27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
EXPLOSIVE!, November 4, 2002
Eddie Kasalivich(Keanu Reeves) and the beautiful Dr. Lily Sinclair(Rachel Weisz) are on the run. Everyone is after them. The cops, the F.B.I,and some very powerful investors involved in the deadly chase. Eddie and Lily are not murderes or thieves though, they are brillant scientists, who have been apparently framed for blowing up the lab they were working in,leaving their mentor dead.
The scientists had been working on and finally discovered a new source of energy to help heat the world. After the lab is blown up Eddie is the only one left with the formula, and EVERYONE wants it! Who can they trust? They come to depend on their powerful backer of the project Shannon(Morgan Freeman). He will help bring them in, or will he?
There is lots of action,explosions, intigue, cover ups, and some really great viusal effects. Morgan Freeman does a brillant job of keeping us guessing. The cast is rounded out by Fred Ward,Kevin Dunn,and Brian Cox. It is skillfully directed by Andrew Davis(The Fugitive).
The DVD(20th Cent Fox) makes this film a pleasure to watch. It is a terrific transfer in Anamorphic widescreen. A great picture.
Audio gives you the choice of DTS, 5.1 Surround or Stereo Surround, making it compatible with most systems.All the action and explosions look and sounds GREAT!. Not to much on the extras, if thats what you're looking for though. There are some trailers, and subtitles.
Have fun with this one......Laurie.... P.S. Stay till the end of the credits!
also recommended:
Just Cause
L.A. Confidential - Special Edition / The Usual Suspects (Special Edition) (2 Pack)
City Hall/Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Action, September 28, 2005
Made in 1996, this is a good action movie that Keenu Reeves did after "Speed". The story is first rate and has held up well considering the continued oil shortages over the years. Keenu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Morgan Freeman, Fred Ward, and Brian Cox are magnificent in this taut thriller about espionage over a hydrogen reactor that puts out more energy than runs it. I am a little surprised at the criticism because the explosion looked like a small hydrogen bomb. Perhaps hydrogen under pressure exploding doesn't look the same, but this is still a good action movie. Considering the abundence of hydrogen, a working reactor is something the whole world wants. Reeves plays an engineer and Ward a physicist working for Freeman. When the head of the project is murdered, another disappears, and the lab is demolished in a 4 block explosion, things get dicey as the FBI hangs the blame on Reeves and thinks Ward is involved as well. Good quality DVD with extras to boot. I recommend this for the all but the very young.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good action, mediocre story., February 20, 2001
"Chain Reaction," the high-octane action thriller from the director of "The Fugitive," is a stunning setpiece for some of the most intense and high-speed action sequences that have ever graced a film of this genre. The suspense and movement throughout the movie is so well-crafted and inventive that is keeps the movie moving at nonstop full speed. But that's the one problem with it: this is really the only thing that keeps it moving. The story of conspiracy and deception does have a lot of intelligence to it, probably too much intelligence, which is why we never really get a full explanation of the events of the story in the end. But nonetheless, if you watch it enough, you'll figure it out for the rest while enjoying the action many times over.
On the outskirts of Chicago, a group of determined scientists is working on a new source of energy, which involves the burning of hydrogen and a highly complex system of keeping the source plentiful. Student machinist Eddie Kasalivich cracks the key in stabilizing the system, but the rejoicing of the group is short-lived when they project leader is murdered and and the laboratory is completely destroyed by a hydrogen explosion. As the FBI begins investigating, Eddie, along with partner Lily Sinclair, also begin picking up small clues which lead to their being framed for the crimes under investigation. As the detectives get closer to catching them, they run further, relying on help from project founder Paul Shannon, who really wants them in order to relearn the energy process for his own benefit.
There is such a high amount of intense action that the movie never stops moving, and we are willing to stick with it despite a few story flaws. Full of explosions, high-speed chases that involve not only motor vehicles but also a ski-boat on a frozen lake, and an on-foot chase sequence in a museum that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This movie never fails in giving us one piece of action after another, and this continues throughout the movie.
However, there are some glitches in the story that require repeated viewings in order to solve the entire puzzle. For instance, we never really get to understand the motives of Shannon and his partner, both of whom want the system and its plans for themselves. Why do they want it? For the money? For some other plan? Also, the dynamic of the relations between these two underworld people is never really given a chance to grow, and in the end, they go from agreeing on obtaining the system plans to arguing over whether or not they should dispose of Eddie and Lily. This sharp veer into their contrasts is just one of the unexplained aspects of the story, which feeds us a bit too much at times and tends of overload the circuits.
Nonetheless, if you are able to decifer the story in your first viewing, or you watch it repeatedly, you will find that it is smart, highly intelligent, and when figured out, the fast pace of the plot is quite admirable and enjoyable all in one. The movie is a terrific story of the old spin on who you are supposed to trust, and who is your enemy. Eddie and Lily are never in any real danger from Shannon; if they were to give him the plans, they would have no worries. His partner is the cutthroat of the two, and unlike his partner's easy-going attitude about his dealings, he takes a more serious and intimidated approach to his actions. There is also a small budding romance between Lily and Eddie, but it never gets in the way of the action, and helps it along when Eddie must rescue her.
The actors involved all work nicely in their roles, especially Morgan Freeman, who fits perfectly in the role. He plays Paul Shannon, and does so well in carrying out the mystery and unknown behind his character. Keanu Reeves pkays Eddie Kasalivich, and carries out the action with the same integrity and believability that he displayed in "Speed." This is a role he was born to play. Rachel Weisz plays Lily Sinclair, whose character is required to remain aloof and strong in certain moments during the movie. Weisz does this with terrific and powerful acting, and the chemistry between her and Keanu is very extreme but easily suppressible in the face of all that goes on throughout the movie.
There is a lot of good work put into "Chain Reaction," despite its plot flaws and missing puzzle pieces. You'll find that you pay more attention to the action and surface story the first time around, and after that, you'll have more time to pay attention to the underlying story of conspiracy and deception. No matter what you may think, though, there is no denying that the action of this film is truly remarkable and innovative.
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