Jumper (2008) Movie Review

[WillRiker]

Movie Title: Jumper

Director: Doug Liman

Rated: Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) / Canada:G (Quebec) / Hong Kong:IIB / New Zealand:M / Italy:T / Netherlands:12 / USA:PG-13 (certificate #44084) / Sweden:11 / Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) / South Korea:15 / UK:12A / Norway:11 / Finland:K-13 / Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) / Singapore:PG / Ireland:12A / Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) / Australia:M / Malaysia:U

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Thriller

Runtime: 88 min

Viewed: Sitting in my chair in front of the TV

Trailer:

MTW presents yet another YouTube - Jumper Trailer video

Synopsis: A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.

Opinion: First of all I had no real reason for wanting to watch this other than it was a Sci-Fi film and was supposed to be good. After watching it it's pretty obvious that it's set up to be a first in a series of movies and I only hope that it doesn't suffer the same fate as the last "first in a series of Sci-Fi movies" that Samuel L Jackson was in which was "Unbreakable", as that never got followed up on.

What I feel marks this out as different from all the other "super hero" style movies is that the characters that are the jumpers are human, and as such display all the traits and flaws of humanity. They aren't heroic save the world mutants like in X-Men, or "great responsibility" types like in Spiderman, or indeed aliens from another planet as in Superman. They are just human beings that discover they have a very unique ability and as such use it for their own selfish gain, and let's be honest who among us wouldn't do that...if not at first, at least eventually?

Hayden Christensen was every bit as wooden as he was playing Anakin Skywalker in the Star wars movies, but it didn't seem so out of place as he was meant to be a totally selfish prick that was out to do as he pleased and sod the consequences, this was highlighted particularly well in one scene when a news report was on the TV showing flood victims and he could have quite easily used his "gift" to save them but chose to turn off the TV and do things for himself instead.

Samuel L Jackson is great as always playing one of the Paladin who have tracked down and exterminated jumpers throughout the years and ordinarily these would be considered the "bad guys" but there really is no good guys v bad guys in this as highlighted when Jackson's character says of the jumpers "eventually you all turn bad", proving the point that with a power like this it would more than likely eventually corrupt you to the point that you just did what you want, when you want.

This was also the first movie I have ever watched with Jamie Bell in it. He was good as Griffin, also a jumper, who has been tracking the Paladin for years, and in particular Jackson's character. If nothing else it was good to hear a Geordie accent on film, as he is from Stockton on Tees which isn't all that far away from where I live.

Michael Rooker was criminally under used in the movie, and I wasn't all that impressed with Rachel Bilson, particularly as the "love interest" as there just wasn't much...spark, I guess, between her and Christensen but that could be down to his crap acting.

All in all it was an OK movie...not a great movie by any means, but an entertaining way to fill in 88 minutes. If nothing else the special effects, (of which there are many), make up for the wooden acting from 1 or 2 individuals, and the story could have been explained more as there's really not a whole lot by way of explanation. These people just discover the gift and then do as they please while being hunted is pretty much all we're given. One or two hints are made to how and when the gift presented itself and there's a touch of background between Christensen's character and his Mother, but nothing is really fully explained, maybe they're pinning their hopes on a sequel to explore that side of things further...who knows?

So would I recommend it? Yes, probably if you like Sci-Fi and have a spare hour and a half. I can imagine it would look stunningly better on a "big screen" as that is obviously where the graphic effects would work better and look truly awesome, but it still wouldn't disguise the somewhat lacking story to the whole movie. However, if your time is precious and you aren't that big on Sci-Fi, you wouldn't be missing a future oscar winner by not watching this.

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[Maximal]

hmmmm, maybe I should see it on the big screen instead of waiting

[WillRiker]

Originally Posted by Maximal

hmmmm, maybe I should see it on the big screen instead of waiting

Special effects wise absolutely...I can imagine they would look pretty impressive on the big screen.

Not too sure if it will enhance the story or acting all that much though..

[mommysalomi]

I so want to see this movie..Just for the special effects !!