Watching it the first time I was a bit disappointed because I personally like to really dig into time travel films and that's not really something that can be done here without it falling apart. Upon re-watch I think it improved because I didn't take it nearly as seriously. It's an ongoing theme with Rian's films, sometimes in order to enjoy you have to make yourself dumber. The tone of the film is well done and presents a warped dystopian kind of future that has a unique feel but that gets almost wholeheartedly abandoned in the second half of the film. Rian attempts to zoom away from the scenery in order to drive the character aspect of the film but it only shines a spotlight on the fact that there isn't enough development there to support it. Enjoyable as a popcorn movie, but could've been a heck of a lot more.
Every Rian Johnson movie you watch kind of gives you another puzzle piece into how he operates as director. He's a huge fan of "ignore that mess I've made over there and focus over here, doggone it!" And that rightfully rubs a lot of people the wrong way. With this movie he reels you in with the time travel concept only for us to find out that it's not really the focus of the story and instead a "character-driven picture" in his own words. But Rian, why can't it be both? I almost get the idea he writes the entire plot out and then simply drops it into a world that seems to fit rather than the whole thing being an organic creation. He likes to rope the audience in with an interesting hook but oftentimes it's a classic example of the emperor having no clothes.
This movie makes no sense at all. From start to finish, the whole premise. Not just some plot holes, the very essential core of the movie itself is a plot hole.
Surprisingly tedious, given the amount of violence and occasional nudity and the minimum of exposition. Veers away from its premise about 3/4 of the way through, and is a weaker film as a result.
I was actually pleasantly surprised at how great this movie was. Sure it did have some minor plot holes but none of them really took away the effectiveness of the movie's finale. Absolutely awesome acting from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and an equally thrilling story.
A brutal time travel thriller co-starring Bruce Willis - in that sense I don't blame people for comparing it to Twelve Monkeys - but actually closer to Terminator in plot and in how it deals with paradoxes. The story takes place in the future, but in a future decades away from that, time travel has been invented. Because humanity is pretty horrible, the technology is controlled by crime syndicates who, unable to dispose of bodies efficiently in their present because of super-CSI, send victims back in time to be shot and disposed of by "loopers", so-called because one day, when their usefulness is at an end, they will have to shoot their older selves, get a pig payday, and then wait some 30 years before closing the "loop" and getting shot by their younger selves. What happens when Bruce Willis (older Joe) refuses to let that happen and escapes his fate at the hands of younger Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)? The future can be changed, but I think temporal pundits will likely spend some time graphing out the timelines and which one we're actually seeing at any given time. Still, it's less about working that stuff out than it is about the characters (it's like Back to the Future in that sense), and how a person becomes another over time. Saw a couple leaving the theater due to violence, you've been warned, but it's likely not the perfect date movie. Though there's some humor, especially in the two Joes meeting, it's ultimately a very dark and ambiguous vision. Oh, and Jeff Daniels is DA BOMB in his supporting role.
Really very clever and emotionally satisfying science fiction with a killer central premise that has successively more layers added to it right up to a perfectly judged denouement. If you liked this, check out Repo Men with Jude Law and Forrest Whittaker. Brilliant dystopian satire of future capitalism. Unfortunately, critics didn't get the satire or the clear homage to Brazil.
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Why is everyone in this movie a bad shooter? It seems they keep missing shots even at close range.DisneyStitch
Watching it the first time I was a bit disappointed because I personally like to really dig into time travel films and that's not really something that can be done here without it falling apart. Upon re-watch I think it improved because I didn't take it nearly as seriously. It's an ongoing theme with Rian's films, sometimes in order to enjoy you have to make yourself dumber. The tone of the film is well done and presents a warped dystopian kind of future that has a unique feel but that gets almost wholeheartedly abandoned in the second half of the film. Rian attempts to zoom away from the scenery in order to drive the character aspect of the film but it only shines a spotlight on the fact that there isn't enough development there to support it. Enjoyable as a popcorn movie, but could've been a heck of a lot more.Ebbywebby
Watched about a half-hour and bailed out. The fundamental "killing by time travel" premise is too silly for me.HyliaFischer
This movie makes no sense at all. From start to finish, the whole premise. Not just some plot holes, the very essential core of the movie itself is a plot hole.Duke of Omnium
Surprisingly tedious, given the amount of violence and occasional nudity and the minimum of exposition. Veers away from its premise about 3/4 of the way through, and is a weaker film as a result.popfactor
Couldn't deal with the weird face.Jashezilla
I was actually pleasantly surprised at how great this movie was. Sure it did have some minor plot holes but none of them really took away the effectiveness of the movie's finale. Absolutely awesome acting from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and an equally thrilling story.Earring72
Interesting Sci fi drama. Starts out one way and switches tone half way through but still remains very goodXaotros
P90 noob.Siskoid
A brutal time travel thriller co-starring Bruce Willis - in that sense I don't blame people for comparing it to Twelve Monkeys - but actually closer to Terminator in plot and in how it deals with paradoxes. The story takes place in the future, but in a future decades away from that, time travel has been invented. Because humanity is pretty horrible, the technology is controlled by crime syndicates who, unable to dispose of bodies efficiently in their present because of super-CSI, send victims back in time to be shot and disposed of by "loopers", so-called because one day, when their usefulness is at an end, they will have to shoot their older selves, get a pig payday, and then wait some 30 years before closing the "loop" and getting shot by their younger selves. What happens when Bruce Willis (older Joe) refuses to let that happen and escapes his fate at the hands of younger Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)? The future can be changed, but I think temporal pundits will likely spend some time graphing out the timelines and which one we're actually seeing at any given time. Still, it's less about working that stuff out than it is about the characters (it's like Back to the Future in that sense), and how a person becomes another over time. Saw a couple leaving the theater due to violence, you've been warned, but it's likely not the perfect date movie. Though there's some humor, especially in the two Joes meeting, it's ultimately a very dark and ambiguous vision. Oh, and Jeff Daniels is DA BOMB in his supporting role.Jace Lightner
Really very clever and emotionally satisfying science fiction with a killer central premise that has successively more layers added to it right up to a perfectly judged denouement. If you liked this, check out Repo Men with Jude Law and Forrest Whittaker. Brilliant dystopian satire of future capitalism. Unfortunately, critics didn't get the satire or the clear homage to Brazil.But I do believe that 'Snowpiercer' is cleverer.
SilentJoe13
I wonder how well Bruce Willis would do giving a Joseph-Gordon Levitt impression...nicolaskrizan
doesn't live up to the hype, doesn't qualify for the bookhttp://beyond1001movies.wordpress.com/
nicolaskrizan
solid entertainment, not good enough fpr the book thoughhttp://beyond1001movies.wordpress.com/
samfenn
Meh. Entertaining.Showing items 1 – 15 of 78