Reviews (120)

Hoo Ha! Same Al, different movie.
Al Pacino may not be the most versatile actor in the world, but he is a good actor; and, he proves it in this movie.

Al plays a 'scout' for the CIA looking for a few good spies. He finds bartender and computer hacker extraordinaire (how's THAT for a double career) played by Colin Farrell. The first spy talent seems to be keeping your 5 o'clock shadow exactly the same throughout the entire movie. :)

Colin and several other spy wannabes are chosen and sent to a training camp called 'The Farm' where Colin meets a delicious recruit played by Bridget Moynahan (NOTE: calling them by their character names just slows me down). Bridget quickly learns the spy trait at crying at the drop of a hat.

Without blabbing off too much more of the storyline, Al gives Colin an assignment that prepares him quite well for the life of a CIA agent.

There are several plot twists in this movie but not so many that it gives you a migraine. About the only thing that does is the constant verbal reminder in the film that "nothing is as it seems".

Overall, great acting all around and very good action scenes. The PG-13 rating is well deserved since it isn't overly bloody or violent.. i.e. it isn't going to put an idea into your teenager to go out and do something stupid.

Movie warnings: almost but not quite nudity (backless Bridget in a shower scene), sex with WAY too many covers, and profanity (mostly by the audience complaining about the covers).

Is it worth seeing? For matinee prices, definitely. For evening prices, yes, if you're into thriller movies.

And, just like in the movie, "PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES." :)

SO-SO
THE RECRUIT takes the viewer into a world most are unaware: the recruitment process for the CIA. Walter Burke (Al Pacino) actively recruits James Clayton (Colin Farrell) to enter "The Farm", the basic training facility for new recruits. What follows is a sequence of events leading through to their assignment as CIA Operatives.

This movie is based on the premise that "nothing is as it seems", which equates to many plot twists and turns along the way. It is unfortunate that these same twists and turns are most often predictable and sad. Not only did I guess what was going to happen but so did many people sitting nearby (i.e., I often heard 'I knew it' from others).

More predicable than the twists and turns is that this movie contains car chases... Believe me, I did not expect THE RECRUIT to be a 'deep movie', but I somehow expected more than what was delivered. If you must see this movie, at least wait until it's released on video.

Very good movie
This action-thriller is a great movie, in which "nothing is what is seems"; for the characters, as well as for the viewer. Al Pacino and Collin Farrell show us great acting, together with a great story it makes this to one of the best action-thrillers I've ever seen! Special note for the outcome of the movie, the outcome is something I find very important. Most of the time good movies get wasted by a horrible end. Not this movie, no patriotic, moralistic, "help I'm gonna throw up" end. It's something you won't see coming....

Nothing is as it seems
When you watch this movie you will remember two things. "Everything is a test", and Nothing is as it seems." You will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen next. Is this a test, or is this the real thing you will ask yourself over and over again. James Clayton is still dealing with his Father's disappearance. James is recruited by Walter Burke to join the CIA, but James will find that nothing is at it seems, and he will realize he can't trust anyone but himself. The movie is intense, and a great thriller. I liked the peek into the CIA and the recruiting process. Al Pachino and Colin Farral were good together in this film.

TWISTY AND EFFECTIVE THRILLER
NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS...that's true enough in the words of CIA instructor Al Pacino in Roger Donaldson's labyrinthine movie about a new CIA recruit, played with marvelous intensity by the gifted Colin Farrell. Pacino uses many of the elements of his previous roles, and why not--the man is a brilliant actor and sometimes you never know what to expect from him in spite of his familiarity. Bridget Moynihan (Sum of All Fears) co-stars as fellow recruit and would be lover for Farrell. (...) she possesses a strong sense of character in this multi-leveled role. Gabriel Macht in a smaller role as Zach is also very good, as Moynihan's other possible love interest. Even with the many clever twists and turns, the ending becomes predictable but not until the movie is almost over. Credit Donaldson for this succinct direction. The musical score is also brilliant; loved the use of usually boring synthesized music. It's effectively haunting in this movie.
Colin Farrell is destined for his Oscar; his intensity and his understanding of multi-levels of characterization will lead him to an even brighter future. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Woo,s class is Evident!
John Woo the master of action directs this TV pilot and although its no where near the same league as some of his other films like Hard Boiled and the killer it is still a good action movie. Dolph Lundgren is good in the lead and gives one of his better performances, Woo is always able to get the best out of his stars except for Van Damme in Hard Target. The plot in this is pretty un-original and the inclusion of the phobia of white is far fetched but once an action scene pops up Woo's slick style comes to the fore front and is very impressive, his direction throughout the film is stylish and dispite the TV movie style look this does look quite expensive for a Dolph flick although for a Woo film it does look cheap, but we still have Woo's trademark mass destruction with slo-mo debree flying through the air and every bullet seemingly having its own bullet hole. This needed another two main action scenes and a bit more depth in plot but the budget and time spent would not allow for that being a TV movie. Worth watching if you like action films or if your are an avid Lundgren or Woo fan but if you are new to Woo then i suggest one of his Hong Kong films or big budget Hollywood flicks.

John Woo Keeps The Magic
Two blondes, a wimpy bad guy pitted up against a colossal Dolph Lundgren, and unexplainable motorcyclists...I do detect a John Woo hit here!

Black Jack gives a new name to B-movies with this incredibly ridiculous story of an unstoppable bodyguard who's only enemy is (dun dun DUN!!!) the color white. While battling his fear of milk, playing cards and his girlfriend's silk blouse, he is able to overcome New York city's toughest sniper...who cries at the sight of supermodels and hasn't really shot many people at all.

Dolph also shows his versatility in this film, as he adopts lovable 10-year-old neice, Casey, who displays about as much emotion when her parents are killed as the sole of my shoe does when it squishes a bug. But Lundgren plays well off a sexy, drugged up supermodel who wins his heart as he helps salsa dance her out of a Percodan coma. And we can't forget Dolph's cigar smoking D-cup wearing psychologist who gives housecalls in evening dresses and quotes Confucious, saying "you must face your biggest fears." Yeah, Confucious said that. In Chinese. 2500 years ago.

So really, suspend your disbelief that the police wouldn't be able to stop this incredibly wimpy killer - and that a supermodel with an obsessed fan and a drug habit is anything worthy of special attention - and that the skyline of Toronto REALLY resembles New York City - and that "where the hell do those renegade motorcyclists come from??" And we're talkin' best movie of ALL TIME!!!

BLACKJACK review
What do you get when you mix legendary Hong Kong action director, John Woo with straight-to-video action superhero, Dolph Lundgren? You get a bullet-filled but slightly soft made-for-TV melodrama.

Lundgren is Jack Devlin, a security guard with a "phobia" of the color, white. Stick with me now. After his best friend gets killed, he takes in his young daughter and works the "father figure" angle. Meanwhile, a psychotic assassin is stalking his latest client, a drug-addicted supermodel. Naturally, it wouldn't be a Woo film if all this didn't lead to a whole lot of gun fights, motorcycle chases, and a shoot-out in a milk factory (?).

This isn't exactly John Woo's finest hour but it's not all bad either. Lundgren is pretty wooden in the lead but an appearance by Fred "The Hammer" Williamson makes for a nice touch. Though the video carries an R-rating (for reasons, known only by the MPAA), most of the action is watered down a bit from Woo's usual style. There's no close-ups of bloody bullet wounds to be found here. For die-hard John Woo fans only.

The only good made for TV film.
John Woo is the best action film director, but this disappointing direct to video nonsense does not show you fun that Woo can do. I like it more then Woo's dumb movie, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2. An ex-CIA operative named Black Jack (Dolph Lundgren) who is asked by an old friend to act as a bodyguard for his young daughter. Then he is asked by other old friend to guard a model from a killer. The "sub-story" has Jack fearing the color white dun to a childhood trauma. All in all this is ok for a film that was going to be a TV movie, but why the hell does the video have an R rating, but who cares these days. A other John Woo made for TV film is ONCE A THIEF (note: Woo also did a real film in Hong Kong with the same name).

1998. MIRIMAX. 123 MINS.

Rated R For Violence.

Woo and Lundgren an Intresting combo.
The Movie isn't as actionpacked as Hard Boiled but Blackjack ain't shabby when it comes to delivering the goods. Woo and Lundgren deliver enough thrills and spills to keep action fans happy,just don't expect Hard Boiled. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent movie!
The movie took me inside the Underground Railroad and showed how people of all walks of life were involved in assisting African-Americans in helping them cross into Canada.

Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad
I just watched this movie for a study in my history class, and was completely captivated. I thought it was going to be a boring
school movie, but was amazed to find otherwise. After the film ended, I was heartbroken because I wanted to watch it again. Fortunately, I know that it is available on video so I might purchase it in the near future. RACE TO FREEDOM is a superbly acted, well dramatized historical film that displays the horror
of slavery with great intelligence. This film is well scripted
and well laid out. The ending, though being very fairy-taleish
is extremely happy and when it ended, our class clapped. Hehe, and when Solomon shot the bounty hunter (from 'Cowboys Don't Cry'), our class cheered. An excellent film.

Excellent and spell-binding movie.
This video is an excellent addition to anyone's library. It follows the journeys of four runaway slaves to the promised land in Canada. The filming is beautiful and the story heartrending and powerful. Shows the difference that human beings can make by helping one another against the odds. I would definitely recommend this movie.

Good but still Hollywood
This is a film demonstrating the frustrating experiences and heroic attempts of abolitionists and fugitive slaves. It is a great introduction to the subject for younger viewers. Some scenes are graphic in violence (true to life). Other sequences are little more than stereotypical vehicles for a storybook happy ending. The cruelty of slavery is minimized, yet the terror of attempted escape is portrayed intensely. The streamlined representation of the Underground Railroad is romantacized and not enough credit is given to the initiative of the runaways themselves. As a film it is engaging. As a representation of history it needs a clarifying introduction.

Excellent Movie For The Family/Youngest
This movie explain what it was like in those days and how they plan to escape to freedom. And what they had to go through in search of freedom.

This movie is sad and also has joy and happiness,when they found freedom.

I have watch this movie and enjoyed it very much and it teaches the youngest today about what slavery was like and how today we should love one another, no matter what colour we are...... One movie to be watched!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more