Review of Swordfish (2001) by Tim S — 23 Feb 2010

Hugh Jackman plays a character who used to be this amazing hot shot hacker back in the say, but is getting away from it becuase he's trying to get custody of his daughter. That is until he meet Gabriel (Travolta). The shit starts hitting the fan as they say.

The opening sequence is great, from the dialouge to the amazing bullet time sequence we all remember all to well form 'The Matrix'.

It also does the element of showing you a near the end of the movie scene, and then catches up to it. I'm not sure this adds too much to the film..mayhap at the very least keeps you in you're seat becuase you know something worth waiting is about to happen. Personally I would have done the bullet time twice, only the second time do an S curve instead of a U shape..I don't know... I'll have to have a talk with Dominic Sena about that..

The moment of Halle Berry's chest being unveiled was ridiculous to me believe it or not. It was boobs for the sake of boobs and it absolutely did not fit. You can certainly make the arguement that sunbathing topless in the back of the beach house is something her character would no doubt do, and I'd agree with you, however the fact that they payed her a ridiculous amount of money for those two seconds proves my point. Are they nice...sure...but it just didn't fit... AND maybe the money they'd save by not paying her for that, they could have gotten my 2nd bullet time sequence in.

Most of all what I give this film props for however is the ending...it is foreshadowed by the opening sequence yet ending in the not so clear cut way was genious becuase like doesn't always end clear cut like most Hollywood movies we're used to...where the good guy always wins and rides off into the sundet with the girl to live happily ever after..I'm not sure the happily ever after thing happens so much in life though.

OKAY SPOILER ALERT:

The fact that Gabriel got away pretty much winning.

The fast that Stanley got his daughter back pretty much winning.

The authorities after Gabriel winning (at least seemingly even though they were tricked).

Nothing is cleaned up all nice and neat, and I suppose you could make the arguement that if anyone lost it was Stanley becuase he didn't fully trick Gabriel... I don't know but nonetheless I loved this ending.

And the bus being lifted by the helicopter was pretty cool too.

Yes, I liked this film very much. See it if you haven't!