Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: "X-Men", "Jumper"

Lame title, diverse ethnic group of actors, plot about people with special skillss but not an X-Men movie, and based in Hong Kong. For the skeptics, it sounded like a C-grade film with over-the-top performances. Sorry, but it is not.

An interesting plotline, coupled with a stylish cinematography and pretty cool soundtrack makes "Push" different from all the other wannabes (cough*JUMPER*cough). The stylised presentation reminds you a bit of Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight" meets "Kill Bill" but with a pinch of "Wolverine". Kudos to director Paul McGuigan whose filmography includes "Lucky Number Slevin" and "The Reckoning".

Performance-wise, although at times Dakota Fanning can look a little bratty and that whole Julia Stiles-ish look doesn't work for her, she does have her moments. The whole chemistry between her and Chris Evans works, but sadly one can't say the same thing about Evans and Camille Belle, that are supposedly a couple. Care to pay attention to the lollypop-loving scary-looking Watcher (she does have that Ichikawa Yui spooky look) and Cliff Curtis, who's last seen in "Crossing Over" playing an Iranian immigration officer.

On another note, it does at times feel like a guide to Hong Kong's urban ghettos, as the movie takes place in different parts of the city - from the fishermen's port, to storeys upon storeys of flats, constructions to a very exotic 1960-ish nightclub and not to mention curious hotel rooms.

The only scar would be the fact that at times it can be a bit lengthy and boring. And a word of advice, the movie never try to explain things or repeat a scene and thus, if you slack off a while, chances are you will be confused about later scenes.


Cinema Online, 11 May 2009