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Swordfish is about a high-tech heist, a hostage situation and a right royal mess of politics, intrigue and terrorism.  Government spook Gabriel Shear is a ruthless agent of American freedoms and believes that it should be kept at all costs even the death of a few innocent lives.  To that end he has to secure a large sum of untouched government black money to fund his black-ops group.  With the money they will ensure the safety of America against terrorism by making it clear that each and ever act of terrorism against America, it's people, and its interest will be returned at a minimum of ten fold. (This film came out July 2001 for reference.)  To get the money Gabriel needs help from the world's best hacker even though he was caught, arrested, and will immediately go back to jail if he is seen even touching a computer.  Stanley Jobson is that hacker and he will do it if it ensures that he can have the money to fight for the return of his daughter from his useless ex-wife who has full custody because of his conviction.

Swordfish is a good action movie with some interesting twists and turns and some very good visuals.  The villainous Gabriel Shear is not your run of the mill bad guy, he's the real deal and this makes for a very refreshing film indeed.  The acting is fairly good, probably not award winning good but certainly not distracting or detracting from the relatively fast paced plot and the thrills and chills.  The stunts and special effects were top notch and not overdone or terribly contrived.  The locations were all nice but not too special.  The characters are well thought out and for the most part likeable, even that of Shear.  Swordfish wasn't pulse pounding but had a good awe factor to it with some impressive material.  The plot is somewhat predictable but the way it is laid out that is not necessarily a bad thing.

( Thank you for reading my review.
Bob Male)

All ideas, opinions, and information are from the reviewer and are not representative of any company or group involved with the creators and/or staff of the materials being reviewed.