Reviews

Very disappointing film, starts off slowly and slows down. Obviously Billy Connolly had some spare time - his contribution to this film is non existent. Any message it attempts to offer is far too simplistic and the ending involving many young soldiers balded by terror has no humour whatsoever (and yes I do have a sense of humour). The film chops and changes and seems to be many individual scenes strung together. The idea is a good one but we are never able to identify strongly enough with the lead characters to make this movie work, The religious divide is pushed to the front too much and could be done much more subtlely (sp?) and humourously. Conclusion: Give it a miss

Everything starts out well and the movie promises much but it never seems to go anywhere. There is no real suspense - all the plot "twists" don't really surprise. There is nothing truly bad (or good) about this movie and the performances from Affleck and Jackson (and others) are solid as we would expect.

The ending from the Jackson side of the story is a little too sickly sweet and he hasn't really done anything during the movie to deserve it. Affleck's change of heart in just a few hours is also unconvincing - we are given no background to support this.

All in all, the movie just doesn't seem well put together, too many seperate characters who seem to be accidentally in the same movie. I think they may be trying to tell too many stories at the same time and none of them get enough attention to keep the viewer interested.

This is fantastic viewing and although the choice of bad guy is surprising, it works really well however many movies you've seen him in as the good guy. Although we can see (or think we can see) his comic personality below the surface it's amazing how it easily translates to something darker

We really get a sense of the movie title, we are convinced that it is daytime for 24 hours. Pacino is simply his very excellent self.

The ending leaves you thinking which may be a disappointment to some but for me was a perfect ending. Something "clean" would not have done this justice.

Lead character doesn't know who he really is is hardly a new storyline but this is still a good way to spend an hour or two Matt Damon is perhaps too young to be really convincing in this role but the movie still keeps your attention, lots of unidentified people filling key roles in the story. Obvious to say since the story is set in Europe but the movie has a very European feel which I haven't seen for a while and it gives the film a certain credibility. Ending is bit lame but is short enough to not ruin the whole story.

The characters in this movie are all excellent, even the exagerated French "Casanova" has great sensitivity and honesty, perhaps sometimes too honest. We are easily drawn into his web and he never seems like a truly bad guy. Nobody is to blame and defining good and bad is too simplistic - this is real life.

The ending is just perfect although I was surprised when the credits rolled. Anyone who thinks this movie can have a different ending has not understood what has gone before. There can be no easy ending to such a situation in real life.

As with everything from the pen of Philip K Dick this is a truly original idea which has been turned into a very good movie. Cruise transcends his usual movie star style and fits well into this movie. Yes there are are a few holes in the plot but this is a movie and if it's the first one you've watched, that can happen but don't let it distract you from a very good (and alarming) idea.

The movie is 30mins too long and the last part doesn't add too much to the story which is a shame because the rest of raises a good question about justice/liberty etc.

All in all a very good watch independent of the star involvement which cannot outweigh a fantastic idea.