jumper (single-disc edition)

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-20
Why did this movie get such bad reviews?
The movie had great special effects, an interesting enough story and takes you all over the world to fabulous locations. It doesn't explain everything but I think the makers were planning to do that in sequels if there are any. I thought Sam Jackson's character was a bit on the corny side but I had a great time watching this movie. Well worth the rental.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-18
Agonizing, if you read the book
Steven Gould's book was a treasure. That made what Hollywood has done to it too painful to watch. I flung the DVD after about 15 minutes. Special effects can be nice, but they cannot compensate for a script written at the 5th grade level, or the stupidity of a plot that has a vast organization with unbelievable special equipment, credentials from every government agency, and which never has any problem with the police, all chasing teenagers who could easily kill its agents. I hope Steven got a lot of money, and I can understand why he does not want his name associated with this offal. The director put his signature on it - kind of like the dog putting his signature on a fireplug.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-16
Loved it
A great movie with lots of action, effects and fun. Loved it from beginning to end.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-14
Jumping In, Jumping Out
Doug Liman seems to have done nothing but freefall since The Bourne Identity, which was five stars. Then he did Mr. and Mrs. Smith, (4 stars), and now he's done this wannabe (3 stars). I don't even want to know how the sequel is going to turn out, although it has the potential to be a whole lot better. Anyways, this movie has a great concept of teleportation, used in sort of a anti-hero and selfish manner. Add a girl that was better off out of the picture, and you have a somewhat entertaining disappointment.

Hayden Christensen, while no Oscar winner, isn't as bad most would have you believe, but on the other hand, you almost never see his true colors because they're hidden under boring, one-dimensional and whiny characters. And that's what this character is, boring, one-dimensional, whiny and just plain dumb. In fact, Jamie Bell's Griffin is a whole lot more exiting, experienced, has his act together, has no girlfriend dragging him down, and he's just plain cooler. A movie centered around that character would have made for a much more interesting movie. Hopefully, he'll be around in sequals as an ally.

But the main problem with the movie comes in the form of Samuel L. Jackson, who gets his revenge from Hayden kicking his butt in Star Wars, and in turn shocks everybody, and stabs them with a knife that probably has a deleted scene to explain its strange mysteriousness. Or maybe it's just bad filmmaking. Anyways, Sam Jackson and his group of Jumper killers are so over the top, Evil Knievel couldn't jump over it. Sam Jackson especially. He's just so evil, he's beyond evil, not believable, and again, over the top.

Then there's the "twist" of Diane Lane, which is not only disappointing but confusing. She's a bad guy? Now, any path they take with her character is going to be so muddled a Hummer couldn't get through it. Then there's the girlfriend, who seems pretty cardboard, and who I never could quite get into. She isn't bad lookin', but her character development seems rather predictable, and again, boring.

But for all those wrongs about this movie, there is also plenty of good ones. The prologue is interesting and does a good job setting up the character, although Hayden's narration does get annoying after the first time. Then there's the action. Ahhh yes, the action. The action is entertaining, interesting, and pretty darn cool. My personal favorite was when they brought the London bus to the Egyptian desert.

So overall, you have a excellent concept and tons of potential. Unfortunately, this potential doesn't formulate into much thanks to poor writing, bad characters, over the top bad guys, questionable casting, and way too many lulls, both intended or otherwise. I look forward to a sequel, where hopefully they'll make it an action film. It won't have much depth to it, but as long as there's no lulls it should be pretty entertaining at least.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-13
Much better to watch at home
i saw jumper in the theater and it was fun, so i got the dvd. the effects of jumping from place to place became disorienting on the big screen - this was much more enjoyable watching on a home video setup (large screen though it may be).

the scenery is great. maui, rome, egypt, london, new york - what a world. to be able to be anywhere anytime - brilliant.

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