Swordfish (DVD)

...are few and far between. Swordfish is one of these rarities, although strictly speaking it's an action-thriller, so my previous statement still holds. *************** *The Boring Bits: * *************** It stars Hugh Jackman, Travolta, Halle Berrie, and Vinnie Jones and is directed by the guy who did "gone in 60 seconds" (can't for the life of me remember his name at the moment), though don't let that put you off, this film is much better. Its ...
...crap job, trying to get his daughter back and under a court order not to touch a computer again, who gets hired to hack into some banks and steal some money by Travolta, for reasons that don't become fully apparent until towards the end of the film. What it all boils down to in the end though, is a superb action-thriller with some amazing action scenes. ************** *The Good Bits: * ************** This film grabs you from the start with a ...

mgirg 03.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

Swordfish is a hard action / thriller starring John Travolta as Gabriel Shear and Hugh Jackman as Stanley Jobson. The film depicts the story of Stanley, a top computer hacker who is soon brought under the wing of Gabriel, a violent and ruthless crime lord and not before long he is sucked into a world where he can no longer control the events that are unfolding around him. This film features a strong supporting cast including Don Cheadle as an FBI ...
...plays a simple brained hard man for a change and Sam Shepherd as a US Senator. I really liked this film a few years ago when it came out (2001) but it didn't do too well at cinema, partially because it was one of the terrorist based films that were pulled from screens after 9/11. However, I watched it again the other day and despite it still being pretty entertaining, I found it pretty laughable in some sections. Gabriel played by John Travolta plays ...

jamiebecks 16.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...I ramble on a bit!), Swordfish really did entertain me. Okay, so I was drooling over Hugh Jackman a lot (aside from which his performance was very good in this), but as long as you don’t start expecting this film to be something more than it is, there’s a lot of fun to be had. And, as I said at the start, that’s really as much as you can hope to ask for most of the time. ...

Calypte 01.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...directing is supreme. Swordfish is arguably one of the best films released this year, and I would say that it’s one of the cleverest films I have ever watched, it’s not at all like the Matrix, although written by the same people, it’s got to be the greatest good versus bad versus convention film in a long while. I was impressed by the inclusion of that modern classic 360degrees camera trickery – nice inclusion, very Matrix ...
...superb hallucinogenic style dance/trance/house music. Swordfish is a classic, it’s a feel good film, and one that if you missed at the cinema, you will be needing to purchase a home cinema set up – nice wide screen television etc. This film rules, and they know it. “You know what the problem with Hollywood is: they make rubbish, unbelievable, unremarkable rubbish. Now, I’m not some grungy wannabe filmmaker…” and ...

Ice_Blaster 03.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...really sets the tone in Swordfish comes early on, where Gabriel has rigged the hostages in a bank robbery with explosive collars that will detonate should the hostage go out of range, a la 'The Running Man'. This scenario provides a temptation that Swordfish simply cannot resist and, naturally, one of the hostages (a young woman) goes out of range and is blown to bits, if for no other reason than to satisfy what it percieves to be the bloodlust of ...
...resulting explosion is filmed in a super-slow-motion, 360-degree arc of violence (obviously inspired by The Matrix) that gleefully highlights every piece of flying debris, every pane of breaking glass and every poor soul who happens to get caught in the way. Visually impressive? Yes.. but also deeply unpleasant and totally unnecessary. The use of such shock-tactics so early on leaves a bitter aftertaste that the movie never really recovers from. ...

Howiemon 01.08.2001 (14.02.2002) · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...year ago. However Swordfish mixes him in with a good cast but the prescence of Director Dominic Sena who last year brought us the dire Gone In 60 Seconds didn't fill me with much enthusiasm. But right from the opening of this film I was hooked. This opener can go down as one of the most breathtaking cinematic moments in recent years. It all starts with a conversation that could have come from Pulp Fiction and it ends in a tense hostage situation ...
...I had to sum up Swordfish in a few words then I'd say it's an action film with a lot of balls. It's the kind of film that was made heavily in the eighties when Stallone and Arnie were the big guns. This film has a great deal of action with thrilling car chases, shoot outs with big guns etc. In fact Sena gets more excitement out of one car chase sequence than he did with the whole of Gone In 60 Seconds. Some people have said that nothing in the film ...

utero 15.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...root for. In that sense, Swordfish isn’t lacking. The initial 10 mins is one of the better opening scenes for this type of film (J.T’s opening speech is worth listening to carefully if you want an idea of how the film is going to play) and it certainly leaves you intrigued as to the rest of the film. Also, whilst we’re on the subject of the opening scene– isn’t it time the Matrix was put to bed? Fun whilst it lasted, ...
...in 60 Seconds). However, in Swordfish he only has 2 lines, both of which are remarkably poor. Shame. He does go out with a bang though. Computers, the people who use them and Hollywood. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Just once, I’d like to see a realistic portrayal of hackers/crackers, computers and the situations they’re used in. Where are the dysfunctional, socially-impaired, overweight blokes who make up the normal computer set? Does ...

Andrew19111 15.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

Ideas for movies are getting more obscure everyday, for example the Tomb Raider movie, Gone In sixty Seconds, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Matrix the list goes on, but the thing is most make for an entertaining movie (well except Tomb Raider). So when I heard that the plot for Swordfish, I thought I better check it out. The casting director pulled out all the stops getting an all-star cast including John Travolta, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman ...
...sit on a boat with there loved ones eating Bon Bons, free to do as they wish, who gives them that freedom and who protects that freedom. But this freedom cost money, how much money, well about sixty five billion quid!!! As the picture begins, we she Travolta in all his glory sharp Italian suit and hair blowing in the air, while he is surround by about hundred cops and snipers. Then after some confusion with a hostage (oh by the way did I forget to ...

theunknown 08.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...with the general controversy surrounding Swordfish was a storm about her appearing topless. To be honest, I hardly noticed, with all the action going on. She has quite a starring role in the film, adding to the plot and keeping the tension going. Apparently she charged $500,000 for her bare-all scene, after being rather reluctant to strip off at first. Well, I suppose they had to throw in some sex with all the action, and the money will have helped ...
...hard for him. Swordfish was directed by Dominic Sena, who also directed Gone in Sixty Seconds (which also featured Vinnie Jones – these two must be getting close). I didn’t agree with Jonathon Woss’s review of Swordfish on Film 2001. He said “I’m always struck with a rather hollow feeling after watching films like this, because so many talented individuals have given so much of their time and producers spent so much ...

MichelleScott 05.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

"Swordfish" was totally different to what I expected and what you think you see is not always what you see, and I had to smile to myself at that and thought of the Pepsi ad "and I'm not Halle Berry, I'm ..." Did I enjoy the movie? YES, definitely. Did it keep my attention? Again, thumbs up. Did I like the subject matter? Not particularly, and especially not in these times. To me, I could see the reality of corruption that goes on in governments all ...
...kickbacks and "teams" who have their own agenda. Sadly, I could also see terrorists watching this and taking notes. It could give them some ideas. John Travolta is perfect and his performance, as always, is impeccable. He has come a long way since "Saturday Night Fever" and boogie-ing to the Bee Gees (RIP, Maurice). At first glance, his character is a psycho, but then you begin to understand his way of thinking although you don't condone it. He ...

poet831 26.02.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

...actually emblazoned across the various Swordfish adverts, but within fifteen minutes of the highly gripping introduction we are treated to the oh-so-impressive ‘bullet time’ effect made famous by the 2000 blockbuster. Focussing this time on a bomb blast rather than a few rounds of fire, the action slows to a crawl as the camera whips around 360 degrees in the much-celebrated fashion. Almost as deeply satisfying as it was the first time. ...
...penned by Paul Oakenfold of Perfecto it is highly modern, upbeat and pounding, ideal for such a style film. Swordfish is a great piece of entertainment. A little over the top in places, perhaps, and stretching credibility too far in others, but nonetheless great fun and very satisfying. ...

SkyscraperFanClub 15.09.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

Before I bought this, I had always liked the look of it. There are two main reasons for this, and many others to top it off. Number one, I think Travolta’s brilliant in these kind of action films. He seems to be brilliant at being characters that look calm but you know they’re not. Number two is, I love action films and this one looked nothing far from brilliant. Also being highly recommended from fellow film lovers, how could I resist? The storyline ...
...dream, it’s not so clever that it spoils the film like some plots, or so clever you don’t actually know what’s going on half the time, it’s just right. The film starts off near the end and jumps backwards, the great thing about this is, you have no idea what’s going on at first and the film’s storyline seems linear, but it slowly builds up to where it left, so from what information you got from the first scene, you can keep that in mind and build ...

Rickoss 14.11.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

We hired Swordfish as we wanted a not-too-heavy piece of exciting entertainment to liven up a dull week. How wrong we were. First, I'll lay my cards on the table. I generally like most kinds of films - action, comedy, drama, whatever, but there's nothing I hate more than a weak script or a badly thought out plot. Those who don't care about such things will probably not agree with this review, but -hey - read on anyway. The film opens with a very ...
...a speech about how he thinks films are unrealistic because the bad guys never get away with it. Just as you're wondering whether he is really the bad guy, or whether he's a thoughtful Tarantino-esque not-bad-or-good character though we are given the answer with a great explosion sequence taht really made me want to watch more. Unfortunately, it's by far the best bit in the whole film. In a nutshell, the plot revolves around Gabriel's darstardly ...

madlucy 07.04.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

If the rest of this movie could live up to its opening sequence then it would walk away with every prize in the book. Unfortunately it does not. The jaw-dropping explosion, watched in 360-degree slow motion will leave you gobsmaked. Hang on to that feeling since the rest of this film is unlikely to have the same effect. The plot centres on techno-terrorist Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) and the hacker to beat all hackers Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman). ...
...and sees himself as saving the American public from organizations and governments who have the audacity to threaten their well-being. Shear secretly campaigns to throw a spanner in their errant works. But waging a covert war is proving a bit on the costly side and he plans a $9.5 billion bank raid to cover his expenses. Its dirty government money and since it can't be used legitimately Shear, with true Robin Hood philosophy, deems it ok to help himself ...

SpinyFirst 06.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)

After goofing up big-time in Scientology flop 'Battlefield Earth', John Travolta attempts to regain some cred with a role that borrows heavily from his gangsta cool in Pulp Fiction. In this he is assisted by two stars of The X-Men, Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Halle Berry(Storm), Don Cheadle, who's been in loads in a kind of 'know-him-when-you-see-him sort of way and Sam Shepard. A cast of this kind augers well, but expectations aren't entirely met. ...
...with a somewhat unconvincing anti-terrorist motivation running alongside. Travolta plays the inscrutable mastermind behind the scam, Berry his moll, Jackman the computer whizz, Cheadle the dogged cop in pursuit and Shepard the dodgy Senator. Surely all that's required now is to shuffle them around for 90 minutes, throw in some SFX, commission an edgy soundtrack and collect the money? Well, they nearly pull it off but the balance of strengths and ...

oedipus 05.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Swordfish (DVD)