The Lazarus Project (2008)

Wonderful character development!

Sadly Over-hyped

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Lazarus project (2008)I picked this movie up because it was on the list of the movies with Spiritual Awakening. However, it was a disappointing experience.Intriguing begging with a glimpse of an Enlightening idea failed to be developed into a good plot for the story.The script was written callously, it lacks basic logic, and the spiritual core totally collapses; there ISN'T anything to learn. The protagonist (Ben) for a NEW LIFE given (for FREE!) is not only ungrateful for that, but he also becomes a trouble-maker for all people around him, including the members of his own family. In the NEW life the return home is the obsession of the protagonist.Ben, who at the beginning of the movie failed to reach any "basic" challenge – neither to find a new job, nor to succeed in his criminal action; at the end of the movie, becomes" illegal without doubt " and appears in front of his family with empty hands and an awful track of records.It looks like the director of the movie primarily focuses on the commercial success, not on teaching an audience anything. I rated this movie a generous 3 stars for the beautiful eyes of the protagonist ONLY.

This film is similar in the plot like Shutter Island that came two years later. The difference is that this movie is a lot better. And I'm guessing Scorsese was greatly inspired by this movie. Only this wasn't a Scorsese picture with Leonardo Di Caprio in it so nobody noticed this.Some of the best acting from the late Paul Walker. Those of you who thinks he was just a pretty face, watch this.I don't wanna give away too much, except to say that the ending of this movie is a lot more satisfying than the stupid twist and ending of Shutter Island.Another difference is that this movie is very quiet in it's pace and it doesn't try so hard to come off as a horror movie like the moronic Shutter Island, because it doesn't need to.I definitely recommend this movie. And if you haven't seen either this or Shutter Island, watch this and pretend Shutter Island don't excist.

Should be the title of this film, because nearly all of the plot revolves around concepts the likelihood of which ever happening is extremely remote. Having said that, viewed as a piece of fairly conventional movie-making I think the film does succeed. It has suspense, tension, good cinematography and a decent cast. Paul Walker as the main protagonist, is to be congratulated on maintaining the same grim, clenched-jaw expression throughout most of the story. Let's face it, the point of any movie is to entertain, which this one does and it also keeps you guessing, so to expect every film to be believable is not a reasonable expectation. Even so, in this case we are asked to accept rather too many plot holes than is humanly possible I am afraid. Anyway, it was a pleasant enough affair, not too taxing on the brain and the pace, although slow, served to remind us that we do not always crave a frenetic, adrenalin-fuelled smorgasbord of car-chases, sex and mind-blowing special effects. Not always.

TLP would be the most intriguing and original film Paul Walker ever did. It's a very obscure pic as in movie exposure, where this good film has slipped through the ranks. I'm glad I've finally got to view this one, as wanting to see it for years, as I am a big Paul Walker fan. Yes I like original films, but I felt the early part of the story before Paul was spared execution, was a bit rushed, and not effective, where there could of been a bit more meat of story, where really the film wants to get to the heart of the story, where from here, it stays strong. This film really wouldn't of worked cinematically like a couple of other Walker films. There are a couple of hazy parts here and there, as in the latter part of story. The real reason for Walker's new life really comes as no surprise, especially a bummer at the end, but a relief, as in terms of the bad people are really not that bad. There was one scene where Ben Garvey (Walker) is in total despair realizing the helplessness of his situation, that he can't go back to his old life, ever, and take up with his wife and kid. There were some predictabilities in the film that knows where it's going. Performance wise, Walker was very good, especially as in being believable, and dramatic, but there are those all too patent Walker traits, the walk, the laugh, and again, he gets the beautiful women, though it is hard to beat his be compared to his best performances which were in Running Scared and Pawn Shop Chronicles. His character here was much like the one in Hours. This is another of those films, you're dying to see how it concludes, and again, it's no surprise, but it's how you how you wanted to end in, one of the most beautiful endings, if surreal, when thinking about it. The Lazurus Project is engrossing, and I admit, I did expect more from it. One feels it could of had a better handling of story, where merely I'm speaking of it's sloppy early duration. If your a Paul Walker fan, watch, not only for that, but for our late star turning in a very believable, and heartfelt performance. No surprise Bob 'Shawshank Redemption' Gunton, is running this psychiatric hospital/jail.