Monday, February 06, 2012

Review: I Am Number Four

The movie I am Number four is  based on a novel of the same name by author Pittacus Lore which is the pseudonym of writing team James Frey and Jobie Hughes.  Published by HarperCollins on August 3, 2010, the novel spent 7 weeks at #1on the YA slot of The New York Times Best Seller list.

The move stars

Alex Pettyfer            John Smith  #4
Timothy Olyphant    Henri
Teresa Palmer         Number Six
Dianna Agron           Sarah Hart
Callan McAuliffe       Sam Goode
Kevin Duran             The Mogadorians, Commander
Jake Abel                 Mark James

The Wikipedia article does a good job of fleshing out the movie plot.  My take on the film is that it is a pretty standard Terminator (without the cyborg) with a healthy dose of Escape to Witch Mountain thrown in for good measure.  

Number 4 and his guardian are the last few surviving members of a race, called Loriens, that has been decimated by the militaristic Mogadorians.  

The Mogadorians are relentless and so “John” and his guardian are never able to stay in one spot for long.  But number Four after constant running has decided to make a stand in Paradise Ohio.  In the fight that ensues, the beagle who was once a lizard proves not to be beagle either, John is joined by the mysterious number 6 and general mayhem is the rule.  

The end is not quite the happy ending that the director has been telegraphing  for most of the movie but considering that there seems to be a wide open ended plot-line, the ending makes a great deal of sense.  

Director Caruso overseen by Michael Bay manage to bring what for all intents and purposes was a book for young teens and give it main stream appeal.  

The plot is of course very derivative but the acting is far from campy  - mix in really competent special effects and  seamless green screen and you have yourself a very watchable film.

On the Blu-ray side of things, there ARE some extra content available!  No director comments, but we are treated to deleted scenes and bloopers.  Not great, but not bad either.  

I would give the movie a 7 just for being predictable and the extra content the same 7 for some content but lacking in what many of us have come to view as essential content, overall a 7 for the film.


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