Swordfish (Wide Screen) > Reviews > HERE FISHY FISHY

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Outstanding
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	Engaging from start to finish
Disadvantages:	n/a

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I only saw the trailer to Swordfish last week when i went to see
Tomb Raider and was pretty impressed, so when my plans to take my
niece to watch Shrek on my afternoon off yesterday fell apart, i
wasn't very chuffed as i really wanted to watch it. Nevertheless,
i soldiered on pretty determined to do so, but the sight of all
those kiddies in front of me in the queue clampering to buy
tickets put me off. I wasn't brave enough to be the only solo
adult in the theatre without a miniature companion.

Suffice to say, i opted for a more adult offering. Certainly no
kids there, mind you a couple of 15+ yrs teenagers did behave like
spoilt brats during the adverts, but credit to them they went
quiet when the film started.

On with the review.

Swordfish is a thriller starring John Travolta, Hugh Jackman,
Halle Berry and Don Cheadle. The main story centres around
an ex-imprisoned computer hacker (the second best in the world)
who is drafted by Travolta's operation after the first best
computer hacker runs into trouble ( i won't tell you what so as not
spoil that part for you ).

The whole purpose of the operation is to embezzle a cool $9.5 billion
into Gabriel's (Travolta) coffers that is supposedly used for the
good of the American peoples' security. Stanley (Jackman), the hacker,
is the man to do it via hacking into the account that holds the money
and transfer it to more desired locations.

The film had a really COOL unconventional opening scene, i thought
i went into the wrong theatre for a couple of minutes, after that,
the action begins. Watch out for the slo' mo' scene about ten minutes
into the film. I have not enjoyed a cinematic use of fire power
since the 'down town' shooting scene in HEAT a few years back. It
had devastating realism.

Halle Berry's infamous 'nude' scene came and went without me even
understanding what the fuss was about. The film had a lot more to
offer than a few gratuitous sexual interludes, with many twists and
turns that kept you fully occupied and glued to your seat. My bum
was feeling a bit numb afterwards, but it was well worth it.

Forgive me if the op doesn't go any further into the plot or
what happens in it, i was and never will be one who dishes out
a lot of factual info on films, otherwise there is no point in
going to watch it after reading a full blown review.

The acting is straight to the point, nothing extra special, then
again, it is hardly Dustin Hoffman conveying across an emotionally
difficult autistic character in Rainman (a personal favourite of mine).

Travolta gives an even cooler performance than in 'Get Shorty',
what with a new hair style an' all. A favourite quote of mine
from the film comes at the end - misdirection - which just about
sums up the world of politics today.

The rest of the cast are more than an able support in carrying the
film through its paces. Even our Vinny gets a little look in.

Do i recommend the film?? Why yes i do, i give it 9 out of ten as
an action thriller. The way it ended was good even though partially
expected beforehand. Everybody loves a happy ending.

I'm glad i ended up watching it the way i did.I can always bribe
another child to accompany me to see Shrek at a later date,
or wait for the video (Coward, i hear you say - well, i don't care!).