Jumper (2008)

Director:

Doug Liman

Writers (WGA):

David S. Goyer (screenplay) and
Jim Uhls (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

anywhere is possible.

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Stolen Vehicle | Religious Cult | Father Son Relationship | Library | Absent Mother

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Hayden Christensen	...	David Rice
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Roland
Diane Lane	...	Mary Rice
Jamie Bell	...	Griffin
Rachel Bilson	...	Millie Harris
Michael Rooker	...	William Rice
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Young Millie
Max Thieriot	...	Young David
Jesse James	...	Young Mark
Tom Hulce	...	Mr. Bowker
Kristen Stewart	...	Sophie
Teddy Dunn	...	Mark Kobold
Barbara Garrick	...	Ellen
Michael Winther	...	Day Bank Manager
Massimiliano Pazzaglia	...	Italian Desk Cop

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

88 min | USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Evan Rachel Wood turned down the role of "Millie". The part eventually went to Rachel Bilson.

Goofs:

Continuity: Despite the relatively short period of time covered by the main part of the film, during various establishing shots of Manhattan, the Empire State Building is seen to be lit for two different holidays, Independence Day and Christmas.

Quotes:

Griffin: [after Mille is taken by the Padalins] Crap, I uh, I didn't expect that. I didn't know.

Movie Connections:

References The Sixth Sense (1999)

Soundtrack:

Ladies and Gentlemen

Snakes in a Wormhole

I recently saw a film by Erich von Stroheim. It was unremarkable. But associated with it in IMDb was a quote about how in Paris if you ever made a good film, you are celebrated forever. In Hollywood, the only thing that matters is your last film.

Doug Liman made what I consider a very good film, one that stood out in many ways. Novel, engaging, original. That film, "Go," brought me to many others by him, always with the French expectation that I would find the same artist, the soul with the light that never does.

But its been one ragged shadow after another. But at least some of them had enough to not make audiences run away.

The mistakes here are obvious. They paid attention to the many locations shots, done well enough to register. And they paid some reasonable attention to the special effects: the teleportation and fights. And then they thought that would be enough.

They obviously missed on the ordinary values of acting, character and story. But you know, I would have easily forgiven that if they had been more integrated in their cinematic approach. This is just like the "Spiderman" movies. The character swoops. Its pretty much all he does that's interesting. The camera should swoop too. It didn't there.

About the only other energetic things a camera can do is shake, which we saw done well in "Transformers," and jump, which I expected to see here. Its as if it never occurred to them, even in the frenzied climax where it would have been almost accidental to do jumps.

Nope. Plus we have to endure Samuel Jackson, one of the biggest, dumbest muggers around.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.