12 Monkeys

In the best role of his career, Willis left his acting mannerisms behind and dropped his smile #1. An extraordinary film with a brilliantly conceived plot and a breathtaking ending. You won’t get bored for a moment and your brain will work at full speed. The only weakness is the Brad Pitt’s awful overacting, it ruined the impression of the film for me. Thanks to the gods of cinema for Terry Cilliam. (04/20/2003)

Brilliant! Terry Gilliam is known for his original and specific work, and with 12 Monkeys he brings it to absolute perfection. It's not every day that a film is so imaginatively and brilliantly directed from start to finish, and that the imagery and, above all, the plot are so varied and sophisticated that you can't help but pop the DVD back into the player and immerse yourself in the cinematic poetry with even greater intensity. It’s is not a groundbreaking work like Kubrick's Odyssey and its nowadays routine visuals won’t lift viewers from their seats, but thanks to its literally timeless story, the great performances and the endless imagination of one film crew, it’s definitely one of the gems of world filmography. (08/18/2012)

If someone still thinks that Brad Pitt can't act, that he's just a Hollywood good-looking guy, they should watch "12 Monkeys". This is clear proof that he is not only a good actor, he is a great actor who can truly immerse himself in a role. There are very few of them like him. He proves it with every other film, whether it's "Babel," "Benjamin Button," or "Moneyball." Besides him, even Bruce Willis is not a bad actor, he is capable of handling action, serious, and comedic roles. Now he had to present himself as an actor of a serious role and he succeeded. His James Cole is as crazy as the whole film is crazy. Paranoia and schizophrenia intertwine in a story that evokes feelings of duality and misunderstanding in the viewer. Madness is conveyed along with other emotions, which only shows how excellent a film is as a means of evoking emotions. It is unique with its visual side, which Terry Gilliam has simply mastered. But this time, the story also worked. Within two hours, you will be taken to different places, seemingly in one world, but on closer inspection, it's actually uncertain if you are still in one place. As I said, schizophrenia and paranoia transition from scenes to the viewer. Terry Gilliam also has an incredible sense of humor, which is inserted into the plot only as a kind of enhancement, treats that many viewers may not even notice, but attentive ones will appreciate. "12 Monkeys" is an excellent film where everything eventually comes together and makes basic sense. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/05/kung-fu-dewey-cox-zkrocena-hora-12-opic.html (02/17/2013)

First and foremost, a thorough script guarantees a quality spectacle. And I dare to say that on the first watch, this film is difficult to understand, and penetrating all the nuances and intricacies of the script can only be achieved on a second or third viewing. It can be said that throughout the the film, we do not know where we stand. There are plenty of deceptive references and supporting characters. All of this is wrapped in Terry Gilliam’s typical visual style and unmistakable signature. I dare not claim that I fully understood this masterpiece, but I can confidently say that there are very few films of this kind, with such a large dose of originality and directorial invention. And when you add excellent performances by Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe, the result is nothing short of a masterpiece. (05/03/2006)

Some films can give us an intellectual experience and others can give us an emotional experience. 12 Monkeys gives us both, presenting each in exemplary form and blending them into a perfectly harmonious form in the climax. It is a form in which one can find something new even on the tenth viewing, thus making 12 Monkeys a gem of the sci-fi genre. (10/03/2002)