Jumper (**)
Directed by: Doug Liman (Go, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity)
Starring: Hayden Christenson, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Diane Lane, Samuel L. Jackson
Seen: February 23rd 2008
** Out of ****
Yet another shiny B-grade film. I enjoyed it, my brother hated it. Doug Liman has most certainly made some entertaining movies before, but something has gone wrong here. This is just a mediocre movie, the special effects are ok, the acting is nothing special, and the romantic storyline between David (Christenson) and Millie (Bilson) is underdeveloped (understandable – action blockbusters aren’t romantic dramas, but still not much there). Jamie Bell ballets into the story and has an underground character meaner than he really has the right to be.
Roland (Jackson) bursts in with white hair and his self-righteous sect hunting the “Jumpers”, those who can teleport who can’t be allowed to run free to enjoy the newfound freedom (and responsibility) that comes with the life. This is Jackson as a big-talking self justified character that can’t do what he’s done so well in his previous movies, swear to a spectacularly entertaining degree, because the film would then have made no money as an R-rated film. Just think back to some of his famous roles, most notably Jules in Pulp Fiction, now that was true entertainment. Nowadays anything he does that does not measure up to that is slightly below the radar.
Michael Rooker, in a very small role as David’s dad, gives a surprisingly touching, though mostly irrelevant performance. You see, the day David realised he could teleport was the last time his dad has seen him because he teleported out of his locked room and never returned – and he really just wants another chance to get things right with his son, which he gets too late. That’s because David is jumping around the world, completely carefree, stealing whatever he can’t afford with the money he has also stolen by teleporting into bank vaults.
So yes, I did find this film entertaining, I enjoyed some of the ideas in terms of following someone who’s just teleported via the dust/wormhole he leaves behind, and I enjoyed the dedication David eventually showed (even though Christensen does not do this with too big a range of facial expressions) in trying to save the girl. But I’ve also heard too many complaints and I have seen the acting myself to really endorse this film above anything but another brainless blockbuster.
I’ve also heard that there is a possible range of sequels to come with big expansions on the capabilities of the Jumpers (interplanetary jumps and time travel, for instance) and that Millie also learns to jump, as in the novel Jumper’s sequel, Reflex. But will they pull the audiences back in after this first one? The trailers and the rest of the marketing campaign will have to be good. I have heard that the sequel might be in planning already.
Heard it? That’s a goat joke!
Starring: Hayden Christenson, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Diane Lane, Samuel L. Jackson
Seen: February 23rd 2008
** Out of ****
Yet another shiny B-grade film. I enjoyed it, my brother hated it. Doug Liman has most certainly made some entertaining movies before, but something has gone wrong here. This is just a mediocre movie, the special effects are ok, the acting is nothing special, and the romantic storyline between David (Christenson) and Millie (Bilson) is underdeveloped (understandable – action blockbusters aren’t romantic dramas, but still not much there). Jamie Bell ballets into the story and has an underground character meaner than he really has the right to be.
Roland (Jackson) bursts in with white hair and his self-righteous sect hunting the “Jumpers”, those who can teleport who can’t be allowed to run free to enjoy the newfound freedom (and responsibility) that comes with the life. This is Jackson as a big-talking self justified character that can’t do what he’s done so well in his previous movies, swear to a spectacularly entertaining degree, because the film would then have made no money as an R-rated film. Just think back to some of his famous roles, most notably Jules in Pulp Fiction, now that was true entertainment. Nowadays anything he does that does not measure up to that is slightly below the radar.
Michael Rooker, in a very small role as David’s dad, gives a surprisingly touching, though mostly irrelevant performance. You see, the day David realised he could teleport was the last time his dad has seen him because he teleported out of his locked room and never returned – and he really just wants another chance to get things right with his son, which he gets too late. That’s because David is jumping around the world, completely carefree, stealing whatever he can’t afford with the money he has also stolen by teleporting into bank vaults.
So yes, I did find this film entertaining, I enjoyed some of the ideas in terms of following someone who’s just teleported via the dust/wormhole he leaves behind, and I enjoyed the dedication David eventually showed (even though Christensen does not do this with too big a range of facial expressions) in trying to save the girl. But I’ve also heard too many complaints and I have seen the acting myself to really endorse this film above anything but another brainless blockbuster.
I’ve also heard that there is a possible range of sequels to come with big expansions on the capabilities of the Jumpers (interplanetary jumps and time travel, for instance) and that Millie also learns to jump, as in the novel Jumper’s sequel, Reflex. But will they pull the audiences back in after this first one? The trailers and the rest of the marketing campaign will have to be good. I have heard that the sequel might be in planning already.
Heard it? That’s a goat joke!
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