Projet Momentum

Kinda cheesy and predictable, but not bad for all that. I probably won't watch it again, but it still managed to be mildly entertaining. The movie also appears to be hoping to be used as a pilot episode for a new scifi series, which, as far as I know, isn't going to happen.

The films of the Science Fiction Channel ( Sci-Fi Channel ) have become boringly predictable. The seem low on budget, originality, and plot.

In this creation the government is out to get a bunch of telekinetics and recruits a poor soul by devious means to help. There is plenty of over worked recycled twists on evil government organization theme. black coats, shadows, short meaningless lines make these one dimensional cartoons.

Daniel Dae Kim stands out as a good actor in a small role. He brings a bit of the style of his "Angel" character to the role. It is hard to miss the link that his "Crusade" character was a telepath and this is a film on telekinetics. Was this a Sci-Fi casting move to try and draw fans from the other show? Who knows. Thankfully he is a decent actor and a pleasure to watch.

The movie is definitely low budget. It reflects The Sci-Fi Channels current model of Canadian location, few well known characters, few effects, and woefully terrible plot and character development. One would think they believe science fiction fans will view anything labeled "scifi."

If you want a good telekinesis movie, check out "the Fury" ( 1978).

Director James Seale did a lot with a small budget. Great acting all around. The cast was extraordinary with some really big names like Teri Hatcher, Louis Gossett Jr, and Michael Masse. Even though its a low budget film, good effects and excellent writing make this an enjoyable movie. The movie still plays on Sci-Fi. It was supposed to be made into a series but this has not come into fruition. Catch James Seale's other movies, Scorcher and Asylum on video or HBO. Its good to see a Philly boy in this business who is working and doing well. His newest film ,"Throttle" is an action packed thriller in the vain of "Duel". Keep on the lookout Bruce Jaffe in another James Seale production!!

If it weren't for the editing out of curse words and a superimposed blur when one character give another the finger, it would be easy to mistake this low-budget snoozer for a Sci-Fi channel pilot. The plot about the government's attempts to destroy a group of telekinetics it originally trained as military weapons ends ambiguously enough with the hero, himself gifted, in pursuit of a telekinetic survivor bent on revenge. Alas, the movie is talky, boring, predictable and even devoid of interesting special effects. Top-billed Louis Gossett, Jr. has a minor role as the evil government bureaucrat who originated the program and now wants to eliminate all traces. He walks through the part and it is hard to understand why he bothered. Other members of the cast do a decent job with a script that demands little.

*) Take ideas from "The Fury", X-Men, and "Jumper" *) make bit of X-Files for a while *) _try_ camera angles and editing from the classic western *) do "special effects" using nylon threads like in puppetry *) write some cheesy, predictable plot, dialogues and ending and *) leave plenty room for a sequel *) but completely forget to give the main characters some interesting traits and motives *) or even forget tell (or edit out), why the main FBI chick was treated as famous to one part of her colleagues, but pretty unknown to the other half.

Oooops. Did I spoil something? No, but after watching it, you will say: Yes, the summary told us all.

The story may well fit in an X-Files episode and probably had been much more entertaining, then.