Sono il numero quattro

A film targeted at young adults, "I am Number Four" starts with some compelling action, then settles into a typical teen high school story--with budding love, the school bully, and the kid who is picked on--with a twist of mystery. The main character, John (Alex Pettyfer), has to move to another town whenever he and his guardian become too visible. They are on the run. And their pursuers are killers from another planet. He tries to fit into the new school, but new kids are misfits and they draw attention, right?

The plot has its awkward moments, but the action sequences, explosions, and firestorms are adequate distractions for those who want to suspend disbelief. And there are a few plot twists that keep things interesting, even if they are sometimes telegraphed to the audience ahead of time.

Dianna Agron ("Glee") is the object of John's affection, but romance is not the center of this film. Callan McAuliffe is effective in the role of Sam, the misfit who John takes under his wing.

The film is tailor-made for a sequel, but it appears none is in the works at this time. "Number Four" feels, at times, like a video game, but it's a third person shooter and those don't appeal to everyone. Maybe that is why the box office was less than hoped for.

Do you know that old movie rule that you subconsciously decide whether you're going to enjoy a film or not within the first ten minutes? Well, it wasn't true this time, because after the opening sequence, I was pretty sure I was going to hate "I Am Number Four". Thankfully, I was in for a pleasant surprise.

It all starts with bad CGI-monsters and some guys in Star Trek make-up chasing people around in the jungle. We then cut to some jocks doing tricks on jet skis and some bland blonde girls admiring them - and I thought this is going to be terrible. Then the story picks up and the movie gets better from there.

The story involves a couple of characters and mysteries, but is never too complicated. After the initial jet ski scene, the main character actually turns out to be played quite charmingly by Alex Pettyfer. He's supported by his mentor/protector (solid as always: Timothy Olyphant). Glee's Dianna Agron plays Number Four's love interest. She comes across very natural, so that the love story that unfolds is actually engaging instead of vomit-inducing like that of that other movie with the whining Vampires and the shirtless Werewolves.

Of course, "I Am Number Four" is by no means a great movie. The CGI sucks in places and the make-up of the bad guys is just awful. Characters are stereotypical, things fall into place way too conveniently and one has the feeling that a good junk of the original novel has just been crammed together to (barely) fit into the running time of a popcorn movie.

However, I think we can all agree that it would be silly to actually expect a masterpiece, considering the movie's premise. For what it is, "I Am Number Four" is an entertaining little fantasy flick for teenagers and undemanding twenty-somethings. Add to that the fact that this movie is neither a sequel nor a remake, that it's not based on a comic book, a TV series, a computer game or toys, and it's enough to lift "I Am Number Four" heads and shoulders above its genre competitors.

Aliens and their Guardians are hiding on Earth from intergalactic bounty hunters. John (Alex Pettyfer) is an agile alien teenager trying to hide from the ruthless enemies who have been sent to destroy him. He constantly changes his identity, moving from one city to another under the supervision of his guardian, Henry (Timothy Olyphant). Throughout his life, John has developed superpowers due to his extraterrestrial nature, such as enhanced strength, speed, agility, telekinesis, resistance to fire and heat, and the power to generate light from his hands. John is always the new kid in town, with no ties to the past, but now little Ohio has become his home. Their move to Paradise coincides with John beginning to understand he has special powers, which made him one of the chosen nine. John must face new unexpected events that will change his life: the discovery of powerful and new abilities, a special connection with those who share your incredible destiny and his first love (Dianna Agron), whose ex-boyfriend, school athlete Mark James (Jake Abel), is a bully who often torments Sam (Callan McAuliffe) and now John.

A pleasant and entertaining film that adequately mixes science fiction, fantasy, loud action, coming-of-age story and a sensitive romance. There're also impressive, groubdbreaking battles against a n extraterrestrial race, the Mogadorians and against gigantic and astonishing creatures and Quimeras with plenty of digital special effects. The picture is based on a young adult science fiction novel by Pittacus Lore, and it is the first book in the Lorien Legacies series. An agreeable film with an attractive starring, a teen encountering unexpected, life-changing events and connection to the others who share his incredible destiny, he's acceptably played by Alex Pettyfer. He's stunningly accompanied by his protector, a Warrior/Guardian performed by always efficient Timothy Olyphant, the beautiful young Dianna Agron as amateur photographer student Sarah Hart, the conspiracy theorist adolescent acted by Callan McAuliffe, the nasty leader Commander of the Mogadorians Kevin Durand and another Lorien alien, Number Six who hunts down the Mogadorians herself interpreted by the nimble Teresa Palmer.

It displays a gorgeous and colorful cinematography by cameraman Guilermo Navarro, Guillermo del Toro's regular cameraman . As well as a rousing and thrilling musical score by Trevor Ravin. This moving picture was adequately and professionally directed by D. J. Caruso . He is a good craftsman whose films often have intense car crashes , and he has directed successful films , such as : Taking lives (2004) , Disturbia (2007), The Eagle eye (2008) , XXX Reactivated (2017) , Shut in (2022) and Reedeming love (2022) . Rating : 6/10 . Better than average. Essential and indispensable seeing for its action set pieces and charming actors.

I was thinking this would be filler for a dull afternoon. Indeed it was but I was also surprised to find I really enjoyed it. We also had the pleasure of watching it on iMax so that makes just about anything a little better. If you want to enjoy the evening then go see this one. You'll see some good acting and decent new actors. Give it a chance and I think this might be the next good "series" of movies you'll like. I say series because they left this one wide open to find numbers 5, and 7-9. I can easily see a whole trilogy or more just waiting for this one to make enough money to get it going. Although without some decent advertising they aren't going to get that... :(

When I first watched it about 7 years I really liked it...watching it again I've obviously grown in my tastes...only watch if you enjoy sophomoric humor and films.