"Looper" is science fiction the way it was meant to be: intelligent, thought-provoking, and exciting

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2012)

It's rare these days to find a truly exciting and thought-provoking science fiction film. When one does come along, it should be cherished and talked about among genre fans so the joy of viewing it is spread throughout the community. "Looper" is one of those prized treasures that deserve to be talked about and doted on.
Time travel is invented and declared illegal in the near future. The mob uses it in a very inventive way. Disposing of a body after eliminating a target has become very difficult thanks to science and forensic advances. They use it to transport a target into the past where a hired assassin called a "looper" kills them and then burns the bodies. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is one of these highly-paid gunmen who are living the high life. That is until he's contracted to kill his future self (Bruce Willis) and things get complicated.
Writer / director Rian Johnson ("Breaking Bad," "The Brothers Bloom") has created an intelligent and complex story that keeps viewers glued to the screen. It's been a long time since I've seen a film that so wonderfully blends together science fiction, action, and such a high level of emotional depth.
I couldn't stop thinking about the premise of the movie throughout its two hour running time. There's never been a better visual illustration of the tragic aphorism, "Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die." "Looper" also drums up some paranoia and makes you re-examine the statements "Every action has a reaction" and "Everything we do matters."
"Looper" is everything a science fiction movie should be. It uses entertaining storytelling to deliver a message or social commentary in a non-threatening and exciting way. I would use "12 Monkeys" and "Source Code" as comparisons to "Looper" if someone wanted an idea of what to expect from the movie. Great performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, and Jeff Daniels only add to the quality of this soon-to-be classic film.
http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/849014/eric_shirey.html