Rating: 
Summary: Paycheck- Mostly Enjoyable
Review: Paycheck, the new sci-fi action thriller from John Woo delivers some great action and entertains on a high scale. Ben Affleck is better, (eagerly trying to redeem himself after the huge debacle of Gigli). Uma Thurman does just fine and Joe Morton and Paul Giamatti shine.
Now the premise of this film might throw you off, but it shouldn't. Knowing that this film is based on the work of Philip K. Dick who wrote Blade Runner, Minority Report and Total Recall you can expect something new. The film while similar to The Bourne Identity definetly has its differences. In fact, Matt Damon was originally offered the lead role in Paycheck but he declined because he said it was too similar to his role in The Bourne Identity.
Essentially, Affleck plays Mike Jennings, a big computer engineer. His clever mind has enabled him to make a new program. Mike is soon offered a huge job offer by his good friend Jimmy Rethrick (Aaron Eckhart). After he's done the job he gets a huge paycheck, hence the title of the film. But his memory but be erased, and so he'll have no recollection of what his job was, since it is very secretive and confidential. After his memory is erased he soon learns he has a girlfriend, played by Uma Thurman. She along with his good friend Shorty played nicely by Paul Giamatti are the only ones he can trust.
Though the movie isn't as predictable as it may seem, it does build up with some suspense. And as I stated earlier it delivers with the typical action of a John Woo flick. From here we get a great BMW motorcycle chase, (similar to M:I-2, though it's hard to say which was better) along with some other action sequences.
Paycheck is rated PG-13 for Intense Action Violence and Brief Language. The violences includes mainly gunplay, fistfights and explosions. Language is extremely mild. There's
also some sexual innuendo, but not explicit. All in all, a good movie to see over the holiday. Worth viewing in theatres and possibly owning on video or DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Paycheck hit the bank!
Review: John Woo "wooed" me into this movie. Paycheck was a action packed, on the edge of your seat, rooting for the good guy movie. No this isn't like any old movie, this has a man trying to figure out what happened in the past 2 years of his life because frankly he has no clue; the only clues he has is the ones he sent to himself prior to entering job. John Woo hit this movie over the fence out of the park and into the world unknown! Ben Affleck is a very promising actor, I mean DareDevil, Reindeer Games, Armageddon (only exception is Gigli nothing good nothing terrible)! When you make a match up such as Ben Affleck as the lead role and John Woo as the director you know it will be an instant success. John Woo is the same man that brought you Mission Impossible, MI 2 and working on MI3!
Overall I absolutely enjoyed this movie, this is not a movie to miss! As I said before this star match up hits it over the fence, out of the park, and into the minds of future purchasers! 5 OUT OF 5!
Rating: 
Summary: Philip K Dick Turned a Run-of-the-Mill Actioner
Review: "Paycheck" is quite enjoyable if you can forget the fact that it is based on Philip K. Dick's novel, which previously inspired such films as "Blade Runner" "Total Recall" or "Minority Report." As you see, his novels have many brilliant ideas, one of which "Paycheck" tries to use -- that is, "wipe out your memory, and make money."Ben Affleck is Jennings, whose shady job is to re-invent the products of rival company, and make it a better one. After that process, he undergoes a 'wipe-out' process of his memory with a help from his only friend Paul Giamatti. This is not a healthy job, he knows, with too much pressure on his brain, but it pays. Then the sinister-looking Rethrick (Aaron Eckhart) comes to Jennings, offering the most lukelative job -- three years' work in his company. Of course, this means that he has to erase three years memories of his life, but he can get a paycheck with huge numbers, so why not do it? But, after the three years, what he got turns out a manila envelope, in which he finds 19 seemingly meaningless objects. Who did that, and more importantly, why? The original concept is good, but John Woo refuses to handle the matter in a way that would suit a Sci-fi genre. His approach is more like a Hitchcock-like, cat-and-mouse chase action, which comprises many set-pieces of car chase, gun-shooting, and explosions. And he does not forget to include a white dove and the men pointing guns to each other. What I do not understand is, though the film belongs to science fiction, it fails to convey the feeling of near-future world. In fact, you see the year 2007, and there is little touch of futuristic world, for which Philip K Dick's name is invoked. The technology looks scarcely progressed when the fire alarm is activated by cigarette's smoke. In the futute (and Dick's future in particular), chances are people are not allowed to smoke. But these things can be forgivable if the actions are good. Actually, they are not bad, just average. However, we have seen superb "Minority Report" (especially its opening 15 minutes), in which the futuristic technology hightened the suspence of the impending murder in a terrific way. We want that sense of thrill, which is not to be seen here. More problems: actors. Ben Affleck is good in "Daredevil," and usually a reliable actor who can suit the heroic figure, but his character looks very bland. Aaron Eckhart is a typical villain, which is nothing I complain (just OK), but most disappointing is Uma Thurman, who plays the obligatory role of potential love interest to Ben's role, which is painful to see. Remember, this film was shot after Tarantino's "Kill Bill," and that means she could be in a fit condition to do a bit of physical action. No, John Woo somehow ignores the opportunities to make her kick and punch, which is quite unaccountable. Please, please, Hollywood studios, give me something more original -- Sci-fi gadgets or something -- than guns and explosives, next time you use the name of Philip K. Dick, whose genius was mostly ignored while he was alive.
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling Enough
Review: (...)Yes, director John Woo turns an original script by Philip K. Dick ("Blade Runner", "Minority Report") into a straightforward action/adventure-oriented movie, but it works well within the genre`s limitations. It provides some food for thought about memory and its relevance, as well as the possibility of predict the future and its consequences. Ok, so the characters are a bit too typical: Ben Affleck plays the average hero, Uma Thurman is his pretty and smart girlfriend, Paul Giamatti shines as the comic relief loser and Aaron Eckhart gives shape to the cold-hearted, one-dimensional villain. Still, it`s a solid action movie nonetheless, and it provides a couple of well-crafted energetic scenes with some interesting twists along the way. Not a masterpiece, just a good sci-fi adventure that`s way better than most blockbusters around.
Worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Enough
Review: Director John Woo turns an original script by Philip K. Dick ("Blade Runner", "Minority Report") into a straightforward action/adventure-oriented movie, managing to make it work well within the genre`s limitations. "Paycheck" provides some food for thought about memory and its relevance, as well as the possibility of predict the future and its consequences. Ok, so the characters are a bit too typical: Ben Affleck plays the average hero, Uma Thurman is his pretty and smart girlfriend, Paul Giamatti shines as the comic relief loser and Aaron Eckhart gives shape to the cold-hearted, one-dimensional villain. Still, it`s a solid action movie nonetheless, and it provides a couple of well-crafted energetic scenes with some interesting twists along the way. Not a masterpiece, just a good sci-fi adventure that`s way better than most blockbusters around. Worth a look.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful--both funny awful and just plain bad awful.
Review: It's hard to believe anyone was paid money in connection with the making of this drech. It's so bad, so sad, so gosh darn pathetic in almost every way. And it sure is saying something if a movie can make Uma Thurman look awful. (We're already used to Ben Affleck looking bad.) Please, please don't both with this.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone who gave this movie less than 4 starts is a nut.
Review: Everyone who rated this movie and gave it less than 4 stars has definitely not understood the message of the movie. No, those reviews have been made by little fat couch potatoes who have no clue what it is like to write, plan, produce, shoot, edit and release a movie. But that's okay. You can't do it any better anyway. So your reviews are useless. And guess what? Instead of criticizing a movie with your "I-know-everything-better-attitude" you should get a life!
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying and entertaining
Review: It has the Philip K. Dick's feeling all over the movie and I liked it. I don't understand why people didn't like this movie. Of course its not Blade Runner or Minority Report as I believe it is les budgeted. But overall it was good and not a dissapointment in the sci fi territory
Rating:
Summary: as bad as it gets.
Review: pretty darn aweful on every level imaginable. i wish i hadn't seen it... this is a ridiculously bad film. i truly wonder why uma thurman, such great actress, would agree to do this film!!! it's a crying shame...
Rating: 
Summary: John Woo is worth the money.
Review: First off, John Woo cannot direct actors. He never has and he never will be able to. John Woo is an action director, as you all know, ergo, anyone who watched this film and can't get off on the acting should really have know better.
Every director (short of himself in "Goodwill") has had a hard enough time directing Affleck, especially when he is in the throngs of a who-knows-what emotional crisis that really shows in his performance here. Uma Thurman gives Woo a full plate as well, coming out of the zany postmodern antics of Tarantino's death camp . . . This being said, I really loved the premise of this film. It contained a very "Minority Report" feel to it, much like a Philip K Dick short story. I really wouldn't be suprised if Paycheck is derived from one or more of Phil's more obscure novellas.
The whole theory of reverse engineer is not only meta-fascinating to me, I think it is probably already being implimented on primitive commercial/corporate levels, and will probably evolve pretty close to the predictions here. Affleck plays an IT mercenary of sorts, out for hire to mimic/ perfect new hardware/software being produced by the worlds best corporations. He apparently gets in over his head when he accepts a 2 year job (that involves a two year memory swipe as well) that turns out to e a disaster. The plot interfacing with the near-future time era is inconsistent if you pay attention, yet not overly abrasive. I feel they execute plot very well in the film. I loved the science fiction behind all of the gadgetry and and effectual reality, and I felt the concepts were portrayed solidly.
Woo does a great job in the action sequences messing with all sorts of science fiction contraptions and creating creative visual concepts in fighting scenarios. He has always been able to shoot action scenes where people are creatively killed/ miraculously escape. If you love sci-fi, and you know better than to get your hopes up for incredible acting, you will really enjoy this film, as I did. I went into my viewing of it with a 'rock-film-like' mentality and came away intellectually stimulated. There are a series of subtle clues and philosophical tip-offs that really make this movie interesting to see how it all plays out.
Definitely a good movie to rent before you buy.
3 1/2 stars.
|
