"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
Member since:21.02.2007
Reviews:269
Members who trust:32
Director: Doug Liman Screenplay: David S. Goyer & Jim Uhls Genre: Action - Adventure - Sci-Fi - Thriller Country: USA Certification: 12+ Language: English Released: 16th June, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST:
Hayden Christensen (David Rice) Jamie Bell (Griffin) Rachel Bilson (Millie Harris) Diane Lane (Mary Rice) Samuel L. Jackson (Roland)
David Rice, a somewhat shy teen from a small town, falls through the ice when he wanders onto a frozen lake, and is saved from drowning when he is suddenly transported, wet clothes and all, to the local library. Unable to understand what happened, David begins to experiment with his 'jumping' abilities.
Possessing the ability to jump from one place to another, it doesn't take David long to realise the full potential of his gift, and he takes it to the max when he 'borrows' money from the local
bank and embarks on a lifestyle that would make even the rich and famous envious. Jumping from one country to another, David is able to visit the world within a single day, to do everything he wants to do when he wants to do it… however, David's emotional attachment to a particular girl he fancied in school, makes him yearn for something more once the novelty of his 'gift' has worn off.
Deciding to go after the girl of his dreams, to win her heart whatever the cost, his timing couldn't be worse. His 'jumping' has drawn attention, and there is an underground organisation out there that will do anything to get their hands on him… they're rich and powerful, and their belief that he is 'unnatural' and evil could prove fatal for David.
Considering the fact that 'Jumper' possessed a healthy budget and that the format was a sure winner at the box office, I truly believed that the director and writers would create a 'quality' movie - how wrong I was… and how disappointing this movie turned out to be.
My first and greatest complaint is with the special-effects. They are singularly uninteresting, bland and boring, and reminiscent of a 'B' movie. This is the stuff of amateurs.
It wasn't enough that the director and writers skimped on the special-effects, they went so far as to use second-rate actors (apart from Samuel L. Jackson and Diane Lane) who failed to develop their characters and to make them even the tiniest bit 'believable'. The truth is, none of the characters are particularly appealing in this movie. What we see are a bunch of teens who have reached maturity yet have never grown 'into' it. There is no depth to any of the characters… they are simply characters, some good and some evil, none of them actually interesting.
The story itself is interesting - the possibilities mind-boggling, yet the director and writers failed to realise this movie's full potential, which is why the feedback on this movie goes from disappointment to downright anger. Needless to say that I'm not the only one who felt as though I'd been 'had', nor am I the only who will NOT be paying to watch the upcoming sequel… because, yes, there will be a sequel, the director and writers have inserted it in the movie, shoving it in your face, and you're blatantly told, without so many words, that there's more to come… but you have to pay to see it!
It is simply infuriating that something with such potential should be turned into a cheap money-making machine.
I am trying hard to find redeeming qualities - the scenes are action-packed, yet there is always this persistent feeling that nothing is actually happening. The special-effects are basic, the characters are shallow, the scenes are somewhat cluttered by unnecessary extras, the dialogue is somewhat staid and there is no 'atmosphere' to speak of - what holds the viewer's attention are the unending possibilities, the incessant images brought forth by our own overdeveloped imaginations… and we hold on tight, we watch the screen with bated breath, waiting for something that will blow us away because we know that the potential is there, we can feel it… but it just never happens. We are never blown away, and the potential is lost forever. What a waste.
This movie is reminiscent of 'Next' with Nicholas Cage - a movie possessing a million possibilities, yet failing to meet even one.
'Jumper' reminds me of the old adage; "Don't judge a book by it's cover". This movie's cover is exciting, the storyline is fascinating with unlimited potential - but the pages hidden beneath the cover are the exact opposite. If you buy a book because of it's cover, chances are you'll be disappointed… not to mention the fact that you might be missing out on something truly spectacular by passing up on a book with an unappealing cover. This review isn't about a book… but the premise holds true nonetheless.
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Science Fiction - Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ayako Kawasumi, Fujiko Takimoto
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Good review. I have to agree with you - this had such potential but was sadly lacking. I did consider reading the book it was adapted from to see if this was better, but it was a very thin book with quite large type so I suspect it too would be a let down.
dizzy07 06.08.2008 15:00
Great review. I've heard similar about this film and havn't bothered to watch it myself for the same reasons you've mentioned.
A teenager from an abusive household discovers he can teleport from one place to another. ... more
He uses this ability to search for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother drawing the attention of the NSA and another youth with the sa...
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Advantages: Special effects, camerawork, Jamie Bell and Samuel L Jackson Disadvantages: Davids character seemed lacking, the story is rather weak, pretty unmemorable fare overall
IzzyS 04.01.2009 (04.01.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Jumper (DVD)
![Jumper [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/69769299.jpg "Jumper [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
![Jumper [DVD] [2008]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/79803698.jpg "Jumper [DVD] [2008]")
Aug 6th, 2008
very helpful by (100%):
