This is the second film made by Ang Lee using the revolutionary frame rate of 120 fps, so revolutionary that there's still no cinema able to screen the film in its original format. Tonight I watched it in the cinema at the traditional 24 fps. I wonder how many years it will take for the film industry to catch up.
Henry Brogan is a hitman for the Defense Intelligence Agency who decides to retire, against the wishes of his superiors. Now 51 years old, he wants to settle back and enjoy a quiet life, but he isn't afforded that luxury. He knows details about his last operation that make him a liability, so he has to die. The agent sent after him is a clone of himself, only 23 years old, with less experience but at the peak of his physical capabilities.
This is a different sort of film for the director Ang Lee. Instead of the usual quiet introspection we're used to, there's a lot of action. He handles this genre well, and he still manages to weave in a few philosophical questions.
The acting by Will Smith in both of the lead roles is outstanding. His younger self, known only as Junior, is made younger by computer technology. If I ever star in a film I want to look 30 years younger as well.
The critical response to the film is generally poor, praising the acting and the special effects, but criticising the story. I checked the reviews on Amazon's website, which uses a one to five rating system like mine, and I was surprised to see that it only had one star or five star ratings, nothing in between. It's a film that people either love or hate. I love it.
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