Not like wine...

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2004)

I saw this movie when it just got out in '97 and I thought it was awesome. At 17 it was the bomb! I write this fresh from a second view and I must say (older and wiser) that Face/Off has lost some of its appeal. As a pure no-brainer-action flick it is easily on par with everything Hollywood can throw at it today and it is surely as a such it should be viewed. The action is insanely over the top as is to be expected from Woo, John T and Nicolas C's acting does small wonders with the often cheesy script and the plot, while ingenious in its concept, suffers from numerous, obviously dumb, flaws. I often found myself laughing at the turn of events (of course he wakes up without face, alone and unguarded only to sum the prior events up within 30 seconds and with a phone within grasp:-). The buildup to the epic conclusion seems strained and uninspired and the ending itself wallows in cheese.
To sum it up: great as a Saturday hangover movie with loads of cola and crisps or with a sixpack and a couple of buddies. Don't watch this with your...well...with anyone who likes to interrupt the action to point out that "it wouldn't explode in real life!"...hmmm.