- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: Hindi, English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 12
- DVD Release Date: 4 Aug 2008
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B001BZGVRE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 81,517 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk review
Vantage Point, which aspires to be a cunningly twisted thriller, comes equipped with plenty of hurtling action, handheld camerawork, what-was-that? editing, and a plot that has multiple, contradictory agendas writhing like a nest of snakes. It's all set within a few blocks of a town square in Spain where a U.S. President is targeted for assassination. Although the movie lasts 90 minutes, the events it depicts are mostly over within fifteen minutes or so--but seen, rewound, and reseen from half a dozen different (you guessed it) vantage points. The first line in the credits reads "Original Film," apparently the name of the production company. "Gimmick Movie" might be more accurate. The opening reel, effectively jolting, affords an initial overview of the events through the eyes, lenses, monitors, and duelling sensibilities of a TV news producer (Sigourney Weaver), her activist-minded reporter (Zoe Saldana) and crew. Everybody’s in Salamanca for the start of an international conference to reaffirm Arab-Western commitment to the fight against terrorism. Terrorism, of course, sees this as an ideal moment to break out. As gunshots and explosions reduce everything to chaos, the clock is reset to zero and we proceed to revisit the scene as experienced by several Secret Service agents (namely Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), an American tourist with camcorder (Forest Whitaker), sundry locals--including three who may be caught up in a love triangle or a conspiracy or both--and even the President himself (William Hurt).
For a while, this is mildly diverting: that guy, or that gesture, so sinister when glimpsed across the plaza in one run-through, now appears harmless in closeup--or vice versa. But there's no real ambiguity (so stop with the careless comparisons to Kurosawa's Rashomon)--this is a shell game in which the peas aren't worth tracking. Despite decent actors, the characters might as well be holograms (although poor Forest Whitaker is saddled with "motivation" of surpassing sappiness), and the casting telegraphs several twists: one redoubtable good guy practically gives a wink-wink, nudge-nudge that he's really bad, etc. The movie declines to specify which nutjob philosophy the terrorists espouse, and their numbers are multi-ethnic. There's also a laborious suggestion that they have bloodthirsty, reactionary counterparts among the President's inner circle, which perhaps qualifies as redeeming socio-political comment and prompts a meaningless declaration of deep meaning from the Prez. The whole megilleh finally comes down to an extended car chase through impassably claustrophobic streets that would mark a lurch into unintentional self-parody--if only that point hadn't been passed a couple of rewinds earlier. --Richard T. Jameson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Vantage point follows the assassination of a presidential double and is shown through the perspectives of eight people. The film is essentially a jigsaw which you get a clearer picture of at the end even if it seems like a few pieces are still missing.
I've seen so many films I've lost count but vantage point's gimmick, what makes it stand out, if you will is the way in which its told. Through the perspectives of the characters we see the film twist and turn in rapid succession creating a multi-layered story of betrayal and terrorism this style appeals to me as the film spirals in unpredictable directions just when you think you've got it pegged. This style however is where the film receives the majority of its criticism for being repetitive, which to an extent it is, while this style will engage some people it will bore others.
Due to the rapid perspective switches few characters are developed and while the cast perform well in their parts they never excel,save perhaps Forest Whitaker.
Vantage point boils down to disposable entertainment, which requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief at points an ultimately culminates with blistering car chase, not perfect by any means but worth seeing once if just to draw your own conclusions
Overall 7/10
I've seen so many films I've lost count but vantage point's gimmick, what makes it stand out, if you will is the way in which its told. Through the perspectives of the characters we see the film twist and turn in rapid succession creating a multi-layered story of betrayal and terrorism this style appeals to me as the film spirals in unpredictable directions just when you think you've got it pegged. This style however is where the film receives the majority of its criticism for being repetitive, which to an extent it is, while this style will engage some people it will bore others.
Due to the rapid perspective switches few characters are developed and while the cast perform well in their parts they never excel,save perhaps Forest Whitaker.
Vantage point boils down to disposable entertainment, which requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief at points an ultimately culminates with blistering car chase, not perfect by any means but worth seeing once if just to draw your own conclusions
Overall 7/10
Format:DVD
Vantage Point is a fast paced, action packed thriller that grabs you from the get go with the clever use of multiple point of view in terms of character: each one showing their view of the presidents assasination. The cast, including Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver, Matthew Fox and Forest Whittaker along with many others are great and each handles their fifteen or so minutes as the main character very well. What makes this film so entertaining is the puzzle aspect it offers to the audience, we have to piece together the various clues littered throughout to put together the final picture. There are twists and a gripping car chase along with many other taut set pieces. Vantage Point is a very quick movie and is over before you have time to blink, the multiple POV can at times get frustrating as they are so brief but other than that this if a good thriller that won't leave you feeling dissapointed or unsatisfied.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well i enjoyed the movie in a lot of ways the actors playing the roles and the roles they were taking. The action scenes were great i thought good story line with a bit of working out to do puzzling at times but thats what i like something to work on. Over all a great movie
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
If you have a good idea; don't change it halfway through.
I bought this on recommendation of a friend, that it was a clever thriller set from the different view pionts of an event.
The President of the USA has been shot. Read more
The President of the USA has been shot. Read more
Published 3 months ago by William Templar
Enjoyable film with just a little missing
A top notch cast give some great performances. A very original and thought provoking plot, however it could have been just a little better as I felt something was missing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Agnetha
The promise of the start not quite carried to the end but decent...
The movie follows an assassination attempt on the US president from five perspectives, retelling the story from different people's point of view. Read more
Published 10 months ago by AK
THIS IS GREAT!
this movie is brilliant! a breath of fresh air, a great gripping story and great cast. i would highly recommend
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Martin Bull
From my point of view
Before I start this review, I just want to make it clear that I will not be going into detail where the plot is concerned because that would almost certainly ruin the viewing... Read more
Published 18 months ago by nhall
What happened?
I thought this movie was clever and a good run. If they had Brad Pitt in it, it would have been really well known for that reason. Read more
Published 21 months ago by JoeMissionx34
vantage point
Highly recommend. Have lent it to family and frineds. No bad feedback - all enjoyed. Fantastic film. Action from beginning to end. This film is entertainment at its best.
Published 23 months ago by S. D. Karolski
Book 'Vantage point'
Bought as a gift voucher and selected by the recipient. Now a valued addition to the family library.
Published on 21 May 2010 by G. L. Jones
Very good
Fast paced and action packed. Very enjoyable film with twists and turns. Will keep you guessing until the end. Highly recommended.
Published on 19 Jan 2010 by S. J. Roberts
Vantage Point
This film was interesting, shot from different witnesses' viewpoints, and Dennis Quaid was his usual best. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by Beebobaluna
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