100% on the Excitement Meter

Rating: 10/10 (26 July 2014)

Plot
Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) has the worst boyfriend in the world. He has just forced her to transport a locked briefcase to Mr. Jang (Min-sik Choi) by handcuffing the case to her wrist. When Mr. Jang gets hold of her he has her operated on so they can make her a drug mule. As this part of the story is being told Professor Norman (Morgan Freeman) is giving a lecture discussing what the likely possibilities if someone used more than ten percent of their brain. While he dazzles his audience with his best guesses to what could happen Lucy is experiencing the effects of expanding her mind firsthand because one of Mr. Jang's goons struck her in the stomach and ruptured the designer drug that had been inserted there. Somehow this has sparked a learning curve that has increased her understanding and improved her brain function where she is using more than twenty percent of her brain. With these new found powers of intellect she is able to defeat Mr. Jang's goons and get to a hospital so they can remove the leaking drug bag from her abdomen. It is here that she gleams with godlike understanding that she doesn't have long to live so makes plans to visit Mr. Jang for some answers and Professor Norman for some insight.
Acting
This wasn't much of a film for acting. There was far more reacting to special effects that weren't there or the physical effects that were. There was a degree of skill from Scarlett Johansson I suppose in how she acted before she got her powers and after. And it was impressive as always to remember all your lines the way that she does, but with a film like this there is only so much talent you can show. Then there was Morgan Freeman who added a great deal of credibility to this science fiction with his tone of voice and presence. I am sure the production team wanted him because he hosts the science show "Through the Wormhole" on TV. I don't think that could have picked someone to do a better playing Professor Norman.
Character Development
Lucy continues to increase with power, but that is not the same as character development so no there was very little change in any direction. If anything characters began to simplify.
Overview
This was a well told action film that didn't try to be more than it was. The special effects were as good as I have seen anywhere. There is one moment in the film that it looks like Lucy can control time. Just to get to this point is something worth to be experienced. She is able to transport herself to New York City at Times Square and with the wave of her hand she stops time. Then she speeds it up like she just hit the fast forward button. A moment later she rewinds it to the point where Times Square doesn't exist and there are just horse and buggies. Then further back she goes until she comes across some Indians and further still to the dinosaurs. Throw in a bunch of gun violence and a massive roadway chase down one way streets and over sidewalks and along with many crashes and you have quite a spectacle.