Before you read this, understand that I will be stating opinions on vague statements--intended for those who have seen the movie already. For those of you who haven't seen it, SEE IT.
In Star Wars Episode II you wanted to believe in Hayden's character, but the whiny exterior and shallow interior made him a person you didn't care to know better. It was obvious that he had potential, but it was also obvious that the director would not allow any of the improvisation Christiansen could have offered (and what ultimately could have saved the Anakin character we have come to tolerate and roll our eyes at). But this review is not about Star Wars. This review is about the role that finally opened our eyes to an incredible actor and a role that finally allowed him to breathe and put his personal touch into.
Jumper was well-directed and I thank God there is someone out there that understands what it is the audience wants to see. The story opens with the outcast (don't they all?) and continues with the story without too much narrative. The worst thing that can happen in any movie is a narrator. The best thing that can happen in any movie is a narrator. Too many words makes it seem as though we are reading a book instead of watching the memories of an individual. Too little words makes us feel as though the voice is holding back valuable information and we become frustrated. This was perfection. "Hi. My name is David. I can do cool things. Oh, by the way, I'm not very popular, which you will see in the next scene."
Personally, I'm not on board with the whole "I've-loved-you-since-before-I-hit-puberty" thing, but I'm willing to keep an open mind. Maybe "we-were-really-great-friends-and-then-when-I-hit-puberty-I-fell-in-love-with-you" is better and maybe that's what they were going for...
The locations were impressive! I don't normally applaud people for that, but when David takes his girlfirend to Rome and they go inside the Coloseam (yeah, yeah, I don't know how to spell it) it wasn't some cheasy set with plaster columbs and fake statues everywhere. And, better than that, if it was green screen, you really couldn't tell.
The uneasy alliance between David and the other Jumper made the story intruiging because we learned information about Jumpers that we would not have known otherwise...unless Samuel L Jackson (the Antagonist) started monologuing--and that is the worst way to have the audience lose respect for a bad guy. He jabs his mouth off and you wonder, "Okay, if you keep waiting, the good guy is going to get away, which makes you the dumbest character I've ever seen." Did Darth Vader monologue? No. He conversed while killing people. And he saved the conversation for the important people.
The ending was a little predictable, but I don't think I could have ended it better. At least, it wasn't a cheasy moment when Hayden finds his mother and she explains that the next time she sees him she will have to try to kill him. (For those of you who haven't seen the movie and are reading this--please don't try to figure this out, it makes perfect sense and yes, you need to spend the money to see this movie.)
I am not a fan of dialogue these days because the directors let the most idiotic lines slip through their fingers and onto the screen--condeming their work to harsh criticism and ultimately failure (the definition of failure for a movie is showing up on sale for $4 at Target on Flag day.)
I think the movie could have been longer, but I also say that it is good that it was this short. Some movies run out of plot before the movie is over and you find yourself sitting in the theater with the credits rolling thinking, "if it had ended at 1 hour, it would have been really great, but they dragged it on!" It's like stretching a rubber band until it breaks. I appreciate that the movie was short because I can see the director saying, "pretty much, this is all I have written and I'm not going to drag it on needlessly. Yeah, it's short, but it's got the meat and the bones I want in it." Honestly, thank you.
Overall I would say that it was a success. Perhaps the people with conflicting opinions didn't think that it had enough sex or violence or cursing, but I enjoy a movie that I don't have to cringe through. I want to be able to show it to my little sister without having to cup her ears or cover her eyes.
This is all my opinion and you don't have to listen to a single word I've said, but take into consideration the other movies that have been made in the last year...