Jumper (2008)

Memorable, crazy movie

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Really enjoyed this movie, wish it had happened a few year later as I think it might have had more traction. Would be pretty cool if they made a sequel!

a book. and its adaptation. nice, impressive for the effects of technology and for the start point idea. result - young actors and terrible adventures, entertainment for teenagers and for fans of travels, the old fight between fragile good guy and powerful bad man, Samuel Jackson - the same admirable work - at pillar for a not real solid construction. a film of movements more than film of a real story. because all seems be tool for Hayden Christensen for explore his past, for discover new menaces, for a form of love story, for trips with chaotic air and for serve a noble cause in a strange way. sure, nothing original. but for the public prisoner of special effects, fights, dramatic moments and new heroes , Jumber could be the best choice. because on the screen, every significant detail is absent.

The Story of a lonely and abused child who gains an extreme power from an accident, learn how to teleport any where he can think of.This power gave him freedom from that world that left him clueless about what is right and what is wrong. The end seemed more like a beginning to me that he was able finally to come to grips with his purpose.I think they picked the right people for the parts, it was certainly believable to me and seemed more like a preview of what is yet to come, perhaps if there is a sequel to come, more of the why's will shine through and will give a clearer definition, but this movie as is, certainly was not what many would expect but it did make a point of what happens when you just go out there and live without a care.Overall, Clever creative use of the teleportation powers. Good actions scenes and visual effects. The romance is a simplistic one between characters who aren't quite mature, but the story doesn't pretend that its characters are anything but immature, so that's fine. Story wastes no time with exposition at all, doesn't bother explaining everything in detail and instead prefers to thrust you right into the action at all times. I actually liked this minimalistic story telling style. Yes, it doesn't even bother detailing where the "jumping" power even comes from or explaining much back story behind the villains; but the main character doesn't even know these things - he's just blindly thrust into it all, like we are - so it's fine if we, the audience, doesn't get a clear explanation either.

General comments: I enjoyed it. Clever creative use of the teleportation powers. Good actions scenes and visual effects. The romance is a simplistic one between characters who aren't quite mature, but the story doesn't pretend that its characters are anything but immature, so that's fine. Story wastes no time with exposition at all, doesn't bother explaining everything in detail and instead prefers to thrust you right into the action at all times. I actually liked this minimalistic story telling style. Yes, it doesn't even bother detailing where the "jumping" power even comes from or explaining much backstory behind the villains; but the main character doesn't even know these things - he's just blindly thrust into it all, like we are - so it's fine if we, the audience, doesn't get a clear explanation either.Themes: I see people complaining that this movie's main character is not a hero and they're right. Hayden Christensen's Jumper character is immature and selfish and doesn't use his powers to protect people or save the world. It's a superpower story, but the main guy is no superhero - but that's actually what I think makes this story interesting.Jumper's story is an interesting exploration of an idea we've all thought of: What would you do if you had superpowers - use them for altruistic or selfish purposes? Most of us would probably like to imagine ourselves as heroes. If we had superpowers, we'd all try to save the world, right? No, I think that's just an unrealistic fantasy. The truth is, most of us would probably be just like Hayden Christensen's Jumper character and use our powers for selfish gain. I am Hayden Christensen and so are you! That's the truth! This idea dates back to Greek philosophy and Plato's Ring of Gyges. If there are no consequences to your actions, could you resist doing bad things? This is deep stuff, not just simple "popcorn-flick" material!I've been a fan of superhero stories since forever ago, but I always find myself wondering, why don't more super powered characters use their powers for their own personal fun and profit. If you had super strength, would you rather risk life and limb fighting street muggers, or would you rather earn mega-millions as a superstar athlete? If you could read minds, could you resist flying straight to Las Vegas and raking in cash by beating everyone at poker? Even beyond imaginary scenarios, look at the real world we live in: we have computers and the Internet, technology of the future that allow us abilities, essentially superpowers, that people of the past couldn't have even imagined. Do we use these "superpowers" for saving the world? No, most of us are on our computers for personal entertainment and enjoyment! When so many of us don't mind illegally downloading music/movies/software, because we know we can't get caught online, can we criticize Hayden Christensen for using his "jumping" ability to rob banks? If you could teleport, you'd rob banks too! Don't deny it!But then, here's another idea I've thought about long before ever seeing this movie: If you had superpowers, do you simply assume that you're the only one, or could there be others out there with powers to match your own? Could the use of your superpowers attract unwanted attention from hostile forces? Jumper explores this idea too, with the emergence of Sam Jackson and Jamie Bell's characters. They represent the other people out who might not like you and your powers, people who have powers of their own. What do you do when you suddenly get caught for crimes you thought you could get away with? To refer back to the computer/internet analogy again, it's like if you've been downloading pirated copyrighted content for years and then suddenly the FBI confronts you at your door. You'd think you don't deserve punishment because you were never really hurting anyone, right? But as Sam Jackson says in the film, "There are always consequences!"Conclusion: Anyway, I think this is an underrated movie with deeper themes than some people realize.