DVD : Jumper [2008]

Rating: - Might as well Jump
What an awful film!Saw it on an airplane,so didn't have to pay thank goodness.But what is Samual Jackson doing in this stinker?He can act-no one else in this film can.If anyone had any doubts from the recent star Wars trilogy about the acting abilities(or not) of Hayden Christensen,surely this film must be proof positive that he cannot act?Free Hayden from the clutches of Hollywood!He is much more suited to being a statue in a park somewhere,as he is so wooden and leaden.Let him seek his true calling ,and save us from having to watch him in another movie.

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Rating: - 4 stars if it had been a TV pilot, 2 stars as a stand alone movie
An interesting story, brought together by interesting talent, falls oddly short of expectations in this action movie with fantasy elements.
The stall is set out early, as an intro shows Hayden Christensen discovering his ability to teleport (jump) from place to place. He indulges himself with his ability, leaving behind the love of his teen life and living in style, until he meets another Jumper, played by Jamie Bell. They are tracked by the Paladin, a secret group led by Samuel Jackson who are hell bent on destroying Jumpers. And that's really about it - and I don't mean that I am saving the rest of the plot to avoid writing spoilers - that really is about it, it really devolves into a `does-he-get-the-girl' movie at this point, winding up after a scant 84 minutes, seemingly in the middle of the story. Why do the Paladin want to destroy Jumpers? Will Christensen achieve his stated goal of destroying the oddly coiffured Jackson character? What makes the Jumpers what they are? How many are there? Will Christensen's character ever come out of his permanent sulk? All remain unanswered - presumably for the inevitable sequel.
Hayden Christensen does little here to dispel notions that his acting is on a par with your nearest oak tree, but Jamie Bell is interestingly edgy and has the benefit of the films few humorous moments. Bilson looks terrific of course but really has little to do once the special effects starts, and Jackson is really only going through the motions. None of this really matters with such thinly drawn characters, and the director smooths over the cracks with his efficient action scenes. The movie does crackle along with innovative set pieces which pique the interest, ultimately however leaving you all the more unfulfilled at the (partly literally) cliffhanger ending.
Overall, you're left with the feeling that as much as there is to like, this would have been much better edited down to a 20 minute introduction to a much more interesting and complex film. Wait for the next movie and watch it as a double bill.

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Rating: - jump away to miss this rubbish
Wow, I was expecting so much from this film. So many reviewers have rated this well so it was with a great and positive hope that i settled down on sunday afternoon to watch this film. What utter garbage!!!Hayden Christensen acted pretty awfully, the plot had more holes than a fisherman's net and i was left gawping at the end as to how such a bad film had even sneaked onto the blockbuster charts!!!

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Rating: - Jump away from this car crash...
This film should have been brilliant.

Moody youth discovers he has teleportation powers, and uses them to escape and abusive father and go on spending spree after robbing a bank before being hunted down by a secret society and discovering more like himself.

X-men meets Harry Potter? And any other mutant power film you care to mention

So why is this so monumentally terrible?
It's the execution. Badly scripted, naff direction, cinematography that brings nothing new, and plot that has clearly had huge lumps cut from it.

It is pretty obvious that this film is setting itself up to be the first part of trilogy, but I doubt anyone will bother going to see it.

It's a tired three act format, turgid delivery, and some number cruncher in Hollywood has hacked to death what was once a brilliant idea.

Avoid.

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Rating: - Missed opportunity
A great premise, with good initial effects, but it frizzles out. Missed opportunity as a movie. They could have done so much more with this film, and "Hayden the plank" didn't help!