Reviews

Why? That is the main question about this movie. When I watched this movie it didn't yet have its devoted followers. I just wanted to enjoy an Asian movie a friend had recommended. And as I like many Asian movies I had fairly high hopes. As you can tell by my rating of it they were disappointed.

Why does this movie have such a high rating? What is there that I am not seeing?

It starts with a nice enough premise. A guy imprisoned for 15 years with no idea to the Why? and then, after suddenly being released, trying to find out what he did to deserve it. Well, that could be something! And it could have been. But, at least to me, it seemed the script didn't quite know where to go. Instead the lack of a coherent script is covered up in lots and lots of violence. And it is quite obvious that the violence is only used for shock and awe, which doesn't make a good movie.

The two big twists are utter letdowns. The reason for his imprisonment is a joke. They should've gone with complete lack of reason, like in Cube. But as it is, it is just dumb. And then there is this incest theme which also seems to serve no other purpose than to shock people.

Maybe I am too old to just watch a movie because it is shocking. I certainly don't think a movie is good just because it is trying very hard to break as many taboos as possible.

There is absolutely nothing that sets this movie apart from many other movies. No great achievements in acting, story, script, music, cinematography. Absolutely none. Yet it receives very high ratings. I really don't understand why.

I didn't like this movie. Not one bit.

It started with the music, which was way too intrusive. Not moody, intrusive. You don't notice a good score, it just is there, blends in with the pictures and sets the mood. Here the score comes over to your table, insults your lady and spills its drink unto your lap.

But the biggest disappointment was the conclusion. I will spoil it now, so bugger off if you haven't seen the movie. It was all in his mind. Great, I have never heard that one before. Mental institutions have become such a movie cliché that whenever I see one I know the big question will be whether what we see is all in somebody's mind.

My tip: watch the first hour, the acting is really good, the sets are fine. When DiCaprio has his breakdown in Kingsley's office, skip to the end in the lighthouse and finish it from there. Although if you like hallucinations or take drugs on a regular basis you might enjoy the crap that happens between those two scenes.

Cargo is quite nice, especially considering it counts as an indie movie. And it is from Switzerland, a country not known for its professional movie industry.

I was trying to enjoy it and that was working really well for a while, but after about an hour the movie lost me. Especially in the second half there are too many scenes that just drag on and on. I think you could easily cut 30 minutes out and get a more gripping movie. Because, quite frankly, I was bored by Cargo. Bored to the point that I skipped through the last half hour. The fact that I know when I started skipping tells enough, because it means I got so bored I went to see how much longer the movie was going to run.

The big plot idea is pretty obvious after the big find they make. And yet the movie goes on another hour.

Also, I read this in another review, the sound is messed up. It is not only noticeable, but quite annoying. Too much on the surround speakers, not enough on the center.

I only give it 5 out of 10 for its many flaws. But go and see for yourself. Maybe you can enjoy it. It is obvious that a lot of work went into this movie and it would be a shame if people don't see it.

Jason Statham is the king of contemporary action B movies. With both the Transporter and the Crank franchise he delivers fun action that is under no circumstances to be taken seriously. I mean, the tag line for Crank 2 is "He was dead... he got better". If you can read this and still complain about the movie not being realistic and having to suspend disbelief... wow, you are on the wrong planet.

Coming back to Transporter 3. It's fun. The action is fine. Even lakes and trains can't stop Jason. The girl is a bit annoying at times, but, hey, nobody's perfect.

If you liked the first two Transporters and Crank, go watch this movie. You will be entertained.

If, however, you are more into action that is hyper-realistic and a re-enactment of actual events... stop posting on the internet.

I like Jet Li. I like Luc Besson. I like Morgan Freeman. But I don't like "Unleashed".

The actors weren't bad, when looking at them separately. It is the big picture where this movie fails. It seems Besson couldn't manage to assemble the different parts in a way that doesn't seem incoherent at times.

For example, the fighting and the story don't quite fit together. They tried to please both audiences. Those who are looking for a good story and good acting and the action crowd. Though in my opinion one should have been put out more prominent than the other, be it either one.

And then there are the plot holes. Of which there are quite some. Who was the bald guy in white? What happened to the armed thugs Bart had to wait outside when he confronted Danny in the end? What happened to the jeweler? Maybe a director's cut with more scenes added could change my opinion if this movie. Being as it is, I'm only giving it 4 out of 10.

I liked the acting. There were no top class actors and I really missed Mark Hamill and Malcom McDowell. But there were a lot of actors I like.

As a fan of the original games, especially part 3, this movie could've been a bit more than the games, casting the original actors and such. And instead of the fighting more story development would've been quite nice. I remember the ending of WC3 as being gloomy, with the Kilrathi home world being destroyed by mankind. A story like that... ah, this movie would be great. Instead we have a cheesy standard action plot. We are at war, the enemy stole a plot device and is threatening our whole race. Yawn.

Well, the potential was out there, the movie didn't catch it. Sad, sad. But they still managed to make a decent SF movie. There are definitely worse movies than WC.

Why do the characters I like always have to die? Heat is such a great movie. Excellent acting, good story. But the ending... It's like flirting with a really hot member of the opposite sex, making you all excited and then receiving a punch to the face.

Hanna was such an unsympathetic guy, while the gangster Neil was so nice. These two characters just stood on the opposite sides of the law by accident. It could've easily been the other way round. So far so good. You have two main characters portrayed by excellent actors, supported by good actors. I'm sure other comments point out how the good guy is shown as a driven, lonely man, while the antagonist is intelligent and reserved.

I for my part can more identify with the latter. He kills people, sure. But Hanna is no different. Both are men who do what they have to do in order to reach their goals.

When I watch this movie I turn the DVD player off when Neil is on his way to the airport. I just can't stand the ending.

Let's face it - except for Bruce Willis' excellent performance as the amoral killer this movie sucks. Big time.

The story had a few holes I could put my arm through. Like at the horrible, disgusting ending. He could control the gun from virtually any point in the world - but he chooses to sit 10 feet away from it. Christ. I nearly walked out of the theater when I saw this. Up until to that point I really liked the movie. Bruce was great, Gere's character sucked. But I could live with that. But from then on it went downhill. Oh boy. They literally drove it into the ground.

Coming to think about it.. it was Gere's character that ruined an otherwise good movie. He was way too good. His dark past as an IRA terrorist is mentioned in two sentences. From there he is the hero. The good guy. A role Gere plays with a disgusting nice guy attitude and a horrible Irish accent.

And then there is the finale. The big shootout. I could've lived with all the aforementioned would've been there another ending. My god. The jackal, near death, ready to shoot Mulqueen but then Isabella pops out of nowhere and takes vengeance. Bah.

So, 7 out of 10 until Bruce appears in the police uniform.

I wonder what this movie was all about. I failed at grasping the story - assuming there was one. The characters just showed up on some locations, doing hell knows what. The whole movie is so damn incoherent. At the beginning they explain what will happen next. I don't know if the director wanted the following scenes to be as mysterious as the secret agent business is to normal people. Despite from being as unrealistic as I'd expect from a movie like this, it's painfully incoherent. Did I mention this? At one scene the characters are doing their job for whomever at the next they are doing something else. I never knew why they did all this. The only thing I got was the revenge George took in Madrid. Everything else remains a mystery to me. And while I was still looking out for a conclusion that would've given the story any sense the credits started rolling by, leaving me very disappointed.