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FROM PARIS WITH LOVEMovie Reviews
Thriller about an aide to France's U.S. ambassador and wannabe CIA agent, who gets more than he bargained for when he's teamed up with a real agent who's been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack. Cast:John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard DurdenDirector:Pierre MorelRelease Date:February 5, 2010DVD Release:June 8, 2010From:LionsgateRating:RLength:1 hr. 32 min.
From Paris with Love played to fair reviews. Reviews were mixed. • James Berardinelli wrote for Reel Views, "...intellectually flat but viscerally involving... The story is far from airtight but it's good enough to get the viewer from Point A to Point B..." • And Oliver Jones wrote in People, "...both absurd and unabashedly un-PC. Still, the film itself is mostly a lot of fun, thanks to Travolta." More Reviews Below...
From Paris with Love Positive Reviews (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Mary Pols, Time: WEAK "...a blithely violent film derived from something purporting to be a story idea of Luc Besson's -- more likely the idle firing of a pop-culture soaked synapse..."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 596 words, 02/05/10
Bradley Jacobs, Us Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "Travolta's potty-mouthed thug (echoing his 'The Taking of Pelham 123' character) elicits some laughs, but the thriller has too many bullets and too little intrigue."(See all of Bradley Jacobs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 62 words, 02/04/10
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "...a 'fun trash' movie that's more trash than fun.... so nonchalant about violence, and everything else, it's downright slovenly."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 257 words, 02/05/10
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...intellectually flat but viscerally involving... The story is far from airtight but it's good enough to get the viewer from Point A to Point B, which is all that's necessary..."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 826 words, 02/04/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: WEAK(cg) "...intended as both an action movie and a comic parody of the genre. But the clichéd hybrid goes over like a lead balloon stuck on the Eiffel Tower."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 455 words, 02/05/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "The stunt work is done by computers and the editing process.... As for 'From Paris With Love,' it's mostly bang bang and not kiss kiss..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 678 words, 02/04/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD "...empty-headed, preposterous... a feel-good movie that produces a buzz.... The set pieces are precisely calibrated movements in a symphony of violence with no adagio."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 616 words, 02/05/10
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: POOR(cg) "Throw in uninspired car chases, unfunny quips, standard-issue gunplay and voila! -- instant action-comedy. Yet this sock-it-to-'em souffle falls very quickly..."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 457 words, 02/05/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD "The mayhem is relentless but the staging and editing make spatial and rhythmic sense.... This whole movie is a joke -- a delirious one."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 02/05/10
Kyle Smith, New York Post: POOR(cg) "...misshapen and frantic... the movie illustrates how boring it is to deliver all screech and no suspense, takedown without buildup, pure slam, bam, merci madame."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 683 words, 02/05/10
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: WEAK(cg) "A fast-moving but oddly bigoted action-flick that vilifies Asians, Arabs and women.... The climax is a shocker, but only because it's so thoroughly hateful."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 02/05/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: EXCELLENT "In scene after masterly scene, hordes of bad guys turn into blood-spurting pinwheels that hit the ground the instant you manage to breathe out.... Merveilleux!"(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 02/01/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "The stunt work is done by computers and the editing process.... As for 'From Paris With Love,' it's mostly bang bang and not kiss kiss..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 678 words, 02/04/10
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Pierre Morel's action pieces are nothing to place him in the upper echelon of action directors, but at least he brings in lobotomized entertainment at 90-odd minutes."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 02/03/10
Jason Anderson, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...director Pierre Morel acquits himself well with the major set-pieces here, even if the near-constant barrage of automatic gunfire grows exhausting."(See all of Jason Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 500 words, 02/05/10
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: POOR(cg) "In a black leather jacket, with a shaved bald head and a goatee and a perpetual scarf to hide his jowls, Travolta looks like a well-fed pimp or a gay bear."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 576 words, 02/05/10
Josep Parera, La Opinion: EXCELLENT(cg) "Consciente de sus evidentes limitaciones el filme avanza con una velocidad similar a la de un tren sin frenos, dejando sin respiro a la audiencia."(See all of Josep Parera's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 475 words, 02/05/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "Travolta's giddy performance is backed up by a sharp script, inventive action sequences and that weird, enthusiastic naïveté that distinguishes Besson's films."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 02/04/10
KEY CITIES (12 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...kind of funny... a hyper-violent buddy comedy. If you like that sort of thing -- think 'Training Day,' with laughs -- you'll love this."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 675 words, 02/05/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the fight scenes and shootouts, the stairwell pursuits and motorway mayhem, are as good, if not better, than anything to come out of Hong Kong in a long time."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 442 words, 02/05/10
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: POOR(cg) "The movie's only possible source of strong emotion, the romance between the diplomat and his fiancee, is pushed over to the side and then rendered ridiculous."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 680 words, 02/05/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: MODERATE(cg) "...has intrigue, surprises, double-crosses. And, if nothing else, Travolta appears to be having a ball in a performance that starts over the top and gets broader from there."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 548 words, 02/05/10
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News: WEAK(cg) "The experience is more like watching a video game than a movie. There are some clunky scenes, which are to be endured until the next action sequence kicks in..."(See all of Tom Maurstad's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 02/05/10
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: GOOD(cg) "...despite its utterly predictable formulaic front, 'From Paris With Love' is a decent shoot-'em-up for your winter weariness."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 297 words, 02/05/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: MODERATE(cg) "Watching John Travolta having a high time playing a lowdown killer is bittersweet fun, and the only reason to spend time or money on Pierre Morel's uneven movie."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 02/05/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: POOR(cg) "Extraordinarily bad by any measure, 'From Paris With Love' at least offers enough big-groan clichés to keep an audience laughing through its misery."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 507 words, 02/05/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...generic but breezily entertaining... Travolta's most enjoyable and energetic performance since 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Primary Colors,' and he's a blast to watch."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 535 words, 02/05/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Pierre Morel's action pieces are nothing to place him in the upper echelon of action directors, but at least he brings in lobotomized entertainment at 90-odd minutes."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 02/03/10
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: POOR(cg) "Blame scenarist/producer Luc Besson, whose women are either whores or terrorists. Besson may be from Paris, but his idea of love is laced with bile."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 148 words, 02/11/10
Scott Tobias, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Travolta gives the film a pulse... As junky and disposable as most Luc Besson productions... insomniac viewing, coming soon to a 2 a.m. pay-cable slot near you."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 370 words, 02/05/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "Travolta's giddy performance is backed up by a sharp script, inventive action sequences and that weird, enthusiastic naïveté that distinguishes Besson's films."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 02/04/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK "...the action is ponderous. Mr. Morel is no Kubrick, or Tarantino, just as Mr. Travolta's caricature of John Travolta is no Travolta."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 255 words, 02/05/10
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD "...empty-headed, preposterous... a feel-good movie that produces a buzz.... The set pieces are precisely calibrated movements in a symphony of violence with no adagio."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 616 words, 02/05/10
David Edelstein, NPR Fresh Air: EXCELLENT "...moves at warp speed... It can be argued that the film is simple-minded and formulaic... I might have argued that, too, if the film hadn't made me feel so elated."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Listen to the full review...) 325 seconds, 02/05/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "The mayhem is relentless but the staging and editing make spatial and rhythmic sense.... This whole movie is a joke -- a delirious one."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 02/05/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Andrew Barker, Daily Variety: POOR "...strains itself to avoid doing anything the slightest bit innovative or clever.... another example of the ways in which action films increasingly mimic videogames."(See all of Andrew Barker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 575 words, 01/28/10
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter: FAIR "Travolta lets entertainingly loose as a bald-headed, goateed, gonzo CIA agent with a short fuse... an unsightly heap of nonsense that keeps tripping over its own swagger."(See all of Michael Rechtshaffen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 406 words, 01/29/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "The mayhem is relentless but the staging and editing make spatial and rhythmic sense.... This whole movie is a joke -- a delirious one."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 02/05/10
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD "...empty-headed, preposterous... a feel-good movie that produces a buzz.... The set pieces are precisely calibrated movements in a symphony of violence with no adagio."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 616 words, 02/05/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK "...the action is ponderous. Mr. Morel is no Kubrick, or Tarantino, just as Mr. Travolta's caricature of John Travolta is no Travolta."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 255 words, 02/05/10
22.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
From Paris with Love's reviews are separated by an average 22.6 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
From Paris with Love (41 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:From Paris with Love's reviews cover 91.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 18,809 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 459 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
From Paris with Love Coverage, Volume & Length (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 9.6 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
From Paris with Love's reviews on average broke 9.6 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is From Paris with Love's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
From Paris with Love (41 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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