MovieChat Forums > 3 Days to Kill (2014) Discussion > Tries to do too much

Tries to do too much

posted 10 years ago by Dwarf-5
27 replies | jump to latest

Apparently they had a short action movie and a short family drama and a couple of humourous moments and they decided to blend them together to see what happens.

What happens is a piece of foul tasting crap.

The premise of the action movie is OK. I'm into the dying CIA agent trying to hunt down a terrorist. The action is pretty well done and, for the most part, it works.

The dying ex-CIA agent trying to reconnect with his daughter is a touching story. But it's one best marketed at teenage girls and lonely housewives. If there's a bottle of wine involved so much the better.

But trying to mix the two doesn't work. There's a reason that there's no chick-flick/action movie genre. The viewer is constantly jerked back and forth between the two stories and, in the end, it's unsatisfying.

Which is too bad because there are some good actors in this movie. I just hope they got paid well because this movie isn't one to highlight on the resumé.

[–] worldofbong 10 years ago

It definitely went into too many directions that were simply unsatisfying. Besson successfully pulled off a similar motif in "Nikita", 24 years ago.. here it felt like he was trying to relive past glory and failing miserably.

or maybe not lol http://www.WorldofBong.com

[–] Professor59 10 years ago

I agree with this softer critique. It was too many movies in one, and that detracted from the action/suspense, but it didn't make it crap.
It's just a movie that didn't know what it wanted to be. I still found it entertaining.

I would edit it to remove all the moments where his phone rings in the middle of a job, and then I think it would fine.

[–] worldofbong 10 years ago

Unless all you meatheads are paid critics, take your opinions, snide remarks and shove them where no sun does shine. There is nothing wrong with this movie except you morons and your worthless opinions. WHY DID YOU GO?

This is a movie message board, its sole purpose it to share opinions about movies (and by extension, actors, TV shows, etc).

Why did I go? Honestly because this movie looked awful and it was at the dollar theater, the same reason we went to see Homefront with Statham and James Franco (which was also awful but in a hilarious way, see Roadhouse for reference.) I also enjoyed Besson's 80s & 90s stuff like Subway and Nikita, this was clearly not on that level.

Just stick to what you like...Dumb and Dumber I suppose? Those filthy kind of movies that has the F word every other word or has raunchy sex and dirty jokes?

Dumb and Dumber isn't my favorite movie but I have to say it was better made than 3 Days To Kill. Also this movie wasn't exactly anti-prurient, I got the feeling they wanted to make a hard-R 80s style action movie but were instead stuck within a neutered PG-13 boundary for commercial reasons, so we get this juvenile pseudo-kinky dialogue from Amber Heard and strange situations like placing a scene inside a strip club but not showing any nudity. It seems odd to me that all the violence and murder didn't bother you but you turn your nose up at anybody using the "F word".

or maybe not lol http://www.WorldofBong.com

[–] one189teen50five 10 years ago

I am aware of the smutty words in 3DTK...but compared to the new stuff out there like the Neighbors and that one with the three chicks in love with the same man...come on. You KNOW what I'm talking about. I don't care what you say, you missed the mark on 3DTK because it is a good movie. Why do you have to spoil it for others who enjoyed it?

[–] worldofbong 10 years ago

I don't see how me giving my opinion of this movie spoils it for anyone else. This is a message board, for people to discuss their opinions on movies. You liked it, great. Personally I'd rather never see it again and watch something like Subway or La Femme Nikita by the same writer, which were far better (and again, 'that's just like my opinion, man'.)

or maybe not lol http://www.WorldofBong.com

[–] domainguys 10 years ago

He's probably like me. Every single time I come to IMDB it's filled with some overly critical *beep* opinion about how an OK movie is just so horrible wrong because of (insert list of pretentious reasoning here).

Of course I look up and it is always someone with an "original" artsy avatar. You remind me of "foodies" as neither group has any redeeming qualities except that you both make for good entertainment when I want to see a grown man whining online.

[–] WhoisThePrisoner1 10 years ago

....coming from the one that "whines online".

[–] chilone 7 years ago

I try to not get within 100 yards of anyone who would refer to themselves as a foodie.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] Chirius 10 years ago

I don't usually mind mixing up genres, but this just feels like a try-hard. What bothers me the most, though, are the countless factual mistakes and the incoherence of the storyline in this movie. Its constant swapping of between action, drama and thriller doesn't only make it annoying to follow; it makes it difficult to follow.
Whenever he's on the heels of one of the antagonists he's suddenly a bag of bones. When he's in the club looking for his daughter his heart rate jumps because of the music and lights, but the rooftop-party doesn't bother him at all (until, of course, he faces the protagonist in the final battle...)

[–] one189teen50five 10 years ago

Do you agree with me that in the beginning, Ethan doesn't know he has brain cancer. The building they were watching got blown to bits and he gets glass rained on him and knocked to the ground. Of course that hurts his ears, the grimace said as much. Then he does a great job of shooting into the roof as the escapees are making a run for it. Ethan goes after the Albino and looses steam BECAUSE OF HIS ILLNESS...this is to explain to all the numb nuts that say every time he chases someone he goes down. That would happen to any very ill person. It makes sense. So doctors tell him the countdown is on. The CIA callously says, "thanks but we don't need you now." What can he do but go to a place he calls home. He finds an unusual situation which is befuddling but makes the best of it. He wants to settle his affairs with estranged wife and kid. And of course there will be resentment because he can't explain to Zoey what he'd been doing and didn't want her to know right away about dying. I don't understand why these simple facts befuddle those who went to see this. It's not rocket science! I love this movie and I understand the way Ethan did his job, faced a dim diagnosis, went to his home and decided to reconnect. What else could he do? Think about these issues before you agree or disagree. I'm an author of several books myself. I do have some clues as to what makes a great story and I'm envious of this story. I wish I'd written it myself.

[–] Chirius 10 years ago

If you're envious of this story, I dread to know what your books are like.
Obviously you didn't understand my post, but thank you so much for walking me through this crapfest of a movie once again.

Ethan goes after the Albino and looses steam BECAUSE OF HIS ILLNESS...this is to explain to all the numb nuts that say every time he chases someone he goes down.

No kidding :O
That was not at all what I was talking about, though. I'm talking about how he always 'loses steam' when he's after one of the main antagonists...
It's also funny how he can seemingly 'regain steam' whenever he really, really has to.

The concept in itself is a good one, but the director messes it up by hurdling the viewer back and forth between action and drama, as well as poking holes in the plot.

[–] one189teen50five 10 years ago

OK genius...you get something wrong in your brain (if you have one) and try running around and see what happens. YOU don't understand a serious brain disorder. Just never mind. I enjoyed this movie very much and I heartily disagree with you. Whatever.

[–] slazev 10 years ago

No, you're the one not getting it.
He's talking about the convenience of his allucinations. For example, he has them at the subway when he's almost catching the bad guy, but no during the car chase which should be pumping is adrenaline to the stratosphere.

The film had its positives, but the mix between the plotlines wasn't good. True Lies did it much better.

[–] Chirius 10 years ago

YOU still don't understand what I'm talking about, I wonder who's lacking a brain here. I defer to slazev's reply, who points out what I mean, hopefully you can understand him/her better.

A brief look at your account tells me that you seem to base your opinion on movies wether or not Kevin Costner is in it. I like him, he's a good actor, but basing an opinion of an entire movie, or any movie, because of one single actor (lead or not) makes me draw one conclusion: troll = denied.

[–] GhostRiver 10 years ago

You chide someone for not "understanding a serious brain disorder," but have no trouble understanding a magical injection that cures brain cancer that has metasticized to the lungs?! Ooookay, thanks for delineating.

"Don't drink that @$$hole, you'll get malaria!..."

[–] GhostRiver 10 years ago

Your writing acumen is pedestrian, at best, but your obsession with Costner and this equally pedestrian film are entertaining as hell. Thanks!

"Don't drink that @$$hole, you'll get malaria!..."

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ipacac22 10 years ago

This was a fun movie. I liked the mixing of the genres.

Utah! Get me two.

[–] one189teen50five 10 years ago

The car chase was a real adrenaline rush that started Ethan to slow down when he got to the subway.He rammed the car, ran down the steps to save Mita, chased after the Wolf, and used up what was left of his strength!!!!! Do you even realize how serious a brain injury or disease is? It zaps you like a blood sucking vampire and you can barely walk let alone run and chase somebody. My aunt died of the same thing and could barely lift her foot into a shoe. So your analysis of what happened to Ethan doesn't hold water. And anyway, it's a movie. It was made to enjoy. I've now seen it five times. Better each time around.

[–] chrisbartl 10 years ago

I fell asleep during the movie cuz I've seen much better. After I woke up I did watch the scenes I missed because I liked the movie a lil bit. But seriously, watching it twice would be too many times. Memento is a movie you have to watch twice but this was too easy. I also think Mr Brooks was way better with Kevin Costner

[–] chrisbartl 10 years ago

You give movie Ratings of 1s and 10s. As soon as Kevin Costner is in it its a 10 but Gladiator and Goodfellas get a 1?
Are you still 15? Maybe Retarded because I would guess your almost 60 next year.
In a retarded way your trying to write 1.8.1955

[–] Oblivion14 10 years ago

Agree. They should have just stuck to one or the other. The result is a corny kitschy mess.

[–] Neuronhead 9 years ago

It was okay as something to watch to kill a couple of hours. But I was thinking the same thing. What kind of movie was I watching here? The characters all ended up looking cliche, unrealistic, and forced.

I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe