12 Monkeys Review

4 out of 5

Sci-Fi, Thriller

The Verdict

Thumbs Up: Highly Recommended

Sci-fi fans who enjoy a twisty, cerebral time-travel story. It’s rated R for violence, language and some nudity.

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Synopsis

James Cole (Bruce Willis) is a convicted criminal in a post-apocalyptic underground jail set in Philadelphia of 2035. The Earth’s surface is contaminated by a deadly virus in the year 1996 that forces all of its inhabitants to live underground in order to survive. In 2035, the scientists have found a very primitive procedure to travel back in time. Cole agrees to work with the scientists in order to find a way to stop the catastrophe from ever happening.

Spoiler Warning!!! Full Review Below

Full Review (Spoilers)

Producers: Charles Roven

The Good

This movie will make you think during every second you’re watching it. You couldn’t see the twist with the 12 Monkeys’ master plan. It was a simple protest of releasing animals. All during the movie you’re lead to believe they had a hand in the deadly virus.

The flashbacks of older Cole getting shot in front of the younger Cole was a shocking surprise. We didn’t suspect it until the very end. It made sense after a while because Cole’s dream kept on haunting him. The story completed a circle after the events in the airport.

Jeffery was a crazy, yet brilliant character. He definitely made a change from 1990 to 1996. To think he could coordinate such a big revolutionary group like the 12 Monkeys was astonishing.

The time traveling in this movie was nice which lead to decent special effects. Each time jump was transitioned fairly well. It also tested the theory of leaving yourself a message in the past to find it in the future.

The Bad

It was hard to think of things wrong with this movie after watching the entire thing. One thing that came to mind was the plot for the film. It felt a bit confusing until you watch it a few times and understand what is really happening. If you’re sitting down for one showing then it will definitely leave you slightly confused.

The acting of Madeleine Stowe didn’t quite fit with the overall tone of this movie. She was a piece of the movie that felt slightly forced.

Originally published on the Bring On The Reviews Blogspot blog on March 27, 2014.

12 Monkeys (1995) Cast and Details

12 Monkeys (1995) is directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Madeleine Stowe and Christopher Plummer. It runs 129 minutes and is rated R. You can look up the full cast and crew on IMDb. You might also like my Taken review.

DC's Hypothetical Corner

Let’s say I change one thing. Maybe that one thing will make this movie better or more watchable.

It would be a different movie if he lived after getting shot at the airport. It could open the loop the script created in the story. The thought of you seeing your own death at a young age seems a tad bit intense. You wouldn’t remember it but know the place seems familiar. Doc Brown would be mad because Cole just messed up the space-time continuum. Just picture this movie with Ben Affleck as James Cole, Matt Damon as Jeffery Goines, and Jennifer Lopez as Kathryn Railly. Think of it as a cross between Good Will Hunting and Gigli with time traveling properties.

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