Derivative and unoriginal

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2000)

A lot of people are going to think this film is original, which is unfortunate, because it's not. It doesn't have anything new to say that hasn't been said going back to Fritz Lang's silent classic "Metropolis". It also takes itself way too seriously for a film that is really little more than eye candy and popcorn.
Its effects have been done before but just on this scale, which the film should be commended for. However, the film feels like it was made with the story servicing the effects and not the effects servicing the film. It's like they had this idea for a really cool effect and figured out a story to write around it. That combined with the fact that it can't decide if you wants to be a pretentious drama or an action movie ultimately bogs the film down under its own weight.
Recommended for people that like mindless action only; for people that think Lethal Weapon originated the buddy cop film and not The French Connection.