Production Year: 2009 - Science Fiction - Director: Paul McGuigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou more
Scotsman Paul McGuigan (WICKER PARK, GANGSTER NO. 1) directs this high-energy sci-fi thriller set in Hong Kong. Nick (Chris Evans) is a 'mover', meaning he can move objects with... more
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Push is a curious take on the notion of superheroes, constructing a government driven operation, known as Division, designed to enhance powers of telekinesis in the aim of creating a super army. This, at least, is the platform upon which this episode is based, as we are introduced to the varying powers the characters possess.
There are Pushers, who can control and alter people's minds. This is probably the most impressive powers. Then there are Movers, who can use kinetic energy to move objects. The last of the three main powers focused upon are the Watchers, can can see the future, and its changes as they happen. There are others, such as Shadows, who can isolate someone and protect them against characters such as Sniffers, who are essentially those who can track anyone, anywhere.
So, what does all this mean? Well, the story follows Mover Nick (Chris Evans) and Watcher Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who come together more through prophecy than anything else, and must search for Pusher Kira (Camilla Belle), Division's only successful experiment whose powers have been enhanced by an injection. Kira is on the run, and has taken with her a syringe containing the Division's formula for power enhancement.
Division is represented in this film by Pusher Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) and his sidekick Mover Victor (Neil Jackson). They make for powerful and formidable villains, and the contrast is well made between the opposing sides, as well as the Chinese contingent of those with 'powers', as they attempt to acquire the powerful formula. The film is set among the back streets of a Chinese city, although specifics are never really mentioned. The settings are visually striking, and while this is definitely a sort of superhero film, it goes against the grain of the usual fist pumping macho genre and gives us a stylish and thought-provoking visual film.
However, this does mean that those seeking loads of action will probably find this a bit slow going, and the action scenes, when they do happen, aren't as convincing as they could be. I wasn't hugely impressed with the pace of the film, and at times it was very confusing. However, once you get the gist of it, and start to understand the setup, following Dakota Fanning's far too brief background narrative at the beginning of the film, there are actually some very clever plot twists. Not knowing what is going to happen next, but also knowing that there are characetrs who can see the future, makes it quite a tense matter, and some of the special effects in the final scenes are very effective.
However, I couldn't help feel that there was something missing. These Hollywood blockbusting Summer superhero films are occasionally slated for being too much about the action, but this does hide the fact that superhero films in general, and anything related to 'powers', tend to have rather weak plots, as the main focus has to be on the characters in order for us as viewers to understand the people involved. This is somewhat the case in Push, and I felt that at times, the balance of the film just wasn't impressive enough.
When the film ended, I was rather nonplussed, to be honest. I felt it had much more to give, and definitely left things quite open, with stated intentions by some of the characters leaving possibilites for a sequel should anyone decide to pursue it. However, I rather feel a lot will depend on the success of this as it gathers momentum on the DVD shelves now it has hit the shops. To be honest, it's not the sort of film I am likely to buy, and wouldn't really worry about watching it again. There were no extras on the copy we acquired through Blockbuster's delivery rental, and we're on a free trial for a month, so price wise, I couldn't comment from my own experience. Would I be happy if I had bought it for over £10 from a shop to watch? Probably not.
Advantages: Not that bad really Disadvantages: Could have been so much better
Push Starts with a young boy, Nick, being given some advice from his father just before his dad is shot down. Look out for a girl who will give him a flower. Nick escapes and so the film begins...... Physic soldiers left over from the Nazi experiments but now they are free they have had children and are hiding within the populace. They are hunted constantly and some even work for the 'Division'. Each country has its own 'division'. Each Country ... ...can see the future, 'Movers' are telekinetics, 'Pushers' put thoughts in your head, 'Sniffs', 'Shifter', 'Bleeders' and 'Shadows' the list and categories are endless as each type of 'Special' is caught and categorised. And used. But no one survives; no one survives the drugs that 'Division' gives them to boost their powers. The 'Division' has been winning a lot of battles but now its time for the 'Specials' to win the war or die out completely. 10 ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great Plot Disadvantages: can be confussing in parts
...while looking round the dvds in my local supermarket, I quite enjoy the TV show Heroes which does have some simialrites and love Lucky Number Slevin by the same director so I decided that I must watch this.
Although action packed this is a film that you really have to concentrate on to totally get the plot, there are quite a few twists and turns and the film tends to flit about a bit but all gets explained sooner or later.
There are great performances from Dakota Fanning and Camilla Belle but leading man Chris evans isn't always convincing.
I did really enjoy this, like I said it is a little like Heroes except much more gritty , with funky camera angles and a pretty cool soundtrack, which gives the movie a more realistic feel.
As for the special powers most would be great to have especially being able to Push ideas and thoughts into other...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good story, decent acting, tons of action... Disadvantages: Terrible special-effects and too much clutter.
...'s minds of memories, 'Bleeders' would emit a high-pitched screech that would make people's ears bleed and subsequently kill them, 'Stitchers' would literally be able to manipulate scar tissue, 'Shifters' would be able to change the appearance of objects temporarily and 'Sniffers' would be able to hunt the enemy down... fortunately, the end of the war effectively put an end to the German experiments, however, other countries, having learned of these experiments, decided to embark on a few experiments of their own.
The United States, not one to pass up on state-of-the-art weapons, even if they are in human form, set up their own 'Division' after the war and managed to create 'special' people of their own, unfortunately for the government, not all of these 'special' people want to spend their lives as guinea pigs.
'Push' begins ten years...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Well made, well acted, great story- will get you involved. Disadvantages: The Hong Kong gang screaming 'push' is really quite annoying!
...I watched this movie, not particularly expecting anything and was surprised at how much I actually loved it! I like movies like 'X-men' and the 'Heroes' series, but why I liked this movie in particular is as it wasn't so much based on super hero mutant types, but it was more realistic and less like a comic book.
The story follows a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who is amongst a type of people with psychic powers. Her mother is locked in a government research facility where the 'Division' experiments on her to discover the secret to her psychic powers. Cassie meets up with another psychic, Nick (Chris Evans) to seek revenge on the Division and together they battle in the Hong Kong underground.
I know it sounds a little unrealistic, but the characters have depth and Dakota Fanning gives an excellent performance. The abilities to 'push...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Consumer Advice: Contains moderate fantasy violence and horror
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United States of America
Plot: The mind becomes the battlefield in this action-fuelled sci-fi film starring Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, and Djimon Hounsou. Driven by the desire to avenge his father's murder, Nick Gant (Evans, FANTASTIC FOUR) combines the powers of psychics to destroy the people responsible. Fanning plays a teen with psychic powers who aids in Nick's quest.
Release details
Studio(s): ICON
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Sound: Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review: Though ostensibly action sci-fi, McGuigan's film pushes the boundaries of genre, playing out its paranormal parameters like a game of multi-dimensional chess (Channel 4 Film, 12/02/2009)
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Listed on Ciao since : 19/12/2008
DVD Description
Scotsman Paul McGuigan (WICKER PARK, GANGSTER NO. 1) directs this high-energy sci-fi thriller set in Hong Kong. Nick (Chris Evans) is a 'mover', meaning he can move objects with his mind. As a child, he escaped from Special Agent Carver (Djimon Hounsou) of the Division, a U.S. government operative who rounds up those with psychic gifts so that the government can perform experiments on them with the goal of creating a psychic army. Ten years later, Chris is lying low in Hong Kong when 13-year old 'watcher' Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who can see the future, shows up on his doorstep. Together, this odd couple sets off on an adventure that brings them to Kira (Camilla Belle), who has escaped the Division and is on the run. Kira possesses a dangerous gift: she is a 'pusher' who can plant ideas and make anyone believe anything she wants. Along with some other psychic friends, Nick, Cassie, and Kira go on a frenetic quest that may bring down the shady Division and set its psychic captives free.
PUSH's psychics are a bit closer to superheroes, albeit without the costumes: 'sniffers' can see the recent past by smelling an object, 'shadows' can keep people and objects hidden, 'shifters' can temporarily change the appearance of an object, and so on. The special effects in the fight scenes featuring Agent Victor Budarin (Neil Jackson), who can shield himself from bullets and send people flying across the room with a whisk of his hand, are particularly well done. Evans holds his own as the reluctant hero, and Fanning is, as always, a formidable presence on screen. Hong Kong itself is another character in the film, providing a crowded, fast-paced, anonymous backdrop for the action.
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