The Couchpotatoes
Another movie about a serial killer. Nothing wrong with that to me because i like that kind of stuff. But it's just not as good as some classics in the genre. You almost immediately figure out who the killer is without them telling you and that's a bit of a bummer. There are a couple of twists after they try to mislead you but everyone that watches a lot of serial killer movies will see it coming. Nevertheless Taking Lives is still enjoyable to watch. Angelina Jolie is a beautiful woman and a good actress as well, so what's more to ask. Ethan Hawke plays his role like we are used to. The rest of the cast are also good, nothing to complain about. Taking Lives is certainly a good enough movie to have a nice evening in front of the big screen. Not the best in his genre but it doesn't really matter, it's still good enough to me.
David Holt (rawiri42)
Taking Lives was screened on TV last night and, since it was late, I recorded it. I'm glad I did.Apart from starring Angelina Jolie, who I have the utmost admiration for, not just as an actress but as an all-round wonderful person, the action was "ordinary" with Keifer Sutherland taking a very minor part.It is difficult to review this movie without including spoilers and to do that would be somewhat pointless because there are so many twists and turns. Maybe the smarter viewers saw them coming but, personally, I had no idea with the result that I was on the edge of my nice comfortable La-z-boy for much of the movie.Whilst I was pretty confident that the guilty one would get his due deserts in the end, almost right up to the last minute, I was fooled (you'll see what I mean). And let me add that I was VERYT pleasantly fooled because, by that point, I was actually seething with anger.I suppose Taking Lives was, in the final analysis, just another whodunnit movie but I enjoyed it and, as I say, I'm glad I recorded it.
SebastianKiraly
This could have been so much better. Actually it is not at all difficult to guess who is the bad guy since there are not many people introduced. If you didn't know it in the first hour, you do no actually care for the genre at all.With all the lame action going on (surprise factor in the elevator was ZERO, it was SOOOO obvious) I was ready to give this a 4 star rating but even the casting was terrible. (a top female in a remote place - are we really to believe this?) A strong 3 out of 10 tops it I guess.The fake pregnancy was a nice touch and the scare factor in Martin's secret place was top notch though. It's a shame for the stars involved.
Bene Cumb
This psychological thriller was marketed with the tag line "He would kill to be you"... Although the reasons and background were only briefly disclosed and most of the times is spent on revealing the "outcomes" of a serial killer. The main stars Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke are doing fine, but their performances are not among their best ones. Use of Kiefer Sutherland was strange - he is capable of filling the whole movie, not just appearing briefly on screen (he does this giftedly, though). Paul Dano is also worth mentioning, he has become on the most talented 20+ years old actors. The others have quite ordinary characters.Recommendable for killing time, but it is no Se7en or similar. Just another above-average serial killer chase with feelings involved; there are some twists and turns and an ending scene is unpredictable, but still.
AD
