The reviews for this have been mixed, to say the least.

Considering what it cost and how much it was promoted its reception has been rather luke warm.

I was looking forward to it. Heard the script was great and the fact that Nolan's cinematographer was directing were all good signs. Depp, Bettany and Freeman in the cast were also big plusses.

Then I saw the trailer. And it isn't what I was hoping for. It seems silly. And not in a good way.

Only Fincher, Nolan and Tarantino films can drag me into a cinema these days. Is this worth the effort?

R

I hated it. My husband also hated it. I mean when you see Morgan Freeman and Depp you think it's got to be decent, right!? Wrong. It must really suck for the writer, because I think it was a spec...and I can't imagine how he/she feels. It takes me days to recover from feedback on here...I can't imagine living through feedback hell like that movie is going to get.

What made me hate it? They had a great idea but failed to execute it. There was no strong relationships...not strong enough or thought out enough to make you understand why characters did what they did. I'm a tech dumbass but even I could tell the research wasn't done and it was just thrown together. I don't mind using my brain in a movie, but this one was just weird. The beginning was like a flash and it would end full circle but to me, even that wasn't done good. When you start a movie and the first 10 minutes aren't good...it really affects the way you watch the rest of it. Honestly, I fell asleep twice. My husband bumped me to wake me back up!

I guess to each his own opinion, but for me, this one was terrible.

Yes, it was a spec and from what I heard the original script was hacked to bits and what we have on screen is completely different.

I watched the trailer a few weeks ago. The concept was ok but the trailer was pure shite and pretty much explains why I haven't been to the cinema in 6 years, lol

I was at your local cinema the other day, Stevie. Had a chat with the manager. He was talking about something he would refer to as only 'the incident'.

While he talked his expression went dark. Sweat formed on his brow. He then muttered something something about goats and marshmallows before running away full pelt.

The staff then tried to sell me some popcorn and soft drinks at shocking prices.

I then found my coat and made my excuses.

R

Quoted from rendevous I was at your local cinema the other day, Stevie. Had a chat with the manager. He was talking about something he would refer to as only 'the incident'. While he talked his expression went dark. Sweat formed on his brow. He then muttered something something about goats and marshmallows before running away full pelt. The staff then tried to sell me some popcorn and soft drinks at shocking prices. I then found my coat and made my excuses. R

I could imagine YOUR  local cinema, RV.  Well, the cellar under your house filled with...

Let's not go there, shall we?  Or to Jeff's either just for sanity's sake, lol

My cellar? It was full of cheese. And wine. But I soon sorted that out.

Hang on, maybe that's where my spoons and keys are. I'm gonna have a look.

Nope. Just the kettle. Minus the lead. Like my pencil.

Just to change the subject... Is there anyone out there who's seen this film and thought it was good? It isn't a trap. I've read some good reviews. It's got to have something good going for it.

R

I was just about to write this off and not bother seeing it. Which is a shame as there's nothing else on at the mo.

But then I read this by Kermode and it made me think. Still not sure whether I'll bother but I rate Kermode. There aren't many film reviewers out there any good these days.

R

I finally watched this last night.

Whilst a lot of what Kermode says in his review is true, such as this movie looking great and having some fine moments, it is rather dull.

There's not much to these terrorists at all. Practically one note on all fronts.

I hate movies that do I time jump midway. And this did a big one.

I didn't really care for any of the characters. Not really. Bettany was good, as he usually is. And the others were okay. Apart from Freeman, who seemed to be only there to fill out the cast.

If they'd have made me care about the characters I would have loved this film.

I think it goes wrong at the beginning. A character gets shot and it gets treated like it's just a splinter. Then it seems it gets really serious. I think if they had treated the original shooting as more serious I'd have been more along with them for the ride.

Some of the effects near the end were great. There are plenty of good ideas here. But I watched feeling rather bored.

This would have looked fantastic at the cinema. But it really would not have been worth the effort. Shame.

R

I read the first 10 or so pages of the script almost a year ago, can't remember why I put it down. Anyway when the trailer came out... I lost all desire to watch the movie, looked very uninteresting to me. Not surprised it got so many bad reviews.

How is it, really? I never made it past the first 20 minutes before I dozed off tio lala land...

Films are so subjective.

I saw all the terrible reviews, expected it to be poor and what I found was one of the better sci-fi films I've seen.

I really liked it. Full of good ideas, and the slow burn suited the thoughtful atmosphere.