What is the first thing you’d do if you found out you had super powers? Save someone? No, you’d probably try something selfish first, just because you could. You’d likely say you’ll use the powers for good after that initial all-for-me trial run, but there’s a good chance you’ll get greedy instead. After all, you’re only human — you’re just more powerful than the rest of the race.

This is exactly what happens to David Rice (played by Max Thieriot then Hayden Christensen), a kid who discovers he can teleport, or jump, anywhere he’s been before. Yes, he’s kind of like the X-Men character Nightcrawler, someone David is likely familiar with since he references Marvel comics and therefore has a good self-awareness of the fantastical sort of life he’s a part of, or ought to be a part of. But unlike Spider-Man, another exemplary Marvel character, he doesn’t believe in the whole “with great power comes great responsibility” crap. Although the first time he robs a bank he tells himself he’ll pay it back one day, he eventually stops kidding himself. He doesn’t even contemplate using the money to help the needy. He’s no Robin Hood or Longfellow Deeds. He’s just your average follower of Objectivism. …Read more

I have been making the case for Doug Liman for years now. I’d even recently given up the claim that I completely despise Swingers (it’s mostly the neo-swing soundtrack I hate). I constantly argued that his The Bourne Identity was better than Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy — in the end Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum turned out ultimately the best — and still continue promoting the genius of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (I watched it with a newbie just the other night, and that person was convinced). But now, I am on the fence about Jumper, which I haven’t yet seen and which arrived in theaters today. I can’t decide whether to bother seeing it.

The movie certainly looks stupid. I’ll admit it. Yet this is where my Liman defending came about in the past year, especially recently, as its release got closer. Every time the trailer or TV ad came on the screen, someone would turn to me and say it looks really stupid. Or I would overhear a similar statement coming from the mouths of strangers. Oh, it has to be better than it looks, I would say. It’s Doug Liman, a great action director who tackles seemingly stupid movies. But now the reviews are out. It has an 18% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I can’t find one trustworthy critic who offers good enough reason to see it.

…Read more