Read Mixed User Reviews for Skyscraper

5

DyliebarAug 3, 2018

It isn't anything groundbreaking nor is it really anything that good, but compared to some other movies that came out this year, there are worse ways you can spend 2 hours.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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4

TVJerryJul 20, 2018

"San Andreas" was Dwayne Johnson's most fun as an action hero. Then, came "Rampage," which was not. This time, they've heaped the absurd situations and ridiculous odds high enuff to reach the top of the titular structure. His character is"San Andreas" was Dwayne Johnson's most fun as an action hero. Then, came "Rampage," which was not. This time, they've heaped the absurd situations and ridiculous odds high enuff to reach the top of the titular structure. His character is hired as a security consultant on this incredible new building (the highest in the world). When it's sabotaged, he has to save the day and his family. Single-handedly, he overcomes outrageous obstacles and a fleet of armed baddies, but none of it is especially thrilling or even over the top in a fun way. It's big, splashy and predictable...and it's time for Johnson to find a new genre (or director).… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

NightReviewsOct 30, 2018

Whatever you do, don’t look down! Hope that you aren’t scared of heights, because if you are, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s newest film might be a little hard for you to swallow and watch.

The hardest working actor in Hollywood is back, andWhatever you do, don’t look down! Hope that you aren’t scared of heights, because if you are, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s newest film might be a little hard for you to swallow and watch.

The hardest working actor in Hollywood is back, and this time, teaming up with the man behind the hit cult comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and We’re The Millers. But instead for opting for a straight up comedy, the two team up to deliver a Die Hard inspired and overly-stylized The Towering Inferno film that is meant to be the ultimate summer movie. Skyscraper is blockbuster, Hollywood entertainment like we have never seen before. Taking cues from the best and worst summer blockbusters before it, Skyscraper is a non-stop, high octane, adrenaline filled popcorn flick for everyone.

Like any movie Dwayne Johnson does in his career at this point, he adds his undeniable charm and heart into each and every project, and the same could be felt with his newest. What makes Johnson’s Will Swayer so likeable, aside from the fact that he is the ultimate family man, who will back down to no challenge involving his family, is the fact that he is modelled like any family man before him. Relinquishing his duties form the military following a rescue mission gone wrong, Will is faced to live the rest of his life with only one leg. Luckily for him, with every painful path in life, comes beauty. Sparking a romance with the doctor who saved his life, Will finds his life ten years later in Hong Kong, as a security assessment official, who must now give his expertise and knowledge to the largest free-standing building in the world, The Pearl. With a little help from an old friend Ben (Pablo Schreiber), Will pitches his small-business motto to Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han), the architect behind The Pearl, only to land the biggest deal of his life. Excited to share the news with his family, Will celebrates his big accomplishment with his best firmed Ben, only to find that The Pearl has been taken hostage and set ablaze, with his family still in it.

From the first day of production, Skyscraper was always hailed as a homage to so many high-rise tension filled films before it. While no one ever believes anyone will be able to replace John McClane, Johnson is easily a very comparable action star with massive commercial appeal. Oozing with charisma and charm, Johnson’s character will not only becomes likeable for his personal quality traits and his unpardonable love for his family, but I’m sure that one of the biggest selling points of this film, was the fact that Johnson’s character is in fact, disabled. It is almost unheard of that action stars are in fact, disabled ex-military personnel who are still capable of kicking butt and beating bad guys. Not only does Johnson play Sawyer with class and bravado, but the film also highlights many times where his prosthetic legs becomes a tool for rescuing his family, as opposed to a weakness. This narrative driving force, and this one alone, is one of my favourite and most enjoyable, as well as respectable character traits, in recent memory in the summer blockbuster genre.

It is no surprise that Hollywood loves Johnson right now, inflicting him into, practically, every franchise available at the moment. With that said, it has come to a surprise to me that Johnson has not been inducted into the MCU yet, but I am sure time will tell.

While many would be surprised to seer Neve Campbell cast as Sarah Sawyer, Johnson’s wife in the film, it only goes to show how powerful Johnson’s presence is on screen, even when actors who have been absent from the silver screen are able to come back to revive their careers for smaller roles like this one. While the only name that matters on the movie posters may be Johnson’s, one of the best actors cast in the film is a person favourite of mine, Roland Møller, the certified baddie in Skyscraper. While Møller’s Kores Botha doesn’t have much intent, fibre or much to do or say within the film, but it is always great seeing foreign actors breaking through into Hollywood films. Møller was astonishing in one of my favourite foreign films in the last couple years in Land of Mine. Skyscraper surely will have many palms sweating, many hearts racing and people forcing themselves to cover their eyes thanks to some very crazy and absurd stunt work and visual effects of Will Sawyer jumping, dangling and racing in and around the fictional largest building in the world. Skyscraper is the typical escapist summer blockbuster film of the year, and one that, for maybe two hours out of your summer, will be a satisfying retreat into the air-conditioned theatre away from the heat that is outside, even if more than half the action in the film is borderline ridiculous.

Skyscraper is just another entry into the very expansive filmography of Dwayne Johnson, further reinforcing just how wonderfully suave and likeable he really is.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

MattBrady99Jul 27, 2018

“This is stupid.”

Well at least it knows. ‘Skyscraper’ is a disposable action flick starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Just looking at the advertisements you can already tell it’s gonna be those type of movies where you have to accept it“This is stupid.”

Well at least it knows.

‘Skyscraper’ is a disposable action flick starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Just looking at the advertisements you can already tell it’s gonna be those type of movies where you have to accept it to enjoy it. If you watched the trailer where Dwayne jumps off a crane into another building to rescue his family who are trapped inside, before cutting to the release date. It’s absurd, although looks fun. Might follow the same path of ‘Fast & the Furious’ type of ridiculous, yet fun. However, what really took me by surprise is how the movie doesn't quite embrace it’s stupidity, and instead goes for a more serious tone. So during those ridiculous moments, when I meant to switch off my brain and enjoy, but I couldn't buy into it. Basically it’s ‘Dike Hard’ and ‘Tower Inferno’, drowned out in CGI.

I know those comparisons have already been made by many people and the marketing campaign seemed to catch on by releasing spoof-like posters of those two films. What some have failed to bring up it’s not just those two movies it’s ripping off, as there’s plenty more. Literally every action movie ever, just done better before.

Die Hard? more like ‘Try Hard’.

Dwayne Johnson can make anything watchable. The dude is instantly likable in everything he’s in; both on screen and off. In this movie it’s no different. Although It’s not one of his best and we have seen better from him. Dwayne character is basic family man saving his wife and kids. The charisma was lacking and you expect more from The Rock in terms of picking roles. There’s no witty banter between other characters to flesh him out or anything. Overexposed maybe?

Neve Campbell delivered a decent performance and it’s great seeing her back. Unfortunately, just like Dwayne Johnson, she has no character besides being a plot device along with the children.

So let's talk about the villains, and yes I say “villainS” because there’s are so many the film keeps shifting focus. The bad guys are generic and not threatening at all. It’s even more funny when you realize there was no thought about their plan for it to work- allowing only on luck and convenience. They morons.

The biggest strength I thought the film succeed on was playing on your fear with heights. My hands started to sweat and your heart begins to beat faster. You’re afraid to look down. I thought those scenes was well done, especially the close calls moments.

Also the opening scene was pretty good. The way it opened was tragic and really sad, but that doesn't last very long.

Overall rating: Better get more duct tape.… Expand

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5

EpicLadySpongeJul 23, 2018

Dwayne Johnson was hired once again by Rawson Marshall Thurber to recreate an experience that has already existed for quite some time but only in a skyscraper so the movie can easily fool its audiences into thinking this is the most creativeDwayne Johnson was hired once again by Rawson Marshall Thurber to recreate an experience that has already existed for quite some time but only in a skyscraper so the movie can easily fool its audiences into thinking this is the most creative movie from Thurber's directing career.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

ShowMeMoreJul 18, 2018

It's unashamedly a pure action film. See it on the big screen and preferably in 3D. There's good tension in the action sequences and Dwayne is pretty convincing in his role and in portraying the terror and desperation of fighting to rescueIt's unashamedly a pure action film. See it on the big screen and preferably in 3D. There's good tension in the action sequences and Dwayne is pretty convincing in his role and in portraying the terror and desperation of fighting to rescue your family from a burning uber-skyscraper. But, the plot and all that follows is not novel. Most disappointing was that we never really got to know the intricacies of the villains. We had their story and identity but that was all. Their characters were flat and had no personality. It's a film you enjoy and then forget.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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5

tropicAcesJul 13, 2018

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a *fine* movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

sensorglitchJul 14, 2018

I would not have gone to see this movie if it wasn't for movie pass. It was a perfectly good movie to pass some time with. It was decently entertaining, the plot was passable, the dialogue was ok. But otherwise it was mostly predictable andI would not have gone to see this movie if it wasn't for movie pass. It was a perfectly good movie to pass some time with. It was decently entertaining, the plot was passable, the dialogue was ok. But otherwise it was mostly predictable and nothing to write home about. If i had to spend money on this movie I wouldn't watch it in theaters.… Expand

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5

GrantD243Jul 24, 2018

Skyscraper follows Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) as he is invited to the a new building, which happens to be the world's tallest, to do a security check that will allow for them to open up the residential portion of the building. We soon learnSkyscraper follows Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) as he is invited to the a new building, which happens to be the world's tallest, to do a security check that will allow for them to open up the residential portion of the building. We soon learn that the person who got him the job set him up, and then he gets lured away from the building and roped into what is essentially a heist story. The building is set on fire, and his family and the bad guys are in the building, so he jumps off of a crane to get back into the building to beat up some bad guys and save his family. That's basically it. This is a 90s-era action flick released in 2018. Clearly the team behind this film knows that, too, as one of the posters they put out while marketing the film had a 90s theme to it. Unfortunately, this isn't the 90s anymore and really this isn't even a good 90s action flick. The action is mediocre and honestly this isn't the best character Dwayne Johnson has played in his recent onslaught of the box office. He's charming, but humor is one of his strengths and there isn't a lot of it in this film. It's mainly him doing unbelievable thing after unbelievable thing until he achieves his goal of getting to his family. The story also takes a few leaps towards the end that I just couldn't get behind, most notably something related to how the fire containment system works at the beginning of the movie compared to the end. There's also some odd pacing in this story that we're supposed to just ignore because it's an action movie, but some of it is just so unbelievable I couldn't help but laugh. Don't expect any great dialogue here, either, as the script is mediocre at best. But, is it entertaining? That is usually the saving grace of these kind of movies. And, well...yes, it's entertaining. This is a film that will allow some people to turn their brain off for nearly two hours, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the show. It's incredibly forgetful, though, and I don't think I'll ever watch this one again.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

KonlinerJul 19, 2018

Fancy special effects, but cheap quality.

Skyscraper is just another poorly-produced film made to generate profit as quickly as possible while pleasing audience with special effects and action scenes. There are some few scenes where it'sFancy special effects, but cheap quality.

Skyscraper is just another poorly-produced film made to generate profit as quickly as possible while pleasing audience with special effects and action scenes. There are some few scenes where it's intimidating, but overall, it's poorly made. Crappy dialogue, lack of character depth, and so many cliches.… Expand

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4

Megajohn01Jul 13, 2018

Adding The Rock into this regurgitated amalgamation of Die Hard and Towering Inferno isn’t enough to salvage this disaster. Sorry Rock, but you just got checked into the dilapidated Smackdown Hotel.

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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5

JLuis_001Jul 13, 2018

How is it that Dwayne Johnson has become a movie star by doing the same thing over and over again?

What does that say about modern audiences?

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

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4

kman5473Jul 16, 2018

It's pretty entertaining, and creative for a "typical summer blockbuster." Is it Die Hard good? Not even close. Would I watch this again? No; plot is simple and I pretty much got everything I needed to understand the lack of thought put intoIt's pretty entertaining, and creative for a "typical summer blockbuster." Is it Die Hard good? Not even close. Would I watch this again? No; plot is simple and I pretty much got everything I needed to understand the lack of thought put into this. There are some pretty gaping plot holes, but the performances are pretty ok.… Expand

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5

dharmaAug 14, 2018

Dwayne Johnson maybe a charismatic performer, but he definetelly can't save this 'Die Hard/ Tower Inferno' wannabe from being a total bore. The action sequences are ridicilous, and not in any moment that you believe that the 'Rock' is inDwayne Johnson maybe a charismatic performer, but he definetelly can't save this 'Die Hard/ Tower Inferno' wannabe from being a total bore. The action sequences are ridicilous, and not in any moment that you believe that the 'Rock' is in great danger. Even on a 'brain dead' level, this picture is not a great one. Just put on your streaming services and watch Die Hard again instead.… Expand

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5

BrianMcCriticOct 10, 2018

A water down version of several other action franchises. If you check this out on Netflix or some other streaming service, you might have a good time but it's nothing you have to go looking for. Overall a low 5 a C.

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6

FelicityFenwickAug 16, 2018

Feels like a nice bookend to "The Meg" for the BIG summer films that don't add up to much, but are good ways to eat tubs of buttery popcorn, sit in an air conditioned theater, and see stuff get blown up. DJ is solid as usual, but it's nothingFeels like a nice bookend to "The Meg" for the BIG summer films that don't add up to much, but are good ways to eat tubs of buttery popcorn, sit in an air conditioned theater, and see stuff get blown up. DJ is solid as usual, but it's nothing special. Not his best work.… Expand

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4

SoulWarfareJan 10, 2021

Die hard but I actually die from how boring and plain the movie is. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson can't save this one

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5

TyranianApr 13, 2019

Has a certain appeal but maximises stupidity over smarts for the most part.