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Face/Off

Face/Off

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hair-trigger action!
Review: "Face/Off" is a sizzling action melodrama that stands as the greatest example thus far of John Woo's talent for spectacular mayhem and balletic action sequences. The plot of this one is fairly original -- how a cop surgically swaps faces with the criminal he is tracking -- but the unmistakable touches of John Woo are all there: two-handed gun battles, slow-motion destruction and bodies propelled through the air. Woo, who despises realism, always favours spectacle over accuracy and for this, he is famous for being one of the most original and exciting filmakers living today. His characterisations, for this very same reason, tend to be shallow; his treatment of moral issues, minimalistic. His achievement is his unique attempt to make violence aesthetically pleasing.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: In my opinion Face Off was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. John Travolta is a terrific star, so is Nicolas Cage. The special effects were great. 5 stars to the Movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow, what a movie!
Review: "Wow" is the only word to describe "Face/Off" an awesome action thriller with jaw dropping action scenes. Unlike most action movies "Face/Off" has compelling and intresting characters that aren't one dimensionial. The performances from John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are top notch, and the direction from action master John Woo is nothing short of briiliant. The action scenes in this movie are so fast, so kinetic that it leaves you out of breath and wanting more. Action movies don't better than this, don't miss it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: John Woo's best U.S. film to date -- perhaps his best ever?
Review: FACE/OFF is excellent. As a fan of John Woo, I have seen most of his post-1986 movies, and I think this could be his best one. It has a solid story, great characters, and awesome action.

If you haven't seen Woo's Hong Kong films, FACE/OFF (F/O herein) will come as a surprise. Woo's previous U.S. movies -- HARD TARGET (1993) and BROKEN ARROW (1996)-- were good movies, but they were "unWoo" in many ways. FACE/OFF brings the return of what made Woo so good in Hong Kong: fancy gunplay, and a strong character dynamic, in the form of a one-on-one duel between two men.

I will note that, while the action is good in this movie, it is not up to par with the action in HARD-BOILED (1992). HB still has the best action to date. I would say the action in F/O is comparable to that of THE KILLER (1989), with a much lower body count in the former. But make no mistake: the action in F/O is great. F/O is violent, but nothing like Woo's HK films, but still bloody nonetheless.

The DVD has a nice transfer, with a 2.35:1 widescreen mode. No pan/scan is available. Unfortunately, there aren't many extras. Only a trailer. It would have been great to have a director's commentary here.

However, if you like the movie, I would still recommend getting the DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best movie of John Woo!
Review: I have always liked the movies of John Woo (Hard Target, Broken Arrow) because of the good shot action scenes and the beautifull and spectaculair slow-motion action scenes. Face/Off has that too, and even much better! This movie has the most spectaculair scenes I have ever seen! Plus the fabulous performances of john Travolta and Nicolas Cage, the very good score of John Powell and a very original story.

All that makes this one of the best action movies ever made that everyone who likes a good story and a lot of great action, or just a good movie, should see.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: HK= Hard Boiled, US= Face/Off
Review: After years of making fantastic Hong Kong action movies, the finest action director alive John Woo went to America. His first two releases - Hard Target and Broken Arrow were both mediocre and displayed little of the Woo genius. Face/Off corrected that. This is one of the finest action movies EVER. Ok the story is far fetched, but with action scenes, dialogue ("I AM Castor Troy! ","I hate to see you go, but I love to see you leave") and performances this good you just dont care.

Travolta and Cage both try to outdo each other in the 'overacting' stakes and it works a treat. You can tell they had fun making this movie, just like how you are going to have fun watching this movie. Hong Kong had Hard Boiled, the US has Face/Off. And Castor Troy getting out of his car, his coat flapping in the wind is still one of the coolest scenes ever! Roll on Mission:Impossible 2!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A ballet of bullets and blood
Review: If there is one thing that Asia does better than America, it is intense, violent action. John Woo, legendary Hong Kong filmmaker, strutted his prowess in this beyond-hollywood masterpiece. However, Woo wansn't the only one on his game here. The duo of Nicholas Cage and John Travolta, exchanging roles, faces, and mannerisms, really showed off their previously hidden acting abilities. The plot was surprisingly interesting, if repeatedly implausable. And everything bled of style. But none of this got to hold the spotlight for long, especially against some of the most intense double-fisted gun battles this side of the pacific. Unlike traditional hollywood fare which would throw more FX budget at a scene, these were intense because they were well cheoreographed, stunningly filmed, and playfully inventive. Sure, John Woo peppered his action with very cool, very human points of high drama, but the point of the drama is getting your heart pumping, and at that Face / Off excelled.

If the phrase "guns 'a blazing" doesn't appeal to you, you'll definitely want to pass on this one. For the rest of us, however, this is everything an action movie is supposed to be, and oh so beautiful.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Get Real.
Review: Okay, I'll suspend belief and accept that our government has a way to take the face off one person and put it on another in a way that all the muscles and nerves work perfectly. But that's not all this movie wants you to believe. We then have to believe that the Nicholas Cage character, who is considered a highly dangerous terrorist, is left alone in the lab, free to get up and roam around. We then have to believe that he figures out what happened to him and is able to round up his cronies, locate the surgeon, kidnap him, and force him to perform the operation that puts John Travolta's face on his head. And the doctor, performs the delicate surgery, knowing full well that he will be killed afterwards. Next, we are to believe that a crack FBI team is lured into the lab and killed off. Of course, these are the only people who know that John Travolta is now wearing Nicholas Cage's face. Cage, now wearing Travolta's face, goes to the prison where Travolta (wearing Cage's face) is undercover and lets him know he's on to the whole scam and Travolta is in there for the duration. Now, the prisoners there all wear magnetic boots (that's right) that only come off when they are in the hospital ward. Travolta gets in there easily. There's a guy there who tried to kill him because Cage had slept with his wife. In an instant, Travolta manages to convince him that he didn't and that the guy should help him escape. In a flash, the escape starts without benefit of a plan. Innocent people are killed and he escapes. On and on it goes. Violence prevails. Yet the principles are never killed. At one point, the two leads jump into speedboats for a chase. Both drive like they are experienced racers. While this chase is going on, they are shooting automatic weapons at each other and can't hit a thing. Then, a harbor patrol boat comes along and the bad guy wipes out the whole crew with a spray of bullets but still can't hit the good guy. The whole movie is like this. One implausible thing after another. What a waste of the talented leads.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: this movie is like "WHOA"
Review: YA'LL NEED TO HATING ON THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT WAS GREAT.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Face-to-Face Mayhem
Review: John Travolta and Nicolas Cage bring new meaning to the phrase "meeting face-to-face" in the exceptional action-packed smash hit "Face/off". After years of search, dedicated FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) has capture elusive criminal mastermind Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), but not before Troy has planted a deadly bio-weapon in the heart of Los Angeles. Now, to save the city, Archer undergoes a futuristic surgery to become his arch nemesis and infiltrate Troy's underground world. When Castor Troy resurfaces, he undergoes the same process to become Archer and the battle between arch rivals takes a new twist. "Face/off" is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat joyride from start to finish. Nicolas Cage and John Travolta deliver powerhouse performances as both Archer and Troy. Acclaimed action director John Woo brings out non-stop excitement within a clever fast-paced plot. From an intense FBI capture to an exhilarating speedboat chase, the thrilling action sequences are simply amazing and Woo's clever use of camerawork just elevates the movie's intensity. The amazing actioner is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD has a rich well-defined picture quality and a dynamic 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Its only special feature is the film's original theatrical trailer. Overall, "Face/off" is another simple bare-bones DVD and earns a satisfying "B-".


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