Directed by Luc Besson, this was a fun movie with solid acting and great visuals. Johansson does an excellent job with her lead part. Besson was clearly attempting to make a more profound “thinking mans” action movie, that explores the meaning of life and other deep questions, but falls short of anything but glossing over those heavy topics. How she is able to use 100% of her mental capacity is far too convenient, and spending more time on that one (magic new street drug causes super powers indeed…) would have helped the movie greatly. This is a movie that requires a total suspension of disbelief to enjoy, or you’ll spend too much time asking if 100% use of our brain allows time travel, and so forth… If you can do that, it’s a fun movie and visually stunning in parts. A+ for Besson making the attempt to go well beyond the typical action movie, but a B- for the results.
Michael Mann is my go to director for “intelligent” action flicks. Besson excels in pure fantasy such as Fifth Element. I haven’t seen this one yet, but I’ll be taking off my thinking cap when I do.
A requirement to enjoy this movie. The very premise, that we only use a small % of our brain power, was debunked a long time ago:
"Though an alluring idea, the “10 percent myth” is so wrong it is almost laughable, says neurologist Barry Gordon at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Although there’s no definitive culprit to pin the blame on for starting this legend, the notion has been linked to the American psychologist and author William James, who argued in The Energies of Men that “We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources.” It’s also been associated with Albert Einstein, who supposedly used it to explain his cosmic towering intellect.
The myth’s durability, Gordon says, stems from people’s conceptions about their own brains: they see their own shortcomings as evidence of the existence of untapped gray matter. This is a false assumption. What is correct, however, is that at certain moments in anyone’s life, such as when we are simply at rest and thinking, we may be using only 10 percent of our brains.
“It turns out though, that we use virtually every part of the brain, and that [most of] the brain is active almost all the time,” Gordon adds. “Let’s put it this way: the brain represents three percent of the body’s weight and uses 20 percent of the body’s energy.”
Agreed, and she can act too. I’m still sad about the breast reduction (not 100% confirmed, but sure looked that way…) she had done as they were another amazing attribute of Scarlett, but her body her choice. I thought she did a great job in this movie, and even though I’m not partial to blonds or most Hollywood types, there’s just something about her.
If one likes Scarlet, and some good visuals, and action, movie is a win. If one cares about the details and the premise, not so much.
Acting was mostly OK. Morgan Freeman was awful…phoned it in IMHO. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to really enjoy this movie. Came away thinking it was $5.99 on iTunes wasted.
I saw the movie and thought that the film was entertaining, but a little off the wall. I think that his best female lead film was the original ‘La Femme Nikita’ 1990. Great movie.
Saw it recently, it was a solid “ok.” Interesting basic premise that borrowed heavily on existing themes and ideas, way too much “Matrix” style. As with most movies which attempt to explore ideas and concepts which we have only an abstract understanding of the ending is usually disappointing and this film is no exception.
Clearly a more profound film was attempted, but it failed on nearly every level except for pretty visuals and effects. Rather than a breakthrough sci fi film or a brilliant new concept this one is more of a “best of” hijack that isn’t even as good as the films it borrowed inspiration from.
It’s worth a rent. But I’d rather watch “Colossus: The Forbin Project” (1970) again (probably watched it a dozen times or so) than watch Lucy again.
I watched it last night and enjoyed more than expected. The big baddie, Chang, was great. Looks like a Chinese Gary Oldman expressing the same delightful, barely contained rage and frustration. Many minor characters given some good lines. I’m getting tired of Morgan Freeman’s wise man schtick - spouting platitudes as deep insight. Really stupid lecture with all ages audience rapt by 7th grade level information.
Well cast and photographed. Weak script relying too much on cozmic way-coolness to carry interest, but worth your time if already a forgiving sci-fi fan.
