Rating:  -
This Movie was Action Packed from start to finish I absolutely enjoyed this movie the Action in this movie was unbelievable and it was awesome I saw this movie on Television and I Just had to buy it on DVD the Movie is only ninety five minutes long but the thing is this movie is Just awesome and I'm not much of a wwe fan but I'm Definitely going to buy 12 Rounds when it comes out on DVD but this movie was Just awesome and I can imagine how good the movie 12 Rounds is going to be Seriously and when it comes out on DVD I'm Definitely going to buy it.
Rating:  -
As someone who considers his cell phone to be as indispensable as trousers, CELLULAR resonates with me. Plus, I happen to work in Santa Monica and I've also harbored a longtime crush on Kim Basinger (I write this as I sigh and make googly eyes at the moon). So I'm definitely what one might call a target audience. But I think quite a few of us are, yes? Who doesn't have a cell phone nowadays, with all the things it can do? If you don't have one, this movie may persuade you to come across. Or not. CELLULAR also does a good job of going over some of the hassles attached to owning a cellular, possibly only omitting the part where you incur carpal tunnel from overtexting. Many old hands are of course already down, but those few still in the dark and restricted to those rotary dially thingees from the Stone Age (*cough* someofmyolderrelatives) will marvel at the cellular as a multi-functional device.
CELLULAR's plot flaunts a gimmicky premise, but I think it's an irresistible one and holds up for the entire hour and a half. One telling question is presented: Just how far would you go to help out a total stranger? Kim Basinger (still hot) plays Jessica Martin, a high school science teacher who is kidnapped for some nebulous reason. Locked up in the attic of an isolated farmhouse, she's able to piece together enough of a shattered landline telephone to place a frenzied random call. The unwitting recipient is a young, flighty twenty-something named Ryan (Chris Evans), motoring on the L.A. freeway, and, at first, it's not a sure thing that he'll take her seriously (he even puts her on hold). But something in Jessica's desperate tone erodes Ryan's skepticism and, soon, he's skedaddling all over L.A. on her behalf, racing against time (I call these scenes Ryan's "roaming minutes"). Who woulda thunk that this airheaded beefcake had it in him to do the right thing?
I've seen CELLULAR quite a few times now; I've even watched the crapolla Bollywood version (called SPEED). But this original version is plenty riveting, with its breakneck pace lending a sense of immediacy. The story takes place in one sunny Cali day, and just about in real time. Much of the tension lies in that Jessica's sole and tenuous contact with the outside world (and the one best chance of rescue) is the continuing phone line to Ryan. The writers must've have spent time and then some, scribbling down the many ways a cell phone can function and go wrong. Ryan not only attempts to rescue Jessica's young son (who's targeted for abduction) and then her husband (whom the villains are frantically seeking), but Ryan also caroms from one cellular crisis to another. Battery running low, bad reception, dropped calls... The film demonstrates a playful tone with these scenes, as each dilemma unfolds and the audience commiserates. I know I've dreaded driving into a tunnel whilst in celly dialogue, altlhough I've not yet been compelled to resort to Ryan's actions to obtain a new phone charger. But maybe if Kim Basinger rings me up, all desperate and kidnapped...
Because the narrative construction dictates that focus is more on plot than characterization, most of the characters are written with broad strokes, although I think the actors are skillful enough that they do register with the audience. Chris Evans does unexpectedly well as the undependable slacker become reluctant good samaritan. Kim Basinger milks her damsel-in-distress part for all it's worth, and she's fairly convincing and all quivery-lipped. Evans and Basinger, in particular, have the harder task, what with mostly interacting with a phone, so credit to them for credible make-believe. Jason Statham glowers unwholesomely and proves that he's quite menacing as a villain. The only role which is truly fleshed out is William H. Macy's Officer Mooney, a quirky near-retired desk cop who's in over his head (or is he?). It's always interesting, watching Macy; the guy consistently elevates whatever picture he's in. Lastly, the so very jeerable Rick Hoffman has an awesome cameo as an unbelievably boorish lawyer. Perhaps two of the film's most gratifying moments happen when his Porsche is stolen... and then stolen again.
Yes, set in sunny Cali, and partly on the Santa Monica Pier, so plenty of sun-drenched bikinis adorning lovely beach worshippers. "There's a lot of babe-ocity up there." (to quote William H. Macy in the bonus featurette). Jessica Biel has a tiny supporting role, so that's a bit of okay. CELLULAR also offers plenty of loud but sometimes thrilling chases, on car and on foot, and of shootouts and rescue attempts (some of which fail), and some clever uses of the cell phone. There's even a twist or two. The characters may be cardboard (excepting Macy's) but the protagonists are very likeable, and the outrageousness of the situations are salvaged by the characters' movitations and actions, which I think are believable and hold true to the film's internal logic.
Special features on the dvd include: the laid back audio commentary by Director David Ellis, his daughter Tawny (co-producer), and sister Annie (Asst. Stunt Coordinator); 5 deleted/alternate scenes with optional audio commentary (including more of Ryan's surfer bud Chad and an alternate ending with Ryan's ex-girl Chloe (Jessica Biel); three featurettes: "Calling Out" - the history & science of the cell phone (19 minutes); "Dialing Up CELLULAR" - the Making Of segment (26 minutes); and "Code of Silence: Inside the Rampart Scandal" - a documentary about the 1999 police corruption scandal which rocked the LAPD (27 minutes); and the theatrical trailer.
If you're like some of my relatives and are technologically challenged, or if you've just purchased a cell phone and feel a bit overwhelmed with all those crazy buttons, it wouldn't hurt to sit and watch this movie. It's a bit like a tutorial. Although, with the cellular advances they've made in recent years, there's probably a need for a CELLULAR 2.
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I can't understand why this was not a highly featured film. It is a great action picture, with lots of humor. I've watched it 3 times now, and enjoy it just as much each time.
Rating:  -
A surprisingly good performance by Chris Evans (Ryan), who's the somewhat dorky, macho dude; against the convincingly evil, badman kidnapper, Jason Statham (Ethan). Kim Basinger plays Jessica Martin; a panicked, desperate, tortured, but determined and very ingenious wife of the hunted husband. She also comes up in the clutch as the movie progresses.
The action is fast and sometimes hilarious, with Evans doing the footwork (via his cell phone) in various impossible situations trying to help Basinger (especially when he needs to recharge his phone - a real doozy of a scene). William Macy is Detective Mooney, who eventually puts the pieces of the puzzle together while Ryan (Evans) traverses all over town creating mayhem all his own, while attempting to foil the kidnappers.
Good acting (and action) by Chris Evans, with able support from Basinger, Macy and Statham. A surprisingly entertaining movie.
Rating: -
Action thriller about a young man (played by Chris Evans) who answers a call on his mobile phone from a woman (played by Kim Basinger) who claims to have been kidnapped and needs his help and the lengths he goes to help her and stop the people who have kidnapped her and her family. A good action film featuring one of my favourite young actors Chris Evans in the lead as well as Brit-flick favourite Jason Statham as a menacing lead villain. A good way to spend 90 minutes or so with never a dull moment. Oh and one more thing: mobile phones feature heavily in this film (as you may have guessed from the film's title).
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