taking a serious plot not so seriously

Rating: 4/10 (27 December 2006)

This movie was worse than just a disappointment, it was a joke. The entire film followed one plot twist after another. It's a clear example of poor storytelling. The writing seemed unable to hold its ground both artistically and intellectually, relying on gimmicks to awe the audience. This only made the plot seem desperate and laughable--partially exhilarating for only 1.5 hours of this nearly 2.5 hour film.
The film was much like a cheap clock from The Sharper Image. It might contain an alarm, CD player, radio and weather station for the price of one, but all the parts are cheap--getting them all in one makes for a poorly constructed clock. This movie tried to mix James Bond with Hotel Rwanda and the emotional tension and drama of Real World. It attempted a serious plot with little affection.
I recommend seeing Babel and then Casino Royale--not both at the same time.