Furtif

I recently went to see the movie "The Island", a movie that contains about 60 straight minutes of action. However, all the chasing and stuff blowing up was meaningless, and hence, uninteresting (see my review). "Stealth", on the other hand, actually had a plot, albeit of the pulp military thriller novel variety, but nevertheless a story you can follow. This movie was critically panned more than "The Island", but I was more entertained by far with this film.

First of all, the flying effects sequences are like playing a high quality video game. Since I don't play video games, this was a fun ride. In fact, I was taken aback somewhat at how many intensely complex effects shots there were in this film. Along with it, virtually everything in sight is blown up. Blown up real good. Yes, it is possible to blow things up with a certain amount of creativity and originality. You could possibly be reminded of "Apocalypse Now" with the size and amount of fireballs riddled throughout.

Oh yeah, characters. Well, the only real name you recognise is Jamie Foxx. Obviously cast before his success with "Ray", he is actually a pretty minor character. There is competent acting, but this movie isn't about Academy Award performances. The story, as one critic characterised it, is a live action version of "Team America". Enough countries are invaded and attacked to start World War III, (but then again, all good things come in threes). You are not expected to buy any of the implausible details of the film. If you are capable of not exercising your mind too much in a situation like this, you can accept that most of the big thrills in this film were probably thought up first, and then a story built around it. But that means you are not side-tracked with much of any dumb fluff (save a completely uneventful visit to Thailand).

So, in comparison to Michael Bay, Rob Cohen is up to par, and maybe even exceeds with a slightly more entertaining product. You certainly could do far worse.

This is the type of movie that you need to shutdown the brain and enjoy the special effects, the beauty of Jessica Biel, the action scenes, the chemistry of Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx, the landscapes in Thailand, the soundtrack… But the most important, i.e., the plot itself is very stupid and corny, and insults the intelligence of an audience of average IQ. In about two hours, the ozone layer might be much reduced, with the number of explosions in this story, in a world that is not in war in this moment (just avoiding). The pilots invade North Korea, Russia, and Alaska, explode, shoot, kill, but they are the "good guys", aren't they? It is better off watching a video game without playing. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Stealth – Ameaça Invisível" ("Stealth – Invisible Menace")

Let me start out be stating that this is absolutely not the movie of the year. But I rather enjoyed it anyway because of the endless amount cliché lines, the way you can't really tell if it's actually meant to be a comedy or if it's supposed to be the action/scifi-movie of the year. The perfect movie for the guy or gal who knows nothing about computers, chemistry or the air force, and couldn't give a rats ass what's wrong or right. The acting isn't much worse than what you'd expect from a high school class, but don't expect not to be offended by some terrible lines and acting jobs. Warning: This is not a movie anyone should try to think about. Doing so will make you want to throw up. Do not think about how the facts have been messed up. Do not think about how the plot must have been written in the 80's and most of all: Do not think of admitting to your friends you watched this movie and liked it. All you have to do is fall back into the seat and enjoy watching things blow up for an hour and 55 minutes.

'Short Circuit' meets 'Top Gun' in Rob Cohen's CGI-packed action-fest Stealth, in which a trio of ridiculously attractive elite US fighter pilots (Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx and Jessica Biel) must do battle with the latest in aeronautical warfare technology—an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), flown by a computer called EDI, which goes haywire after it is struck by lightning.

Tearing out of the stratosphere at Mach Impossible to blast the crap out of anything that looks even the slightest bit foreign, the hi-tech aircraft in this film are about as stealthy as a herd of stampeding fluorescent pink elephants blowing vuvuzelas; they sure are cool looking though, and provide action fans with plenty of moments of spectacular mid-air madness, Cohen's virtual camera whipping in and around the state-of-the-art aircraft with as much speed and agility as the planes themselves.

Anyone looking for realism need not apply (the film's corny plot is about as believable as an email from a Nigerian businessman), but with endless huge explosions, a psychotic A.I. jet plane, Foxx ploughing into the side of a mountain, and gorgeous Jessica Biel in a bikini, those after some slam-bang, big-budget popcorn trash to give the old brain cells a rest could do a lot worse than Stealth.

6.5 out 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

I was so looking forward to this film but it turned out to be a really barebones movie. It has the smallest semblance of a plot, the actors are given nothing to work with and the tension is not really believable. The story turns out to be really dumb and have no payoff.