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SHOPPING > DVDs > Action & Adventure > Swordfish (DVD) > Reviews

Swordfish (DVD)

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Swordfish (DVD)

Quote-start

Bit unreal, but Travolta acts very well

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4 Aug 1st, 2001 

20 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
good actors, nice story

Disadvantages:
something seems unreal, strange, known

Recommendable Yes:

Detailed rating:

Did you enjoy it?

Story

Characters / Performances

Special Effects

Soundtrack

Shue

Shue

About me:

"The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between the ...

Member since:23.06.2001

Reviews:16

Members who trust:6

The Plot
----------
Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman) is one of the world’s famous hackers. He recently came out of jale where he was the last 18 months. Short after that, Ginger (Halle Berry) comes to visit him: her boss Gabriel (John Travolta) offers Stan 1 Million for programming a worm that cracks the system of a bank Gabriel wants to rob.

Stan is scared of going back to jale but on the other hand he needs money to release his 10 year old daughter Holly (Camryn Grimes) from his exwife (who drinks) and her husband (who produces pornos). At the moment he is not even allowed to see his daughter. So, he makes the deal with Gabriel.

Gabriel, years ago one of the best spys of the CIA, works against terrorists worldwide, he “protects the freedom of the americans” – that means that he sells weapons. He thinks: better they shoot each other than they shoot us. 15 years ago the operation Swordfish was cancelled and on the account of the dummy-company for this operation were 400 Million Dollars. Through interest this money is now worth 9 billion. Gabriel wants to steal this money.

At the beginning, Stan seems to have a normal and fair deal with Gabriel – he programs, Gabriel gives him the money. But Stan gets deeper and deeper into the whole thing – he finds out strange things, the FBI interviews him. Agent Roberts (Don Cheadle) wants him to cooperate. But Stan does’nt – at the moment. The whole story leads to a dramatic climax where a hostage is bombed and Holly’s and Ginger’s lifes are threatened.

What I think
---------------
The film starts with the beginning of the end, goes back to the past the and leads us to the presence after explaining what happened the last days. That is nicely done, even if it is nor a new technique in movies.

The three main parts are casted very well with Jackman, Travolta and Berry. Hugh Jackman typifys the toulsed hacker with dream in his eyes and a dream body… The scenes when he programes and trys to find new ideas, seem a bit unreal (noone programs like that) but apart from that I really liked his starring/ John Travolta acts very good as Gabriel, man of the underground.

The first scene is a monologue about “why in film always the good boys win – and why can it not be different?” by Gabriel. This scene can be understood at the end of the film, which I won’t tell you. But in my opinion it is not really necessary.

In a movie like this, some action can’t be far: the shown action scenes are known: shooting and hunting on the motorway, bomb explosions, at last a flying bus (it hangs on a helicopter). But some scenes are very tenseful and quick, so the film does not get boring.

Summary
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In addition of everything, I can recommend the film. It seems to be difficult to make really good films about computer hackers – the public may be impressed by a few animations and many numbers – but it is just unreal. Ob the other hand, you can not bore the audience with real program code, because they would not understand it… difficult, that. This is the weak link of the film – everything else is really ok.
 

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Comments about this review »

Wolfie1974 28.07.2002 14:33

i have not seen this film but sounds like a 'must see' film .. Wolfie

aragorn2001 13.07.2002 22:32

I didn't like this film, it was much more unreal than James Bond in his best times.

LostWitness 09.02.2002 17:27

A good review of the film! I really enjoyed Swordfish - plenty of action to keep you occupied. I thought the sequences with the hijacked bus were very innovative and lifted this film above the competition. Cheers, Phil :0)

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More reviews »

Swordfish (DVD) - review by utero

Advantages: Great Sound & Picture, Highly Entertaining, Good Extras
Disadvantages: Not That Subtle

Swordfish (DVD) - review by utero utero 13.03.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Swordfish (DVD)

Swordfish (DVD) - review by utero

Advantages: Great Sound & Picture, Highly Entertaining, Good Extras
Disadvantages: Not That Subtle

Swordfish (DVD) - review by utero utero 13.03.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Swordfish (DVD)

Swordfish (DVD) - review by mgirg

Advantages: great action, good story, Jackman and Travolta are superb
Disadvantages: very voilent, Halle Berrie doesnt have much of a role

Swordfish (DVD) - review by mgirg mgirg 03.07.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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Swordfish (DVD) - review by jamiebecks

Advantages: slick action film, clever in parts
Disadvantages: not so clever in the other parts

Swordfish (DVD) - review by jamiebecks jamiebecks 16.06.2009 · Read review
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Swordfish (DVD) - review by Calypte

Advantages: great special effects, loads of fun
Disadvantages: gap in the middle

Swordfish (DVD) - review by Calypte Calypte 01.08.2001 · Read review
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