Read User Reviews and Submit your own for The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

8

Tss5078Jul 21, 2014

The remake of The Manchurian Candidate is one of the few Denzel Washington films I've never seen. To be honest, the story just didn't interest me that much, but it started streaming this month, so I gave it a shot. As expected, it's a someoneThe remake of The Manchurian Candidate is one of the few Denzel Washington films I've never seen. To be honest, the story just didn't interest me that much, but it started streaming this month, so I gave it a shot. As expected, it's a someone complex story, that at times was difficult to understand, however an all-star cast manages to pull it together at the end. The story begins in Iraq during the Gulf War, when a U.S. Army platoon goes missing for three days. Even they were unaware of what happened to them, until one of the men starts having nightmares, and bodies start turning up. Denzel Washington plays the commanding officer, who takes it upon himself to investigate the strange deaths of his men, almost a decade later. As always, Washington is at the top of his game, giving off that infectious intensity, that keeps you on the edge of your seat through every step of the investigation. Washington is paired with Liev Schreiber who is one guy that has always just rubbed me the wrong way. It's not that he's a bad actor, there is just something about him and the characters he plays that is inherently unlikeable. He wasn't bad in this film, but being a similarly intense actor, meant that the chemistry with Washington was almost non-existent. The story is complicated and in the beginning of the film, it's going to be somewhat hard to watch. As the film proceeds and the elements become more clear, the film gets easier to watch, and the ending really pulls everything together. The Manchurian Candidate is one of those films that you think is going to be a bust, some people may even turn it off, but those who stick with it will see that it just gets better and better until a surprise ending brings it all together. If I were the writer of this film, I would have made the beginning of the film more intense and less confusing. The truth is the most important parts of a film are the beginning and the end, and without a strong opening, a lot of people will be turned off to the film and have the wrong attitude throughout. If you manage to stick with it, The Manchurian Candidate is great, but it does take a while to get there.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

8

bfoore90Jun 28, 2020

Well-made political thriller. Good performances from a great cast, especially Meryl Streep and provides a very chilling look at the influences of money and corporations have on politics and wars overseas

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

10

Bitash123Aug 6, 2019

I just watched tho in 2019, loved it. Great action movie with great plot....very believable leading actors and great action scenes. Highly recommend. This film was ahead of itself.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

8

IlirC.Jul 30, 2006

great movie with a great ending...highly recommended.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

8

BlowhouseOct 10, 2005

Well-made political thriller. A good adaptation that adds a lot to the franchise.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

8

JimMDec 6, 2005

The reviewers who call this the "worst movie of 2004" must work for the devious Manchurian Global Corp. as portrayed in the film. Overall, Manchurian Candidate is an interesting political thriller and is competently filmed, but lacks the The reviewers who call this the "worst movie of 2004" must work for the devious Manchurian Global Corp. as portrayed in the film. Overall, Manchurian Candidate is an interesting political thriller and is competently filmed, but lacks the emotional connectedness required to call it "memorable." Draws many parallels to actual events and subterfuge in current geopolitics and the enormous power wielded by many corporations (Halliburton, Enron?). Streeps performance is the highlight -- positively chilling!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

6

PatC.Apr 6, 2006

Tries to replicate the tension of the original, which expressed the paranoia of communist ideology run amuck. Imputing such ideological drive to a corporation is a push. The quest for money by people who lack the motivation created from Tries to replicate the tension of the original, which expressed the paranoia of communist ideology run amuck. Imputing such ideological drive to a corporation is a push. The quest for money by people who lack the motivation created from missing a lot of meals is neither compelling nor accurate. Some good acting, though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

3

TomVJul 4, 2009

This movie wasn't very good!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

5

TyranianFeb 23, 2020

Decent thriller with very good performance from Washington though blunders a couple of crucial plot points.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

7

RegOzApr 5, 2012

Of course it is a good movie! I liked all the performances (Denzel Washington's was my less favourite but still fine), especially Meryl Streep's , but she never disappoints us! This film has flaws, but 98% of the movies do...so enjoy thisOf course it is a good movie! I liked all the performances (Denzel Washington's was my less favourite but still fine), especially Meryl Streep's , but she never disappoints us! This film has flaws, but 98% of the movies do...so enjoy this one...! Entertaining for sure! This is one of the very few times when I agree with most of the critic, for a t this point, I don't care about the critics'views anymore, well.... I never did for they are often too full of themselves, and I find most of them have a cheap taste! So I rather trust in normal users, who rank movies because what they feel, not what they pretend they are ('The harsh critic') to build themselves a good reputation...but this time, I have to say the critics have greatly surprised me! Good on them!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

7

SpangleAug 25, 2016

The Manchurian Candidate is a truly chilling look at the influence that both corporations and money can have in politics. Though this remake is flawed, it has more than its fair share of positives. From its compelling premise that reallyThe Manchurian Candidate is a truly chilling look at the influence that both corporations and money can have in politics. Though this remake is flawed, it has more than its fair share of positives. From its compelling premise that really hooks you in from the very beginning to the absolutely stunningly good performance from Meryl Streep, The Manchurian Candidate has some real high notes. Liev Schrieber also turns in a reliably good performance in this film from director Jonathan Demme that keeps you on your toes and thrills continuously from beginning to end. That said, it does have a few problems. With its compelling premise, things at the end should have would wound up being far messier. Unfortunately, its too neat ending left me more than disappointed. Additionally, the editing can be a bit spotty with some really weird transitions and scenes seemingly lacking flow here and there. That said, The Manchurian Candidate is a solid to pretty good film with a chillingly cold and calculated performance from Streep that more than steals the show.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

8

Compi24Nov 28, 2012

Jonathan Demme's reimagining of the classic political thriller proves to be a harrowing, powerfully acted, and solidly written piece of cinema.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

5

YorkManMar 23, 2016

The Manchurian Candidate is a weak 'remake' of the classic early 60's Cold War paranoia masterpiece.

It in itself isn't a bad film, but it removes so many of the layers of the original it feels more like a TV movie, than a relatively bigThe Manchurian Candidate is a weak 'remake' of the classic early 60's Cold War paranoia masterpiece.

It in itself isn't a bad film, but it removes so many of the layers of the original it feels more like a TV movie, than a relatively big budget Hollywood produced film.

Like the original the narrative is borne out of a conspiracy to place a sleeper agent in the White House, except this time it's not the Communist Chinese government at work, but a large multi-national company seeking to have someone in power who can increase their influence and profit potential.

So, the stakes are massively reduced for a start, and that hurts the movie greatly. We sit and watch events unfold, but the reality is that even if the 'bad guys' succeed, it's not going to be pushing the Government towards a pro-Communist stance etc.!

The acting in the film is good enough, the main leads are doing their best with a weak script. The action scenes are more interesting, as this movie goes more into detail about the 'brainwashing' than the original, and is quite harrowing. The score is by the numbers stuff, which is about all you can say about the direction too.... It's adequately done, but you can't sit there watching and wonder how much better it could have been, because there's nothing in the film that stands out.

Bad points just revolve around the lazy narrative. Updating such a classic to a 'modern' setting wasn't going to be easy, and this film proves that to be the case. However, it's not a lamentable attempt, it's just lazy.

It's a film to watch, if you've never seen it. Not a film to actively avoid. However, if you've never seen the original..... Then watch that, instead of this!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

9

FilipeNetoJan 16, 2022

This film is a remake of a much older film, in which the action takes place during the Korean War and beyond, always in the context of the Cold War and the US paranoia surrounding the communist threat within its own borders. Here, the scriptThis film is a remake of a much older film, in which the action takes place during the Korean War and beyond, always in the context of the Cold War and the US paranoia surrounding the communist threat within its own borders. Here, the script was subject to an important update, which brought the story into a more recent chronology and context, linking to the First Gulf War and the American military presence in the Persian region.

Aside from this update, the core of the plot remains: a group of American soldiers is captured by Islamic fighters, only to return some time later, with only a few casualties to mourn and led by a sergeant who, out of bravery, is turned into a war hero. Coincidence or not, this sergeant is the son of a very influential politician, and with many ambitions for his offspring. That way, it won't be long before she starts baiting her domestic hero into using her new trump card in the political arena, aimed at her election as Vice President. It turns out that there are some soldiers in that unit who begin to have nightmares where they see their comrades being brainwashed and that same war hero killing uniformed comrades under hypnosis. One of those ex-military men, Ben Marco, is determined to discover the truth and will challenge everyone and everything to find out what really happened.

The movie is quite good, and it's really worth it... but that doesn't mean it's flawless or flawless. In fact, the script update has robbed it of some credibility: I don't think Islamic fighters would cooperate so easily with a powerful multinational corporation full of money and ambition, as the film suggests. However, if we decide to give the script a chance and ignore these issues, the film gives us an interesting job of entertainment, in which the 'suspense' is guaranteed and effective.

Denzel Washington assures an unequivocal and solid protagonism. A safe bet, he's an effective actor in this type of film, which just makes mistakes because he seems to be doing more than we've seen him do before, in films like "Crimson Tide", for example. Liev Schreiber is another actor who does a good job here, in a character as complex as it is controversial: on the one hand, he's heavily manipulated, but on the other, he seems eager to break the chain that associates him with a controlling and ambitious mother, delightfully performed by the impeccable Meryl Streep. The film also features the honorable participations of Jeffrey Wright and Bruno Ganz, in minor characters that will have their relevance to the story.

Technically, the film doesn't have major flaws: with a very regular and pleasant rhythm, it unfolds gradually and leaving the audience stuck to what they're watching. Cinematography is an essential part of the film's visual beauty and works flawlessly in the low light, cloudy environments and formal and impersonal settings of the offices of high politics. Of course, the costumes help as well, with good military uniforms and a flawless look from Streep (I can see why they said she was inspired by Hillary Clinton). The visuals and special effects do their job, but not too spectacularly.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

6

DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021

This is a somewhat sinister film, with a relatively decent performance by Denzel Washington, although it didn't feel engrossing enough to fully grab my attention and I feel it missed something of substance but its hard to say quite what. TheThis is a somewhat sinister film, with a relatively decent performance by Denzel Washington, although it didn't feel engrossing enough to fully grab my attention and I feel it missed something of substance but its hard to say quite what. The story is a sobering one - I can imagine people who may have been, shall we say tampered with, being regarded as paranoid but this isn't quite 'Men in Black' level, special effects wise or otherwise. The themes are obviously quite serious and not at all comedic really, especially in this day and age of unstable politics, I suppose. Indeed it has an element of the classic novel 1984 about it, I suppose. I felt there was perhaps an element of over acting at times, while at other times almost the opposite applied, in that there wasn't perhaps as much emotion expressed as I expected and not just down to the brainwashing aspect of the plot. However, I certainly wouldn't say the film is unwatchable - it features a decent cast with Meryl Streep, Jon Voight and Denzel Washington but I certainly wouldn't say its a particularly good film. It had/has potential and its ok but not great, so overall I wouldn't especially recommend it, no, although its certainly a thought provoking film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

4

rfichokeJun 14, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie disturbed me—not because it was a tense thriller, but because it falls so flat. The acting is decent enough and the cinematography and direction is alright. Where it fails is the plot and writing. So much is left out that would have driven the plot or made us feel deep emotion: connection to the protagonists or hatred for the villains. But it’s just not there.

We see a lot of Streep as the frontline antagonist. But what exactly is her connection to the evil corporation behind the scenes? No idea. We barely see anything of them. And I don’t just mean on screen. There’s very little information to fill in any gaps at all. What exactly are they doing? Why are they so evil? They already completely control everything with money, so why would they need to have a brainwashed President anyway? There’s no risk here because there’s nothing to be gained.

The same goes for the scientist doing the implants. What drives him? What’s his relationship to Manchurian Global or Streep’s character? Again, no idea. He’s barely present in the film either. I can’t even remember his name. We’re told he’s “South African.” Are we just supposed to assume that South African = apartheid = terrible villain? I suppose so, but why not show us something that makes us truly fear and hate him?

And there’s a scientist helping The Good Guys too. Who is he? How did he become involved? What happens to him? We can guess, but we shouldn’t have to. If we guess, we’ll just come up with the same boring predictable cliches that the writers seem to have had in mind but were too lazy to bother showing us. That seems to be the intent: just insert your own cartoonish stock Bond-villains and side characters and watch the dumb movie.

And the ending! It comes out of nowhere, but not in a good way, like the climax of an episode of The Twilight Zone. It’s more like they ran out of time and couldn’t think of anything truly disturbing or thought-provoking, so they lazily slapped on an “and they all lived happily ever after” epilogue. And it’s so disjointed stylistically from what just happened previously that you’re sitting there for a minute trying to figure out if this is even the same movie.

Lazy is the only word for this movie. It doesn’t leave your head swimming with possibilities or fears or anything else. It just leaves you bored and annoyed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

10

Acquit77Jul 18, 2021

⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙●■●■●■●■●■●■●■
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷+÷

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

10

zcat5Jun 26, 2023

A an exemplary work of cinematic artistry that not only pays homage to its legendary predecessor but in many ways, also manages to surpasses it. Jonathan Demme's directorial prowess, combined with an exceptional cast and a thought-provokingA an exemplary work of cinematic artistry that not only pays homage to its legendary predecessor but in many ways, also manages to surpasses it. Jonathan Demme's directorial prowess, combined with an exceptional cast and a thought-provoking screenplay, creates a truly unforgettable viewing experience. This political thriller transcends its era, resonating with contemporary audiences and solidifying its place as the greatest movie of all time.

At the heart of this cinematic triumph are the extraordinary performances that breathe life into the complex characters. Denzel Washington delivers an exceptional portrayal of Major Bennett Marco, a war veteran plagued by haunting memories and an unshakeable sense of a hidden conspiracy. Washington's commanding presence and nuanced performance capture the essence of Marco's emotional journey, immersing viewers in his paranoia and internal turmoil. Meryl Streep's Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw is an indomitable force, exuding power, cunning, and a chilling sense of control. Streep's portrayal is nothing short of mesmerizing, leaving an indelible mark on the film's narrative.

Demme's visual storytelling is a sight to behold. The cinematography skillfully amplifies the tension and unease permeating the story, while the meticulous direction weaves together suspenseful sequences, political intrigue, and mind-bending twists. The film's atmospheric shots, masterfully crafted by cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, immerse the audience in a world where nothing is as it seems. Every frame is carefully composed to heighten the sense of impending danger and heighten the psychological impact of the narrative.

The updated screenplay by Daniel Pyne expertly adapts Richard Condon's original novel, bringing its themes of manipulation, control, and the erosion of individual identity into the modern era. Pyne's script skillfully navigates the treacherous waters of politics, technology, and corporate interests, highlighting the insidious consequences that arise when those in power exploit the vulnerabilities of the human mind. The film's exploration of mind control and psychological warfare feels hauntingly relevant in an age where the dissemination of information can be weaponized.

The film serves as a profound commentary on the precarious balance between personal freedom and the relentless pursuit of power. Its themes resonate deeply, challenging our perception of reality and forcing us to question the authenticity of our own experiences. The film's ability to provoke introspection and elicit a sense of unease long after the credits roll is a testament to its brilliance.

This film is a masterful and groundbreaking cinematic achievement. It somehow manages to surpasses its iconic predecessor, blending exceptional performances, striking visuals, and a captivating narrative that transcends time. Its lasting impact on the genre and its unwavering relevance make it an undeniable contender for the greatest film of all time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews