Academics: good - Technical work: sloppy

Rating: Null/10 (21 January 2005)

This film worked for me in a variety of ways except for the action sequences, which are the most important things in a film like this, aren't they? Could anyone make out anything in many action sequences which are fuzzy, badly photographed, out of focus and too choppy in the editing process. Action sequences have to have rhythm, no question, but when you leap from rhythm to a mere blip, you leave the audience with no clear picture of what the action looked like, but rather what it felt like. The best action sequence in film history is in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' when Indiana Jones rescues of the ark from the truck line formed by the Nazis. The scene where Indy is thrown from the truck and has to crawl under its belly to eventually get back in the driver's seat is the best edited action sequence of all time. A scene all film maker's should be made to see in a mandatory fashion.