Stealth - Arma suprema

'Stealth' was a box office bomb. Critics hated it. Audiences didn't like it. So why did I enjoy it so much then?

Many of the comments expressed distinct dislike towards the fact that EDI, the warplane, could talk. But let's think about this for a second. Back in the 80's there was a talking car, KITT from Knight Rider. Today we have computers, electronics, gadgets, phones, etc that talk to us. So why not a plane - which essentially is a computer itself ?

The film revolves around the said plane, EDI - an unmanned fighter-bomber stealth plane. The future of digital warfare is here; a plane that 'thinks' for itself. Quite honestly, if this would eliminate soldiers dying in war, I'm all for digital warfare!

Three pilots were chosen for the program: Lt. Ben (Josh Lucas), Lt. Kara (Jessica Biel), and Lt. Henry (Jamie Foxx). I must be honest, I didn't like the Henry character. I got the feeling they needed a third pilot merely for comic relief (initially), and to create a turning point in the movie. This character was underdeveloped with lousy dialogue and it seemed they didn't know what to do with this character until he was needed for the turning point, as mentioned. He slowed the movie down...

After being hit by lightning, EDI malfunctions and becomes unstable and destructive. The action sequences are really good. The visual effects are not always good, but for most parts it were pretty good. The film takes us on a rollercoaster adventure from the US to Russian airspace, North Korea, and Alaska. The main antagonist is Captain George Cummings (Sam Shepard), who has ulterior motives and as a result makes questionable decisions.

'Stealth' is an action adventure thriller I actually thoroughly enjoyed. I've watched it a few times now and enjoy it ever time. And yes, I did enjoy it more than 'Top Gun'. (I've tried watching 'Top Gun' 3 times already and I simply can't get into that movie!! I find it boring with annoying characters). There, I said it; now crucify me for being honest!

'Stealth' has a really exciting finale. Oh, and just saying; Josh Lucas is a feast for the eyes!!

Would I watch it again? Yes.

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")

Oh so sorry action thriller that steals ideas from most every earlier film of the kind and weaves a long, pointless and tiring demolition derby in the high skies. Three anti-terrorist U.S. Naval pilots (Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas and Jamie Foxx) get a fourth teammate in a computer-operated stealth aircraft that does very little other than talk back calmly, steal music from the Internet and disobey every order thrown its way. Amazingly though, the Hal 9000 clone is still probably the best performer in this air ball effort. Typical conflict on the ground between military men Sam Shepard and Joe Morton takes place while our three heroes go through chaotic situation after chaotic situation. Throw in Seattle computer nerd supreme Richard Roxburgh and we have a tiring lame duck of a movie that flies for a few minutes on broken wings and then thankfully dies well before we come to a conclusion about as interesting as an empty airport runway. Very obvious that Foxx won't repeat his 2004 successes. 2 stars out of 5.

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.

'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.