SOURCE CODE [7.0] (9-25-11)

I watched this movie a couple months back, and have referred to it in conversation maybe three times since. That's a fair sign to me that it's okay to say I like this movie. SOURCE CODE was the choice of the night among the rest of the ignored rejects from every other Red Box customer that day, and I only grabbed it because I vaguely remembered the preview being something about Jake Gyllenhaal in a type of time traveling scenario in which he gets to re-live the same moment over and over again. Though I am usually down for these types of seemingly familiar journeys, I assumed it would be crap, and consciously avoided it many times in the past. If I would have began the movie with my arms already crossed, then I would have probably scrutinized each and every line of dialogue without even pausing it if I needed to go to the kitchen or the bathroom. Instead, I welcomed a Science Fiction-Techno-Thriller, whatever the hell THAT means starring that guy from BROKEBACK MOU... ... DONNIE DARKO.

There were a few times in which I had to turn a blind eye, but other than that, it kept me moderately entertained. I suspected the plot twist early on, but it was still semi-impacting when it was finally revealed.

When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the "Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack. -moviefone.com

The ending was a bit of a stretch for me. Yes, we want everybody walking out into the sunset as happy as can be when it's all said and done, but at what cost? They just presented some made-up parallel-universes time-travelling jargon to keep us from saying, hey wait a minute here. Whatever, the ending wrapped it all up nicely, but why the crap did he choose to DIE instead of having the amazing opportunity of continuing his experiences, saving lives, etc...

So, though this movie wasn't the greatest thing to ever make love to my DVD drive, it hit the spot at just the right time, and I will probably end up seeing it again years from now.