Lewis C. (lewiskendell)

The Box is a challenging and odd movie. It doesn't hold your hand and guide you through the plot, instead you have to pay attention and figure out what's going on in pieces and fragments. That can be frustrating, but the end result is a movie that will leave you either hating it and thinking it's too convoluted for it's own good, or intrigued and wanting to see it again to make better sense of it all. I think I fall into the latter category.

The trailer really does nothing to prepare you for the movie you're about to see. It's not exactly a horror movie, but there's a continual thread of menace and fear that underlies the entire film. It's not sci-fi either, though there are some sci-fi elements. I guess if I had to compare it to another movie, I'd choose Donnie Darko. Not because they're particularly similar, but because you have to have a certain open-mindedness and appreciation for something deeper than the average movie experience in order to enjoy them both.

I never could completely come to terms with Johnny Depp as Boston George. He's a good actor, but he never really seemed like a guy from New England. As the movie went on, I grew more accustomed to the character, but the issue never completely went away.

As for the movie itself, I liked it well enough. It was pretty obvious that some parts of the real story had been changed to make George a more sympathetic and likeable character. If you like these kinds of druglord sagas or you are a huge fan of Johnny Depp, then you'll probably like Blow. It's no Scarface, however.

As close to a perfect action/martial arts movie as I've ever seen, with a fantastic soundtrack as a bonus! I honestly don't think that I could ever see it too many times.

There are a few movies that I like as much as this one, and only one that I like more. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. This movie forms a connection between the characters and the audience in a way that makes you completely forget that you're watching a movie. That's the highest compliment that I can give.