An entertaining, smart sci-fi that isn't for everyone

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2013)

(A few Spoilers Ahead) Over the past few years we have been getting some really smart science fiction movies. 2008 we got Wall-e, yes that counts, 2009 we got District 9, 2010 we got Inception, and 2011 we got Source Code. Looper made my head hurt when I saw it, and I wasn't sure if that was because I was too dumb for the movie, or too smart. I will say now that Looper is a very entertaining, smart science fiction movie that will not appeal to everyone.
Here's the thing, this movie says one sentence that gives it a pass. It says that time travel is unpredictable basically, and if you can't accept that, or missed it by accident, then you will say this is one of the most plot hole filled movies ever made. Literally without that one line the entire movie is one big plot hole. Also the second act really slows down, we get a pretty generic and boring relationship between Josepsh Gordon Levitt and this farmgirl he meets. And one last big problem, some stuff happens by the most major coincidences ever. Oh, JGL just happened to land on the farm where the kid that Bruce Willis is trying kill is.
The film has many twists and turns that honestly it isn't just a film you can just sit down and turn your brain off. The acting is really good, some people are mixed on if JGL looks like a younger version of Bruce Willis, personally I was able to buy it. But the biggest surprise was the little kid who gave one of the best child performances I've ever seen. There an interesting conflict going on here, and it has some cool ideas, some are pulled off better than others though. The special effects, while minimal, are very well done. And it is fun, it never gets too confusing, and has enough action and banter to keep people interested.
If you can't accept that one line, and I know some people can't, than this is one of the most plot hole filled movie you will ever see. If you can accept that, then Looper is a fun, smart science fiction movie with some interesting ideas, great acting, and fun action.