h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Michael Jennings is an engineer who specialises in taking on secret projects for companies who love their privacy so much, they have his memory of his work erased after each job. Hired by an old friend to design a machine that will 'change the world', Jennings comes out the other side to find people people trying to kill him, the FBI trying to probe his brain, an envelope full of useless junk in place of his belongings... and no paycheque. To get to his 'happily ever after' he must work out what he was doing for the last three years, get the girl, and avoid his impending death.

Another film based on a Philip K. Dick novel, 'Paycheck' treads similar ground to the recent 'Minority Report', and it is difficult not to compare it to that vastly more successful movie. However, 'Paycheck' isn't as bad as the press (and Johnathan Ross) would have you believe. Moving at a reasonable pace, the film doesn't suffer too much at the hands of John Woo, as 'Mission: Impossible 2' did. Woo's direction is only occasionally painful, but it does labour every single point of any importance - there is no subtlety in this movie.

What saves the film is a nice plot and a half-decent script. As the puzzle slots together piece-by-piece, the viewer can't help but be drawn into speculation as to the direction of the plot, and hidden in amongst the action-film sequences of running away, car chases, gun fights and more running away, there is a serious point to be considered - how would humanity deal with the implications of a machine like Jennings'?

Last, but not least, it remains for me to describe the acting in this piece, and I can do that in one word: taciturn. There is very little emotion evident in any of the performances here, and yet it works. It lends an air of ruthlessness to the villains, a sense of purpose and determination to the hero, and a feeling of "at least she's not saying very much" to the experience of enduring Uma Thurman.

Overall, 'Paycheck' stands up well against other recent big screen offerings - it's nothing special, but in a modern world where disliking 'The Lord of the Rings' movie trilogy is akin to treason and no girl will even speak to you if you're not an Orlando Bloom lookalike (feel the bitterness), this film is at least refreshing. Go and see it. Have you got anything better to do?

R25968 19:49 23/1/04

Hmmm...Orlando Bloom.

Not you too! Goodness sake...

Just as a review of my review: thinking about it, I realise it's more a rant than a review, especially towards the end, so I will learn from Mr Affleck's performance in the movie, and reduce the amount of emotion displayed next time.

And what IS so special about Orlando Bloom anyway?

Fraser

Affleck. I'm acting adult, here...

Orlando Bloom is absolutely adorable in that really dorky sorta way. It's extemely appealing to dweeb lovers.

Okay. If you say so.

Fraser

You do realize that I'm just needling you, right?

Yeah, but I also realise there are a tonne of girls out there who are telling the absolute truth when they say they're besotted with him.

Fraser

How can you be madly and passionately in love with someone you DON'T KNOW??!!! Ach, that drives me mad.

A very good point. I'm sure if all these girls got to know Mr Bloom they'd probably discover he's a horrible person I expect he's quite vain and... um... other stuff...

Fraser

Come on, try to make yourself feel better... I don't know him, don't really care about him, but he is attractive.