Movie Review: Swordfish

Rating:  2 out of 5

Rated R for action-movie violence, a little gore, profanity, and a topless Halle Berry.

The answer:  Swordfish.
The question:  What do you get when you cross Die Hard, Speed, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Net?

A spectacular opening sequence that out-Matrixes The Matrix may draw applause in your theatre, but the rest of the movie doesn’t continue the excitement.  John Travolta turns in an almost reasonable performance, but unfortunately seems to have fallen into the Nick Cage School of Walking through a Role.

It’s not unwatchable tripe, and in many ways has some value as a summer popcorn muncher.  It just could have been so much better than it is.  Luckily, all the computer/hacker sequences are believable (for 2001).  If only we had a solid character (either on the good team or the evil team) to cheer for.  Instead, we get a mish-mash of characters we don’t totally care for one way or the other.

(to be honest, while walking out, I stuck my head into Moulin Rouge in the next theatre just so I would be reminded of what “summer movie spectacle” is all about — ’cause Swordfish isn’t it.)