{"id":3272,"date":"2014-08-25T12:45:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T12:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3272"},"modified":"2014-08-25T12:45:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-25T12:45:56","slug":"lucy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/lucy\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucy ****"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We\u2019ve become blas\u00e9 about our sci-fi stories \u2013 anything goes that initially seems crackers but gets persuasive as things progress. Luc Besson has combined a sci-fi passion with that of one of his strong, kick-ass women in Lucy<\/em>, starring Scarlett Johansson. You would be forgiven for thinking it was another Malick The Tree Of Life<\/em> flick for a split second with its random universe and ape shots. These are head-scratchingly bizarre. However, it takes on a The Matrix<\/em> premise to explore unlocking the full potential of humankind while blasting ten tonnes out of the surroundings in full-on crime caper mode.<\/p>\n

Lucy (Johansson) reluctantly delivers a suitcase to a hotel guest, which starts off a chain reaction of terrifying events, seeing her forced to become a mule for a multinational gang. After an accident that triggers superhuman responses \u2013 unlocking her brain\u2019s full potential, Lucy ruthlessly turns the tables on her captors while trying to find Professor Norman (Morgan Freeman in reliable type), a specialist in human logic to tell him what she is living before her time is up.<\/p>\n

Forget Nikita, Meet Lucy. This is the ultimate in \u2018strong female role\u2019 and suits Johansson perfectly, combining beauty, brains and brawn. Lucy does babble ten to the dozen as time slips away, and this is where, quite frankly, anyone gets lost \u2013 even Freeman as Prof. Norman, it seems! However, the idea of using 100 rather than the mythical 10 per cent of our cerebral capability is the stuff of dreams. It\u2019s this that the film taps into and reels us in. The ramblings along the journey to that fabled total capacity seem irrelevant \u2013 trying to decipher Besson\u2019s logic is pointless \u2013 and Lucy is certainly an entertaining distraction.<\/p>\n

Johansson is superb in the role as we fly along on her trajectory as she uses mind power to get to her destination. Another thrill about her character is she delivers justice to the corrupt, which is a heady mix, complete with post-Matrix<\/em> moves that will simply delight fans. There is a very odd and brief \u2018relationship\u2019 dalliance with French cop Pierre Del Rio (Amr Waked), like ticking that box for the sake of it, which seems quite bizarre and misplaced. Still, as before, trying to crack what Besson is trying to say is pointless energy spent and it\u2019s best to just sit back and whoop at the whipping Lucy gives the baddies \u2013 some of it particularly brutal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Take with a pinch of salt\u2019 the plot here \u2013 perhaps even put your brain to one side if needs be. Just take Lucy<\/em> first and foremost as an action crime flick with a great female protagonist that\u2019s soaked in sci-fi insanity. True, it will get you thinking about \u2018what if\u2019 we could operate like that and have that power prowess, and that along with Johansson in some exhilarating action sequences makes Lucy as great action flick to catch.\u00a0 Oh, and if you catch Besson’s drift, answers on a postcard, please!<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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