Interesting Premise, Mediocre Film
Added 3/5/2010
When I heard about the premise of this film, I thought it sounded interesting and ambitious: the same exciting moment in time as seen from several different points of view. The American president gets assasinated while preparing to give a speech in a public square in Spain. The same half hour or so is seen through the eyes of a news producer (Sigourney Weaver) and her reporter, a Secret Service Agent (Dennis Quaid), an onlooker (Forrest Whitaker) in the crowd assembled to watch the speech, and several of the people involved in plotting to kill the president. Because of all the intense action and different points of view, we rarely see exactly the same thing, so the film isn't boring at all. But there are several aspects of the movie that are very far-fetched. (I can't say what without putting spoilers into the review, so please take my word on this)! However the thing that really bothered me about this is that we spend half the movie watching the bad guys, and we never really understand any of their motivation for their actions. For instance, after shooting the president, there are two explosions near his podium that really only harm the onlookers. Even at the end of the movie, there's only one line that even attempts to explain the wherefores of all that we've just watched, so for me the film is really unsatisfying. Its saving graces are the well done action sequences and the performances of Dennis Quaid and Forrest Whitaker, as well as one of the good guys who's been roped into being one of the assassins by the kidnapping of a family member - again, far fetched.
If you like action movies with very little heart, or you're a big fan of Dennis Quaid or Forrest Whitaker, buy the movie. Otherwise, I can't really recommend it. The aforementioned fine performances are the only thing that brought this above a two star review from me.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Vantage Point
Added 1/4/2010
Thomas Barnes and Kent Taylor are two Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Ashton at a landmark summit on the global war on terror. When President Ashton is shot moments after his arrival in Spain, chaos ensues and disparate lives collide in the hunt for the assassin. In the crowd is Howard Lewis, an American tourist who thinks he's captured the shooter on his camcorder while videotaping the event for his kids back home. Also there is American TV news producer Rex Brooks, relaying the historic event to millions of TV viewers across the globe. As they and others reveal their stories, the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place - and it will become apparent that shocking motivations lurk just beneath the surface. This movie is clever, and action packed, never a dull moment. Definitely worth while seeing.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
What's happening now!
Added 12/29/2009
Great movie! Dennis Quaid is super. This movie shows how many people see different things from their vantage point. It also gives you an inside look as to how terrorists or any terror group works to get their job done, even to die to get their job done. Although this is fiction, there are many possiblities that could be true. The movie gives you something to think about and to be alert and aware of your surroundings.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Vantage Point
Added 12/15/2009
This is the second time I have purchased this DVD from Amazon, and we still cannot play it. We have had no problems with any other movies/DVD's...only this one. It is a puzzle to us. We will have to (again) return it. The first time, it was from another seller through Amazon, and we assumed that returning that one and receiving a different one through Amazon would be better. Not so. We are now wondering how many others have had problems with this particular movie????
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Good plot, action. Something missing !
Added 11/20/2009
I liked the film, but when it was all over, I felt something somehow was missing !!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Interesting Premise, Mediocre Film
Added 3/5/2010
When I heard about the premise of this film, I thought it sounded interesting and ambitious: the same exciting moment in time as seen from several different points of view. The American president gets assasinated while preparing to give a speech in a public square in Spain. The same half hour or so is seen through the eyes of a news producer (Sigourney Weaver) and her reporter, a Secret Service Agent (Dennis Quaid), an onlooker (Forrest Whitaker) in the crowd assembled to watch the speech, and several of the people involved in plotting to kill the president. Because of all the intense action and different points of view, we rarely see exactly the same thing, so the film isn't boring at all. But there are several aspects of the movie that are very far-fetched. (I can't say what without putting spoilers into the review, so please take my word on this)! However the thing that really bothered me about this is that we spend half the movie watching the bad guys, and we never really understand any of their motivation for their actions. For instance, after shooting the president, there are two explosions near his podium that really only harm the onlookers. Even at the end of the movie, there's only one line that even attempts to explain the wherefores of all that we've just watched, so for me the film is really unsatisfying. Its saving graces are the well done action sequences and the performances of Dennis Quaid and Forrest Whitaker, as well as one of the good guys who's been roped into being one of the assassins by the kidnapping of a family member - again, far fetched.
If you like action movies with very little heart, or you're a big fan of Dennis Quaid or Forrest Whitaker, buy the movie. Otherwise, I can't really recommend it. The aforementioned fine performances are the only thing that brought this above a two star review from me.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Vantage Point
Added 1/4/2010
Thomas Barnes and Kent Taylor are two Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Ashton at a landmark summit on the global war on terror. When President Ashton is shot moments after his arrival in Spain, chaos ensues and disparate lives collide in the hunt for the assassin. In the crowd is Howard Lewis, an American tourist who thinks he's captured the shooter on his camcorder while videotaping the event for his kids back home. Also there is American TV news producer Rex Brooks, relaying the historic event to millions of TV viewers across the globe. As they and others reveal their stories, the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place - and it will become apparent that shocking motivations lurk just beneath the surface. This movie is clever, and action packed, never a dull moment. Definitely worth while seeing.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
What's happening now!
Added 12/29/2009
Great movie! Dennis Quaid is super. This movie shows how many people see different things from their vantage point. It also gives you an inside look as to how terrorists or any terror group works to get their job done, even to die to get their job done. Although this is fiction, there are many possiblities that could be true. The movie gives you something to think about and to be alert and aware of your surroundings.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
