Source Code - 83%

The movie is much more a Science Fiction exploration of Quantum Physics than it is an action thriller.  And that's why I enjoyed it so much.

I can't say I was expecting much from Source Code.  Maybe some good action, clever special effects and interesting characters.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The movie is so much more than just another action film.  The producers and writers put a lot of thought into the story, characters, relationships and science.  And I appreciate that.

Jake Gyllenhaal is a tough actor to nail down.  He was part of the reason I wasn't expecting much.  I am yet to see Jarhead, Zodiac or Brokeback Mountain, so I guess I don't have much material to base my expectation on.  But The Day After Tomorrow (about a 65%) stereotyped Jake Gyllenhaal for me, and I am glad that the stereotype is broken.

Source Code has every aspect nailed to make it a quality movie.  Stunning cinematography (including magnificent sweeping shots of Chicago), well written plot, outstanding acting, heartfelt characters, interesting science theories and thrilling action.  And the destination the movie ends at is both unexpected and satisfying, and leaves one pondering the theories of Quantum Physics.  A like-minded friend is helpful with whom you can talk out your theories with after.  Some great conversation points are created in the movie.  It is this that gives Source Code an "A" in my books.

Some thought-provoking movies let themselves down with poor acting or weak cinematography or special effects.  Source Code has most of it to support the quality screenplay.

Critics may have their words about some of the acting, particularly Jeffrey Wright who plays the inventing Doctor of the technology, DR Rutledge.  But I am not sure if that was Wright's acting or the way in which Rutledge was written.  Either way, I found him to be a splinter in the midst of a quality production.  Don't get me wrong, he's a great actor, but the way DR Rutledge was portrayed didn't fit the movie, unfortunately.

Overall, a great movie.  A great HD experience and great thought-provoking material, too.  It's also fantastic for family audiences as well.

Source Code
83% (A-)
F-Count: 1 (Uses of the F-Word below 3)
Written by:  Ben Ripley
Directed by:  Duncan Jones
Produced by:  Mark Gordon,  Jordan Wynn and Philippe Rousselet

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Limitless - 90%

It is not often I watch a movie that I would give 90%. It's just the nature of the film industry, there are not enough movie produced that are that good. Look, I don't think I watch as many movies as some people do (I average about 1 a week), but you would think that it would be possible to watch a 90% movie at the rate of about 1 in 4. That's not the case. I find it's more like 1 in 10. That's poor, isn't it? It could have a lot to do with the fact that my choice of movies is based on pop culture, but you would think that pop culture would produce quality produce at least 20% of the time! They don't. And that's why when a really good movie hits you, it's that much more noticeable.

I have noticed that a lot of the reviews didn't quite share the same enthusiasm as me toward "Limitless". The benchmark of reviews such as Rotten Tomatoes and Roger Ebert found the movie average. That made me think, "what made me enjoy the movie so much?" Was it the fact that I hadn't seen a good movie in a long time? Perhaps it was the fact that I had never heard of the movie and had no expectations on it. I don't really know. What I do know is, after seeing other reviews about the film, I am not reducing my rating.

Limitless is astounding. "Dark Fields", the novel it is based on, is a fantastic concept. And it deserved to hit the big screen. And I couldn't think of a better cast to bring it life, particularly Bradley Cooper and Robert de Niro. Bradley Cooper comes into his own in this non-stop action thriller.

That's exactly what it is, a non-stop action thriller. It is an adventurous roller-coaster ride from start to finish. Following the life of Eddie Morra, a washed out writer with not much hope in life, who comes across a drug that taps into the brain's full potential. Eddie becomes brilliant in every sense of the word, in every way. He takes back his life, and in a matter of days moves beyond what he could ever have dreamed of. Of course, it doesn't come without its consequences.

What made the movie so good? Overall, the screenplay. The story from start to finish was simply breathtaking. It really was epic. But going a long way in supporting such a fantastic screenplay was the production... with stunning cinematography (I particularly liked a new method of employing the fish-eye lens each time Eddie took the drug), brilliant action sequences and some great acting.

I hadn't heard of Limitless at all until I saw it on the shelf of my movie rental store. I saw the cast, read the story and thought "that looks really good". It could well have been my low expectations of the film that gave it such a high rating, but that's the way I like it. Watching a movie without any expectations.

Whatever the reason, the film was downright brilliant in almost all senses. It gets one of only a few 90's I give away in 2011. And deservedly so. If you haven't seen "Limitless" yet, do yourself a favour.

Limitless:
90% (A++)
F-Count: 1 (Use of the F-Word below 3)
Written by:  Leslie Dixon
Directed by:  Neil Burger
Produced by:  Leslie Dixon, Ryan Kavanaugh and Scott Kroopf

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