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| 12 Monkeys | 
| Category: Movie
Buy New: $8.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  298 reviews
Sales Rank: 8577
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 131 minutes
ASIN: B000I8COCQ
Theatrical Release Date: January 4, 1996
Release Date: October 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Worth watching for Brad's performance alone - and Bruce's naked butt August 24, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I initially didn't want to watch this film, I'd heard things from other people, who'd found it quite difficult to follow, and yes, that did put me off. But after some persuasion (and the fact I always make my Dad watch my movies, and I rarely watch his), I decided to give it a go.
I did find that I really got into watching Twelve Monkeys, including working out stuff that my Dad hadn't worked out when he first saw it. (The first shot of the young boys eyes was so obviously Cole's character younger - but I worked it out cos it's a hideous cliche, that's always used.) I also noticed that the passage from The Book Of The Revelation is quoted twice, referring to seven golden vials filled with God's wrath. Kathryn says it in her lecture, and then the homeless guy also repeats it.
The story starts off in the future - the viewer is never given a set year, although it's mentioned that 1% of the population survived by the year 2035. So possibly, the viewers are left to make up their own minds that it could possibly be sometime after this. An unknown, lethal virus has wiped out five billion people in 1996. The survivors now live underground, and a convict called James Cole (Bruce Willis) reluctantly volunteers to be sent back tin time to 1996 to gather information about the source of the epidemic so scientists can study it. Mistakenly, Cole is sent back to 1990, where he is promptly locked up in a mental institution, and he meets Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), who is also in the mental institution. He needs to find a group of people, calling themselves The Twelve Monkeys, who could possibly be releasing the virus in different cities. He also recurring dreams, which feature intermittantly throughout the movie, showing the viewer a bit more each time. What's really happening?
I found it incredibly difficult to watch Brad Pitt in this movie. His acting is incredible, but I just couldn't handle watching him. Apparently, to get him to act the way he did, he inititally sent him to a speech coach, and then took away his cigarettes. Very strange. And what was with the eyes? I didn't really notice them (I was focusing on something else), until it was pointed out, and then they gave me shivers up my spine. Yes, his acting is brilliant, the way he managed to do, but I really struggled with watching him, and a couple of times, had to look away from the screen.
The 'romance' between James & Kathryn didn't ring true for me. It happens all of a sudden - considering she hated him to begin with - and just seems totally unbelievable.
The different things that are explored in the movie, really got my brain buzzing, and I found it difficult to switch off after watching it - but I was still thinking about Brad's character too. Time travel is heavily the focus of the movie, and it's paradoxes - James kept seeing things in the future and the past, and I couldn't work out whether he was projecting these images or what. It also touches upon the subject of mental illness, reality, animal rights, and the technological advances which could bring about the end of the world.
There's always different things to watch out for during the movie, and I never found myself bored at any point, despite the running time of two hours. I did end up working out the ending, but thankfully not too soon. Cos that just would have been disappointing!
I really did enjoy watching this film, although needed something a bit light hearted to watch after it. The standout thing for me was Brad Pitt. I definitely came away from the film, thinking about his performance. And for the girls, we get to see Bruce Willis naked! From behind! A highlight of the movie.
Great strange movie August 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sci-fi thriller. Bruce Willis does a great job. The end will blow you away.
 Good movie in Hi Def May 31, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I first saw this movie in the 90's when it came out, but had forgotten just how really good it is. Bruce Willis shows that, when he gets away from the "Die Hard" movies, he's a very good actor. And Madeline Stowe and Brad Pitt also put in fine performances. The plot twists and turns to a surprise ending. Highly recommended, even for those who don't normally like sci-fi.
One of my favorites May 23, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a great movie. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you like "thinking" movies this is for you. It's a cerebral movie that requires you to follow every second to keep up. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt are Fantastic!!!!!
interesting movie with a twist May 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This movie has an interesting plot. I love the acting by Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis. It really makes you think about the whole time travel aspect of messing things up.
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