12 Monkeys (1995)

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Today we're reviewing 12 Monkeys.

Release Date- December 29, 1995 (USA)

Director- Terry Gilliam

Producer- Charles Roven

Starring- Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Madeleine Stowe, and Christopher Plummer

Scale of 1-10 (1: Don't watch it, 10: Drop everything, Go out and see this movie right now!)

12 Monkeys = 8 out of 10!

Short 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.

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.

The Hypothetical:

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.

Questions of the week: What are your favorite time traveling movies? Why?

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