That said - this is one movie that is extremely difficult to review without giving spoilers. In fact, any other review I've read on the movie basically flat tells you the plot and then what's good or bad about it. Personally, that's why I usually don't read reviews until after I've seen the movie. Counterproductive? Maybe, but doesn't spoil the movies for me. That, and we go to the theatre for so few movies, and those we do, I'd see them even if the critics hate the movie most of the time anyway...
Plot: I loved the plot - it had a few twists and turns, and it pretty much stayed true to the science fiction involved, nothing was "too" over the top. My response to the critics saying "I figured it out in the first five minutes" is that I think it wasn't supposed to stay hidden. It wasn't supposed to be some Sixth Sense reveal. The twists and turns were what they were - if you figured it out, more power to you, but the plot included them for enjoyment, but what I enjoyed more (because yes, I figured one twist out a lot sooner than Colter did) was watching Gyllenhaal as Colter reason it out. It didn't feel like an episode of CSI where you're "duh, it's the butler" it was watching a story unfold.
Score (1-5): 4 (I loved that I could sit down and watch it and not complain about any plot holes)
Acting: Jake Gyllenhal as Colter Stevens was superb, he was not only a soldier, he was Captain Colter Stevens. Any example I have though of him gives too much of the plot away, so in this case, I will restrain. As much as I think he did an awesome job, he couldn't have carried the movie alone. Michelle Monaghan (Eagle Eye, Mission Impossible III) as Christina Warren, the passenger on the train also did an outstanding job. Jeffery Wright (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace) as Dr. Rutledge did a perfect as the icy, driven man bent on "saving the world" at the expense of few. My second favorite actor in the movie is Vera Farmiga (Orphan, The Departed) as Lieutenant Colleen Goodwin, who did a phenomenal job. Every actor must use body language as a tool, and as all of the Lieutenant's internal turmoil was so well portrayed without a word being spoken, it is clear Vera Farmiga has mastered this tool.
Score (1-5): 4 (Yes, I gave them glowing reviews, but a 5 is perfect, 4 is an impressive average, especially for an action-thriller)
The Ending: Could have been different, but it wasn't. I'm not upset that it wasn't, I don't feel cheated. Ironically, it kind of kept my mind spinning all night...
Score: Well, you either liked it or you didn't - I did.
Overall: It was a movie I went in feeling excited about, but with no expectations. I enjoyed the tight plot (too many movies lately have had gaping plot holes) and it was nice that an action movie not only had good acting but some interesting character development as well, a good story to speak. Would I recommend it? Oh yeah!
Score (1-5): You guessed it - 4
Score (1-5): You guessed it - 4
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