Balek's Movie Review - Jumper

Well, here we are again for yet another movie review.  This movie is brought to you by a lonely business trip down to Orlando, free time with it and not a whole lot to do besides watching walls in your hotel, or go see a movie.

First off, I went in to see Jumper without any real expectations.  While the trailers I saw were intriguing, it didn't look like much more than a typical summer action flick mistakenly launched in the middle of winter.  To further drive those expectations down, it stars Hayden Christensen - known most notably for screwing up the single most critical role he will ever have in his life.  But that's neither here nor there...

The plot is pretty simple - a rather typical (read - tormented) teen finds out he has some genetic ability to teleport, anywhere, instantly.  That's the first half of the movie.  Then we're introduced to a war between Jumpers and "Paladins" that's spanned centuries.  Paladins seem to think Jumpers are blasphemous creatures that need to be exterminated.  Jumpers would prefer they failed.  Pretty simple, eh?

Fortunately, it works.  The strenght of the movie isn't in the plot anyways, nor the acting.  Both are basic, but adequate.  Where the movie really stood out was the visuals.  While other movies have done teleportation, Jumper did it right.  You get a real feel, both from the special effects as well as the sound effects that there is a wormhole being ripped open, moved through, and then collapses on itself.  There is a nifty effect where the 'wound' in space heals, albeit quickly, but it looked cool as shit.  Tack on the great visuals with a few nice chase scenes, and you have a winner.  The ending was abrupt, without warning, and left a HUGE opening for a sequel - if by some chance this release does well enough.

I hope it does.  I'd go see Jumper II without hesitation.