Lockout Review

                                    I'm sure many people will enjoy the new sci-fi-action-thriller film, Lockout. I did not. It takes place in Washington DC, circa 2079, where 500 prisoners have just taken over a maximum security prison. Emilie (Maggie Grace) is the daughter of The President of the United States who was up there interviewing prisoners, including the one who ultimately starts the takeover. Snow (Guy Pearce) is an ex-CIA operative who just got charged with murder who is then practically forced to go up to MS1, the maximum security prison that has just been taken over on a life or death mission.

                                   I did enjoy a couple of things about this film. First off, Snow is a witty character. He is written as a wise cracking jerk, and that is indeed all he is. It is funny that this is all that he is, and it would not be enjoyable any other way. Also, without giving a single thing away, the twist at the end comes out of nowhere, and I mean that in a good way. It is a twist that no one will see coming, and it almost makes the movie worthwhile because it makes up for some of the things that the movie lacked. Although I did like these two things, Lockout is a movie in the most minuscule way possible. In fact, it is not so much a movie as much as it is a video game disguised as a movie. Watching it, I got that feeling when I watch someone else play a video game. It's fun for about two minutes, but quickly becomes slow and dull.

                                  This was based on an idea by Luc Besson, who is perhaps best known for Leon The Professional, which may have my vote for the most overrated film of all time. Besson is a great writer in all aspects, as much as it sounds like I am bashing him here. He wrote The Fifth Element, as well as other great films as Unleashed, La Femme Nikita, and Taken. As well, Besson's idea is a creative and clever one. It's just that this is the first time that screenwriters and directors James Mather and Stephen St. Leger has done a big screen film, and this is not a good fit for them. I have no problem with first time writers and directors doing bad films. If you believe a first time writer and/or director that did a bad film can not become famous, look at Woody Allen. His first written film was What's New Pussycat, and his first directed was What's Up Tiger Lily?. None of these were very good films, but look at him now.

                                  I digress..so back to the film at hand. Lockout is a film that its intended audiences will have fun at. That audience is dumb teenagers who are at least smart enough to skip The Three Stooges. However, the film lacks any presence. Even as I am typing this review, two hours after having seen the film, I have totally forgotten about it. Lockout will surely be completely out of my brain by tomorrow, and even if you enjoy it, it will be nothing memorable for you, either.
(2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and language including some sexual references)