You know what I’ve always hated about drug-based plots? How said drug-based plot drugs turn out to be ridiculously expensive.
Take Push for example. It’s ultimately about a number of factions going after a drug worth billions of dollars.
… First off, how the hell is a drug sample worth a billion dollars? I mean, what does it do? Is it some pharmaceutical? Is it some super-hallucinogen?
The only reason I’d consider it worth billions is if it was like a permanent elixir… which would be just plain stupid.
I mean, a drug can be reproduced. Easily, even. I’ve seen pictures of people making has BY HAND using makeshift tools that would make the Stone Age look like a Sci-Fi setting. Even pictures of Crystal Meth being produced using urinals in abandoned bathrooms.
Seriously, druggies. Why the fuck do you think those places are good places to create things you INGEST?
Drug-based plots are retarded.
But anyway, a drug can be reproduced. Otherwise it isn’t a drug. Why is there ONLY one sample? Why is it THE TARGET OF ALL POWER-HOLDING PARTIES?
Although despite that, Push has a different way of taking the drug-based plot to a more different level. On an originality perspective, it’s actually pretty kick-ass.
And it would seem solid… in theory…
But enough on my opinion on drug-based plots. Lets get Pushin’…
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Okay, chances are, I’m going to correct myself on some points said earlier as I re-watch this film for reviewing purposes. I couldn’t help but notice that they never give us any reason as to why the hell “World Governments” are making “Psychic Weapons” out of those born with psychic abilities.
Seriously, why? There’s no Cold War going on, is there? There’s no War on Terror going on, is there? Is this like some kind of Global Cold War that involves everyone, where instead of Nukes, the arms race focuses on “Special People?”
A nuke could obliterate psychic douches, and everything around them.
Almost immediately after listening to the introductory monologue by one of the main characters, I was already questioning the plot, when I remembered that “I’m supposed to review the movie on its own merits.
But personally, the plot already seems punctured with holes, considering that it’s trying to take an “Alternate History” approach… and not answering “why”
Why are people so strangely focused on psychic abilities? Why are they using drugs that are apparently supposed to “amplify abilities?”
Better yet, why do they keep using it, even though as it says: “Nobody whom has taken this drug has ever survived”
But then again, that kind of helps to add dramatic effect to the plot- which is centered around the “Only One who Survives.” I shall call this character Potterton.
Potterton, whom is a “Pusher” (Psychic with the ability to control/manipulate memories and human mind in general.) drops a marble for some odd reason, gets injected, dies, comes back to life with amnesia, and gets the fuck out of the facility. The marble blocked a security door, allowing Potterton to escape. Lucky bitch, eh?
Sure it’s cool and stuff, but it was kind of killed from the voice-based acting on regard of the Badass Black Guy- the first Badass Black Guy whose acting actually turned me off. Wait, who was this guy again? Let me check.
Djimon Hounsou, eh? He was good in other movies. Why did he do not-as-well in this one? Whatever.
Anyway, Two Days from now… wait, what? Whatever. It shows a ceiling fan and a large wall mural with horses galloping through an ugly cyan swamp with nice grass effects. I could easily see that it was made using the “Grass Brush” in Photoshop, followed by odd-looking horses with an unnecessary amount of radial-gradient-laden polygons.
Suddenly we’re now looking at the real hero of the story. He’s apparently a “Mover” which is basically a Psychokinesis-user… And he has dice… and marbles?
This guy lives in China, despite being a white guy. While it’s believable, it’s kind of ruined through the music choice. It’s fitting, but-
Wait… didn’t he win? Why’s he being chased?
What was the point of that sequence? We already knew he was a pusher from his earlier dice-rolling practice…
Wait, now he’s chased by other guys? Wait, why are they sniffing everything?
… This is reminding me of Left 4 Dead, except with Psychics and no mass slaughters of gleeful red mist.
By the way, I wrote this part while watching. I’ll watch through the rest and then finish the review from here.
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Action scenes also leave a lot in question. In the chase scenes, they’re being attacked by guys who scream so loud that everything breaks. I thought they were supposed to be inconspicuous? And where did everyone go?
Oh yeah, people who see the Future on a whim are full of shit. It ruins the story, in my opinion. Sure it adds suspense, but if the enemy has future-watchers who can see way better than the good guy future watchers, then you’re going to fucking lose, no matter what.
Of course, considering the fact that the Good Guys started off with the greatest future watcher fucking ever, then the enemy is going to lose no matter what, because the Good Guy Future Watcher of Awesome will know absolutely everything and know that everything will happen in a series of events.
I’ll also need to point out that the Good Guys are the only white people in China, apparently. All the obvious bad guys are also white. What the fuck is with people not noticing?
Actually, I’ll write my thoughts as I watch it.
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I wish the music choice had better taste…
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Bad guys are obviously bad guys. Same with good guys obviously being good guys. Characterization is actually pretty solid.
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A fourteen-year-old girl at a whore-house. Is that legal? Why’d she order a martini?
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Upside-down frame, much? Oh, there we go.
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Motorboats!
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I’M ON A BOAT!
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Bow chika bow wow.
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Wait, that’s a good guy?
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Why’s she waiting there?
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Where are the boats?
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RVs.
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I’m suddenly craving noodles.
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Mind-controlling an innocent couple, then leaving them to rot?
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What the fuck? She knows him?
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I’ve got no idea what’s happening now… Oh wait, her name is “Kira.” Very original.
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STOP REMINDING US!
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Okay, is it a bad thing if the fourteen-year-old is a more effective sex appeal than the Main Dude’s girlfriend?
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… That was schizophrenic… I mean, why draw dead bodies, period? X’es for eyes, tongues hanging out. IRS symbols. I draw them in my spare time you crazy girl.
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Nice Stache… Wait, who the hell is that?
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Wait, I thought she bailed!
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Pinky… Oh goddamnit… Why?
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Why are all these abilities so plot-importance-convenient?
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TEN GRAND A DAY?!
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Why is the door left open a crack?
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Asshole…
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Damnit, soundtrack…
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What the hell is the girl doing?
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This is totally bonding.
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On fire?
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Wait, she likes him suddenly? After shooting at him!?
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… Rivalry much?
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Okay, she’s buzzed… at thirteen. I told you she was a better sex appeal!
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Wait, Pinky’s being ditched now. He’ll no longer be part of the plot.
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Hangover… Wait, nevermind. It was a vision.
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All your fault, eh? Sounds like a trope.
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HELL YES, MATE!
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Cameos are damn obvious here…
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Tallest guy in China, much?
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I wish the action scene would hurry the fuck up.
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Wait, how’d he get a second pistol?
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Oh hai.
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FUCKING SHOOT HIM, DAMNIT!
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Oh sure, make the “Nobody haz the elixir but me” trope. JUST SHOOT HIM!
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Okay, he failed, now he’s shooting and everyone’s shooting, and we all go down “Conspicuous Lane” here.
I should also add that while the Good Guy has grim accuracy, his main target can block bullets.
Meanwhile, the guy who block bullets can’t aim worth a shit.
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What was the point of that scene?
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Kick his ass, damnit! … Oh wait, he didn’t.
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Fourteen-year-old saying “Shit”
Correction: She’s THIRTEEN.
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Damnit, soundtrack…
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Ding dong, the witch is dead.
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NECROPHILIA! Wait, she’s not dead.
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Oh course she ain’t alright!
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Random “Beyond average” abilities, much? “Shading” entire buildings?
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WTF?
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Wait, how do you know that?
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Okay, now I’m at the part I first started at. I missed very little…
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She looks like shit.
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Okay… so what was achieved? Letters? plans and stuff? It’s starting to sound like the Main dude- a Mover- is a better Watcher than anybody these days…
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Fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail FRICKIN’ FAIL!
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… “You sure this’ll work?” “No.”
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Hold on… they just gave the girl to the bad guys?
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Other bad guys are preparing to kick ass n shit! IT’S GONNA BE AWESOME! IT’S GONNA BE THE BEST SHOOTOUT IN HISTORY! MAN, I’M SO PUMPED!
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Tension…!
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Wait… what’s happening?
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FUCK! No action anymore!
COME ON!!!
Nevermind. Satisfying bitch-slap.
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Okay, now for something else to happen.
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Half-Life 2-sounding soundtrack…
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Tall building that looks like crap…
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Bamboo!
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This looks weird…
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I forget if this guy was a good guy or bad guy…
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Who was that?
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I can easily tell where this is going…
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Pointless scene, involving guns…
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Boats… more boats…
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Good guy SURVIVES! AS USUAL!
Red paper… Very inconspicuous.
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Wait, the plan unfolds. Shit gets real.
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And… now… nothing’s happening anymore… and the bad guys still have the advantage… kinda…
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This is starting to become a little painful to watch…
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Good lord, how many pages does that sketchbook have? No matter how many pages are ripped, the book still looks full…
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I need to ask, why is she the only one who keeps a uniform throughout the entire movie. Everyone else changes their clothes once in a while. That’s not that hygienic…
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Come on, throw her off. Throw her off. Throw her off.
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Painful to watch, but at least it’s but better potential than Jumper…
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Stop using shots typically used for Horror movies. Please? We knew there was someone else there when she was going to the upstairs of a restaurant.
Speaking of which, why did the Chinese people in that restaurant allow the girl to freeload into their storage lockers?
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A deal, eh? Sounds fishy… Very fishy.
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Warning: Bullshit meter off the scale.
Excuse me, I need some Pop Tarts.
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Everyone’s got either no characterization, or too little characterization to make a label. I would say that’s a good thing… Well, it’s better than stereotypes, or needless character development.
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Okay, that guy can lift cars and shit. Why did he punch the bumper of one for no reason?
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Ominous…
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No keys required.
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Goons. Batteries not included.
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Why is it that the only one who actually does any kind of ass-kicking have absolutely no name?
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Damn, convenient much?
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Pointless camera angles…
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Crap music that’s better off for a car chase than anything.
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Okay, Bamboo does NOT snap that easily!
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Fisticuffs? They’re Psychokinetics! What are they throwing fists at each other for?
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I can easily tell that the special effects are to make ultimately not-so-good punches look like they have power.
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Where’d that guy come from!?
WHERE’D THAT GUY COME FROM!?
WHERE DID ALL THAT BAMBOO COME FROM!?
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Okay, he’s lost.
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Okay, I guess he really isn’t.
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Okay, I guess he is.
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Oh wait, he isn’t.
How the hell did he escape a Pusher’s power?
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Okay, that dude’s dead now.
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Or maybe he isn’t.
Wait, he is.
NO HE ISN’T!
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HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET THERE?!
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Burn, bitch. Good Guys win, as usual.
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Wait, he survived, eh?
Okay, shouldn’t that kill him anyway? That’s gross, I admit, but shouldn’t it kill him anyway? Or was injecting oneself with soy sauce more like non-suicide?
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Good ending. Really, it’s a damn good ending.
But the story potential was not used at a good degree. It was lacking in good usage, but very plentiful of crappy usage.
No offense.
-HolyJunkie.