Status
Available
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Description
When the DEA shuts down a dummy corporation operation code named SWORDFISH, they had generated $400 million which they let sit around; years of compound interest has swelled it to $9.5 billion. A covert counter-terrorist unit called Black Cell, headed by Gabriel, wants the money to help finance their war against international terrorism, but it's all locked away behind super-encryption. He brings in convicted hacker Stanley, who only wants to see his daughter Holly again but can't afford the legal fees, to slice into the government mainframes and get the money.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pandr65
The cast is excellent, but the lack of story and weak writing make this a horrible movie. It's uncomfortable giving these actors such a low rating on a movie they made and usually I will not rate lower than three stars for quality actors, but, as explained below, two stars feels relevant here.
Disclaimer: Comments of specifics of movie follow.
The "hacking" used in the movie is not really an element / character. The theme of "misdirection" is brought in late, rarely referenced, and would be the most interesting aspect of the movie if used to drive the story. Instead, gratuitous nudity and repeated tension or shock of threatening people and/or killing people and/or violence are what is used to drive the story. Not interesting. The intent of John Travolta's character (about terrorism) he repeats ad nauseum, and it doesn't mean anything; there's no character development for that intent. The computer and hacking is also not interesting, has no depth, and is not believable. There is even a scene called "hackstasy" devoted to Hugh Jackman's character getting caught up in his hacking, complete with many colors of lighting as he moves through the room. (ugh)
— Rebecca
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Disclaimer: Comments of specifics of movie follow.
The "hacking" used in the movie is not really an element / character. The theme of "misdirection" is brought in late, rarely referenced, and would be the most interesting aspect of the movie if used to drive the story. Instead, gratuitous nudity and repeated tension or shock of threatening people and/or killing people and/or violence are what is used to drive the story. Not interesting. The intent of John Travolta's character (about terrorism) he repeats ad nauseum, and it doesn't mean anything; there's no character development for that intent. The computer and hacking is also not interesting, has no depth, and is not believable. There is even a scene called "hackstasy" devoted to Hugh Jackman's character getting caught up in his hacking, complete with many colors of lighting as he moves through the room. (ugh)
— Rebecca
Show Less
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Publication
Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c2001.
Original publication date
2001