Red Eye Reviews

The films takes off in a believably scripted manner and, while mid-air, pulls unexpected punches, like as if an armless man suddenly re-grows his limbs and starts punching you senselessly, but it crash lands in such a horrible, terrible, manner that you wish you had stopped the film earlier. Man, the ending is so f*** embarrassing and totally detached from the rest of the film, just like the Know Your Enemy guitar solo. Totally detached, but in the case of the latter, it was actually good!

The opening 15-or-so minute airport scene is one of the best directed and scripted scenes in recent history. I enjoyed it and I thoroughly enjoyed the impeccable chemistry between Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy. If there is but one reason to like them both, it has to be Red Eye. Then we have the plane shots, the majority where the movie is set. Man, the way the camera effortlessly flows throughout impressed me. I've heard many people complain about the unrealistic feel but from my experience, that's just about the most realistic portrayal of the passengers and stewardesses. That's how they acted all the times I've flown in airplanes. Up to the last five minutes of the movie, Wes Craven has his position in check and knows what to show, when to show and what not to show.

Anyway, the supporting "extras", oh well, cast were just average, badly overshadowed by the main two leads but that's not the point, the point is WOAH! what the hell happened to Brian Cox here? I mean, he was so wooden and totally detached. Everyone has their ups and downs and his down is this film. Totally so-not-into-it! So there you go, another great film by Wes Craven and although Jackson Rippner is of no match to Craven's previous icons, I have a feeling the character will somehow end up on many "great villains" list after when they see this film.

OK, so that was all the ups. Let's talk about the major Setback of Red Eye: the ending! Argue all you want but this film has probably the worst ending of all time. Did I stutter? I mean it. Such a fantastic ride only to ended in such a weak, pity manner that you would want to bang your head on a wall to forget it. If the ending, somehow, seems fitting, then please try to convince me that it really was because I honestly don't see it. So take my advice: Skip the last 5-7 minutes!

So, in conclusion, a great film, even greater performances, and one of the best "terror-in-the-air" movies!

8.5/10

Ever since 'Scream' came out, Wes Craven was popular again and, therefore, I was really curious to check this flick. The fact that Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams were playing the leads made it even more attractive. They are two actors who both seemed really talented but still didn't manage to breakthrough in a really a big way, especially McAdams who keeps showing up in supporting parts in some rather average flicks. Anyway, they worked this time with Wes Craven in the last good movie he directed. Indeed, I thought it was pretty good. McAdams delivered a decent performance but I was above all impressed by Cillian Murphy who was obviously born to play such parts. Of course, the story is rather preposterous and you can look for the plot holes as long you want but, for once, it didn't bother me. Indeed, thanks to Murphy and above all the expert directing by Wes Craven, I thought it was a gripping thriller and I remained entertained throughout the whole thing. Of course, at the end, you have the usual annoying twists but I'm afraid it is inherent to the genre. To conclude, I thought it was a very well made and entertaining thriller and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Wes Craven's work.

I watched this one only last night and I was expecting a brilliant movie after viewing it's trailer. I was not let down in the slightest. The movie is thoroughly entertaining all the way through and the cast and fantastic.

I thought "Red Eye" was a great film. I loved Rachel McAdam's character and she played the role perfectly. The villian, Cillian Murphy, was superb. I enjoyed this film from start to finish.

This movie is an incredible suspense thriller. Cillian Murphy is really believable, and Rachel McAdams is equally good. I have watched this several times, and never get tired of watching it!

Sadly, the quality of this film actually imitates today's typical flying experience. As anyone who's traveled by commercial plane in the last 9 years knows, once you make it through the dignity-stripping hassels of passing through security, the worst is over. So goes it for the first 10 minutes of this film. But alas, we still have to get thru the takeoff--a tense, unsavory sensation for many-- before we're up in the air and really moving toward where we want to be. Liken this to the introductory scenes between our two leads in the film: a disagreeable, naseau-inducing series of exchanges between the usually charming McAdams, and the normally compelling Murphy. Here the dynamic falters up and down between bland and repellent. The film finally begins to find its stride as the plane reaches cruising altitude-- The actors settle into their strenghts as their characters move toward their true essences. Motives are revealed, tenacity is tested, and the tone becomes more and more menacing. Any satisifaction is short lived, however. As the movie reaches the final act the film takes one final turn for the worst. In the end I felt much as though I'd arrived safely at my destination, only to discover my baggage was lost.

Some movies expect us to have certain amount of Suspension of Disbelief as TrekBody points out in his review, but when a movie sucks you in with a decent cast, a potential for a decent thriller, and then throws so many plot holes at you that you start to feel your IQ drop the longer you watch the film, that ain't cool.

I could list a hundred 'Why didnt the guy just do this?' type of questions, but that would just force my brain to have to re-visit this film mentally, so I'd rather just leave it as a warning to anyone; please shut off your brain via drugs or alcohol before watching this film. It will be better for you in the long run.

Red Eye was pretty bad if you have any sort of a brain. I know you are supposed to suspend disbelief, but the contrivances got a little too big to swallow, and in the end the movie took a hard landing. There were moments in the beginning of good tension, but it just fell apart.