Don't Believe the Hype

Best movie ever!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Dominic Sena's follow-up to GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS is a film that looks very much like its predecessor, mainly because the two movies share the same greenish filter. There's a pulse-pounding gratuitous car-chase that also belongs in GONE, but being so stylishly portrayed I couldn't complain. The difference between the two movies is that SWORDFISH has a slightly more complex plot, and that it's certainly a film with more of an adult nature - expect sexual situations, mucho profanity and nudity (a famous topless scene with recent Oscar-winner Halle Berry, which received much publicity at the time) and even a little bit of nasty violence here and there.Whilst the plot is nothing new, the film adds intrigue by murkying the characters and backgrounds of the typical bad guys, so that you never know who really is who. In this day and age, there's the expected twist-upon-a-twist-upon-a-twist ending to keep you guessing. As for the action scenes, well they are pretty impressive, done in an over the top style. There's a sequence at the end involving a flying bus (!) which is very ludicrous, but makes for great screen entertainment and is a lot of fun. The opening special effect, slowing a bomb blast in 360-degree slow motion, is also great and a real show-stopper.Hugh Jackman is just about passable in the bland leading role part, but doesn't make an impression as in his previous X-MEN movie: he's just there, the straight man, and not very charismatic. John Travolta gives us the obnoxious helium-sniffing villainous routine as done before in FACE/OFF, except he's a little bit more layered and restrained this time around. Halle Berry contributes certain assets to the production in a mysterious role, whilst Don Cheadle and Vinnie Jones are as good as they ever have been in minor supporting roles. SWORDFISH is one of those modern blockbusters done in a snazzy, different, modern, way but still offering the same old goods underneath: action, computers, sex, comedy, violence, and races against the clock. Not a masterpiece, but probably worth a watch.

Swordfish is a brutal film with a poorly developed plot and a cast who seemed in it for the paycheck. The film opens up with an intriguing monologue from John Travolta about how movies are too typical, which led me to expect that this movie was really going for something different. Sadly, it ended up being very much like what Travolta was talking about, predictable. The cast is terrific, but there heart was not in the right place. There is a sense from the four main cast members that they were merely offered a nice contract to do this film, their is no feeling of them being inspired to take these roles whatsoever. It did not take any risks in plot development, every beat is expected, there is no moments that will its audience, there are very few surprises. A film can try to do something different with its direction and pacing, but that is not enough if the story is dull. Predictable and tedious, Swordfish is better off to be missed. The leader of a counter-terrorist organisation hires a convicted hacker to help him crack a code. Best Performance: Hugh Jackman / Worst Performance: Halle Berry

Travolta loves playing bad guys, doesn't he! But it works out well. Really good film in general, in fact its more when good, its excellent. Great supporting cast. Very interesting story and definitely keeps you guessing all the way through. In addition some really good action sequences. Critics can go to hell, they opinion doesn't really matter this days, as they do get paid to rate a specific movie. But anyways try this movie out you will not be disappointed. Travolta is amazing, Hugh Jackman is great and Haleberry is good.Some don't listen to pointless negative critics, as they are to picky and they have no life. Overall amazing film 10/10.

Literally, the only two things worth looking at in this stupid Dominic Sena piece of techno/politico/crimino junk that wants to say something important about technology and national defense and criminality, are--Well, you've already read the Summary. Swordfish is so expensive and cynical that Sena expects you to be impressed with its profundity, and if you are like me--see Halle Berry topless and say, "Nice"--and move on from what you just saw because you know that you're being played, you're going to find that this thing pegs the needle in the red for dumb and dull.Sena directed Gone in Sixty Seconds a couple years before, and before I realized it, I thought that this thing sure reminds me of GISS, only without the pleasing characters. Unless you enjoy watching Travolta being ham-handed as an evil genius (read: imbecilic), Hugh Jackman being cardboard-like, and Halle Berry trying for sexy (and getting creepy instead), skip Swordfish.