their yacht into the sunset while a luxury liner explodes behind them. Did that make sense to you? It didn't to me.
I have to wonder did a chimp with ADHD write this script? And did the same chimp with ADHD have friends with the same disability to greenlight this disaster? I can't believe in this day and age someone with a college education and works for major movie studio would spend over $80 million dollars to deliberately make a movie with a story as ridiculous as this one. Most of the money must have gone for Travolta's salary and those unnecessary CGI effects are added for absolutely no reason at all.
A five second shot at Halle Berry's topless chest isn't worth having to deal with this brain-numbing drivel calling itself a movie. (...) At least you'll get what you pay for. For an exciting crime caper movie get Ocean's Eleven, The Thomas Crown Affair or The Italian Job.


<< 1 2 3 4 .. 34 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates