Swordfish (DVD)

Advantages: Everything really
Disadvantages: Nothing really

You must have seen the advert. Action, guns, Travolta and Berry in her underwear. To be honest, I got all of these in the film, except it was obvious Halle Berry’s clip was there to attract the blokes. The film opens with Travolta in a flickering, bad quality picture talking very intellectually about films. "Hollywood? They make shit!", seems to be his conclusion. It is clear from the start that this is a return to the Travolta I loved in ...
...With hair slicked back, a very ickle beard running from his lower lip, a cool voice, a cigar and an air of control around him, it was clear Travolta was going to run this film, and that he did. The film moves on for the viewer to see the situation the film is in, a hostage situation. What followed did literally leave my mouth wide open, as my jaw dropped at the more than fantastic explosion, some of the best seconds of action I think I have ever ... Read review

Advantages: See text of opinion
Disadvantages: See text of opinion

...at dooyoo!) ~ ~ Swordfish has a very unusual opening sequence. We see Travolta’s character, Gabriel Shear, sitting drinking coffee and waxing lyrical about the shortcomings of Hollywood films. "You know, the problem with Hollywood is that they make sh*t," he informs us, as he gives his critique of the old 1970’s movie, "Dog Day Afternoon". In fact, I originally thought I’d pressed the wrong button on the DVD’s remote control, ...
...world-class hacker of this stature, Swordfish describes it for you very graphically. At least a dozen computer monitors are required, along with endless and copious amounts of wine and strong espresso coffee. Stanley bounces around like a demented rock star, juggling his various 3D and text images, and playing with his keyboards like a man possessed. Mind you, anyone would be wired to the moon after that amount of espresso and wine!! ~ ~ Other actors ... Read review

Advantages: Beautifully orchestrated action sequences.
Disadvantages: Very little else.

You have 60 seconds to read this op. I often find that people use the word gratuitous gratuitously. A bit of ankle is gratuitous nudity, the odd heck is gratuitous language and the occasional stubbed toe is gratuitous violence. But this film is just that. Gratuitous to the extreme. ~Cast~ John Travolta..........Gabriel Shear Hugh Jackman.......Stanley Jobson Halle Berry..............Ginger Knowles Don Cheadle..........Agent A.D. Roberts Vinnie Jones..........Marco ...
...Martin..........Axel Torvald Zach Grenier..........A.D. Joy Drea de Matteo.....Melissa Jobson ~Synopsis~ Stanley Jobson is a desperate computer expert who finds himself coerced into helping hack into complicated computer system in order to steal some vast sum of money that technically doesn't exist by Gabriel Shear, a mysterious figure, who may or may not work for people in high places. Stanley finds himself battling not only for his own survival, ... Read review

Advantages: lots of actions
Disadvantages: maybe confusing at times

...have seen from the adverts Swordfish is an action film, but with a bit of everything. It stars a very sleek looking John Travolta, playing Gabriel the bad guy of the film. Hugh Jackman playing Stanley, once one of the best computer hackers in the world, now living in a caravan unable to see his daughter his one hope in life, and halle Berry playing Ginger who seems to work for Gabriel. The film opens with Gabriel discussing films and how, why the ...
...don’t like unhappy endings”. Gabriel seems to disagree and eventually gets up and leaves being confronted by a small group of swat teems, it is here we realize what has is happening. I think I can say, without a doubt this film has one of the best openings I have ever seen. There is an explosion (I wont tell you how it occurs) then some amazing special effects as the camera seems to follow the shock wave tossing people and cars, it was ... Read review

Advantages: Good opening sequence. Hugh Jackman. Cool soundtrack.
Disadvantages: Seen it all before. Will date easily. Ending a bit ropey.

A magazine consists of three essential elements. Staples to hold the whole thing together, pages to make up the bulk, and a celebrity feature to make you buy it. And once you've read the celebrity feature, there's only usually a couple of things to read in the magazine to hold your interest. The same applies to this desperate attempt to create a cool, modern thriller. This is (the clumsily titled) Swordfish. ***THE PLOT*** The story follows Hugh ...
...most good-lookingest - hackers, seduced (kinda) by the very non-ginger Ginger, played by Halle Berry (X-Men, The Flintstones) into helping out Gabriel's criminal team after their original choice makes a blunder at customs. Hugh is taken to Gabriel's trendy club, where he is forced (in a rather odd scene) to hack into the FBI's computer in 60 seconds (maybe a nod to the director Dominic Sena's previous effort, Gone In 60 Seconds), which comes as a ... Read review