Yarr. As this will be my first post here, I found it rather fitting to make it in the subcategory dealing partly in film, as this is somewhat of my area.

First off, a short introduction so you know where I'm comin' from when I write about stuff I like/dislike.

I'm Swedish, from the northern parts of this fairly elongated nation. Where I live, it's frozen, cold and all in all pretty much like the arctic tundra. Almost. I'm 26 years old, or so my taxi-driver-license tells me. I'm a cabbie by trade, but a photographer by heart, and litterature in all forms interest me. I'm married, got a kid and a huge godsdamned dog. I'm partial to dramas with intelligent dialog and humor, but I'm certainly no stranger to action and thrillers. Horror is also a genre fairly close to my heart.

So, to the review, perhaps. I'm gonna keep it fairly brief and to the point, so I don't spoil it in any fashion.

The film in question is "Next". A sort of sci-fi/action-thing directed by Lee Tamahori (xXx: state of the union, Die another day, Along came a spider) and the cast includes Nicholas Cage (Con air, The Rock etc.), Jessica Biel (Blade Trinity, The Illusionist) and Julianne Moore (Hannibal, The Hours, Magnolia).

Story goes, Nicholas Cage plays a second-rate magician that can see two minutes into his own future. He uses his ability in his magic act and to win moderate sums playing at casinos. He catches the FBI's eye as a cheater, but as soon as an agent (played by Julianne Moore) realizes what he can do, she becomes interested in using him to save a city from a terrorist attack, while at the same time the terrorists really want him inhumed, since they figure he can stop them. Fine.

The story is interesting in a what-if-kind of way, and it leaves lots of openings in how to shoot scenes (as they demonstrate really well). What is sad though, is that the plot in itself has logical flaws and holes that you can drive a full-sized semi-trailer through. I'm not gonna go into details, 'cause it's possible that people around here aren't as picky as I can be sometimes, and I don't wanna drop spoilers either.

As far as the acting goes, Nicholas Cage and Jessica Biel does a brilliant job of making you like and care about their characters, and that's pretty crucial to the whole deal. Julianne Moore however does a fairly poor job of portraiting her FBI-character. She's probably supposed to be seen as cold and calculating, while still retaining some semblance of human emotion, but she mainly comes off as unengaged and rather dull. Sad, 'cause I usually enjoy her acting. Oh well, can't win 'em all, I suppose.

When it comes to the directing, editing, special effects and filming, this movie is really, really well made. Some scenes just made me smile 'cause they were so damn good. It's fast-paced through the entire film, with many, many brilliant scenes that just sends shivers down your spine due to it being so cool.

To sum it all up, even though there are plotholes, logical flaws and poor acting from Moore, it's a good movie. It's entertaining, and isn't that what action movies are all about?

Rating: 3,5 / 5

welcome! thanks for the review, as i saw the trailer for this and am pretty interested.

as for plot holes, isn't that standard fare for every nic cage film, post Wild At Heart?

and i think you'll find that we're as "picky" as they come. we also have a pretty nifty Spoiler tag system. so feel free to be hyper-critical - everyone else here is. i've had my ass handed to me plenty of times for enjoying a cage film. or is that a michael bay film? either way...

shitty about moore, but it seems she's usually been hit & miss for me.

hope you enjoy your stay.

Repeat to yourself 10 times each time you watch a movie that lacks finesse or .. well, basically anything:

"I must not nitpick.
Nitpicking is the mind-killer.
Nitpicking is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my nitpicking.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the nitpicking has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain"



*grins*

I'd nitpick Fight Club.

I watched this while drunk. It was a good drunk film. If you are drunk you may enjoy this film.

I cannot recommend it for those suffering from a bout of sobriety. Teetotallers and recovering alcoholics should avoid this film at all costs. klimov should not watch this because he will spoil everyone's buzz man.

I guess this is pretty much a template review for most films I watch.

Pit wrote:I watched this while drunk. It was a good drunk film. If you are drunk you may enjoy this film.

'ey, TC, told ya!