Returner [DVD] [2002]

I love this film and found it totally enjoyable, simply because its a totally original, out there story, done in a simple extremely fun way. If this was a Hollywood movie, it would probably be dubbed "the Action event of the decade, coming this fall" and you would be sick of hearing about it by the time they actually got round to releasing it. Then to find out it was about as groundbreaking as double-sided sticky tape.

The two main charachters are perfect, and something Ive found in many Asian movies is that no matter how cheesy, cliched or corny a scene is, Asian actors/actresses seem to be able to pull it off without you cringing. Theres always emotion, without the stereotypical hero types we see all the time.

There is action and its well done, would have been nice to had a bit more but then would rather watch a film with characters you learn about and grow to like, than a story with characters you know little about, spouting out annoying "one liners" and performing gravity defying martial arts on anyone who "gets in their way".

All in all, this is a film you can watch over and over again, hate to use the term, but this is Pop-corn fodder. The sort of film home cinema was made for. Just sit back, forget all the stress and seriousness in your day and enjoy just under 2 hours of great entertainment.

First things first, this film is a great time filler, it presses almost two hours long which I think is pushing it a little bit but it seems to fly by completly... I didn't look at my watch once during it. The effects were outstanding and certainly showed up the Matrix in my own view. There were hints of other movies in there two, noticebaly Leon, but if you liked Leon, then you will like this and if you liked the Martix too... well this one makes sense.

The plot is pretty simple: a girl coming back from the future to save the demise of the planet from aliens, a pretty tough hitman with revenge on his mind, and a nasty sadistic killer causing all sorts of carnage... There is a mixture of everything in this, and unfortunetly I have to say it is a lil cheesy in places too but that doesn't stop it from being a great film! I think that it has be to seen just for the whole stopping time effect and though that is very Matrix it still looks absoutely amazing.

The cinematography is breath taking, the acting is superb as the main characters have a brilliant chemistry on screen, and the fight scenes are jaw droppingly good and great fun.

If you go in taking this film seriously you'll walk out disappointed, if you go in not expecting much and just a fun film, you will walk away thinking that it was well worth your time! If Sci-Fi and Martial Arts isn't your thing, head elsewhere!

Personally I thought that this was one of my fave films of all time- mentally taxing or not- i look forward to seeing it in my DVD collection in the future.

p.s A big Telly and surround sound would help a lot!