Lucy: A Review

23rd January, 2015

You know, that’s rather nice.

Really.

Seeing something you’ve added to Google’s G+ social networking service, showing up in a quick Google search.

I think so, anyway.

I think it’s nice enough to mention, anyway.

OK, OK, it’s possibly completely irrelevant … !

It’s just nice to see one’s name in lights … !

~≈®≈~

Hmm … 

I’m starting to wonder, here, if that’s in any way a relevant opening.

Possibly not.

Whether it’s relevant or not, it’s an opening.

And an opening to what I wanted to tell you about.

You’ve possibly been reading Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar for a while, now, haven’t you?

I hope so.

You’ve possibly also worked out — over the years — I like watching a film or two: on my own, or in company.

You’ve probably also worked out I’d managed to rent a movie, tonight: the posters are a bit of a clue, aren’t they … ?

And finally … ?   Well, finally, you’ve possibly ALSO worked out I’d managed to catch the 2014, Luc Besson directed film that is … 

Lucy.

To be frank with you … ?

Yes.

I think ‘Hmmm’ is a good word to use.

~≈®≈~

Starting in modern day Taiwan, Lucy sees Scarlett Johansson as the eponymous central character, Lucy: a young American woman who’s talked into dropping a briefcase into a hotel.

And, as a result … ?

As a result, conned into having a large bag of a new, untried, designer drug into her abdomen.

And, when one of the gangsters who’s done this, kicks her in the stomach, the bag splits open.

Splits open … 

And starts having effects initial only hypothesised by Dr Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman): increasing the capacity of Lucy’s brain all the way up to one hundred percent … 

With … complicated … results … 

~≈®≈~

It’s at this stage of a write up, I’ll turn around ask you a rhetorical question.

Something along the lines of “Did I think this film was any good?”

You can imagine the sort of thing, can’t you … ?

So … did I think Lucy was any good?

I have to say yes … 

Ish … !

I think we can safely say Lucy’s director, Luc Besson is one hell of a talent.

Freeman, Johansson and the rest of the cast do the best they can: and put in an ensemble performance that’s fairly well done.

However … ?

At this point, I have to say that while Lucy is an enjoyable piece, I don’t think it’s Luc Besson’s best piece: I think that still goes to either Leon or Nikita.

And, while The Fifth Element is — arguably — very silly or incredibly camp, it’s a better movie than Lucy.

Far more fun, certainly.

I’m also thinking the central premise of the film — that humanity only uses a certain amount of brain capacity, and that this can be artificially improved — isn’t necessary one that has any scientific evidence to support it.

I couldn’t tell you that, for sure: I’m no neurologist.

But I felt that Johnny Depp’s Transcendence possibly had a lot more going for it.   Certainly in terms of scientific plausibility.

Again, I couldn’t swear to that for sure: but the latter of the two felt more plausible.

One thing I did note, though, fairly early on … ?

In one of the earlier sequences in the film, Lucy is given a lecture by one of the gangsters: played by Julian Rhine-Tutt.

Her and the other three mules are given a lecture about how they’re going to sent off, with a bag of the drug in their stomachs.   Get a bag put over their heads so their can be taken to airports, without knowing where they’re going.

Only Lucy … ?

Is taken to a cell and beaten up, so that the gangsters can get — seemingly — the drugs out of her.

Why … ?

After all, they — apparently — want her to take the stuff to Europe.

Logical?

Not from where I’m sitting.

~≈®≈~

With all that said … ?

There’s possibly more to say!

That the characters indulged in philosophy goes without saying: I think any SF film since The Matrix wants to shove in some philosophy.

But the makers of The Matrix made sure any references to philosophy worked well with the story they were telling, but could be safely ignored by those of us who just wanted an SF film, Lucy’s “Time is our Friend, let’s all reproduce” philosophising … ?

Seems both forced, and irrelevant: especially when Far Eastern gangsters are shooting the door down.

And … ?

And … ?

Well, I have to say, the end seemed a touch … you know … 

Rushed … !

~≈®≈~

The other rhetorical question I usually ask myself … ?

Is “Did I enjoy this … ?”

Frankly … ?

I have to say “Yes.”

Yes, I did.

But I’m ALSO aware Lucy isn’t perfect.

Quite a long way from perfect.

Yes, Lucy is watchable.

But also flawed.

Please bear this in mind, if you’re planning on renting Lucy.

Lucy★☆☆☆