Premium Rush (2012)

Let's be realistic.

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This is a beautifully shot movie which has stole its way into my heart. I saw the trailer back in 2012 and wanted to watch the movie. However, it didn't get released in my town's cinemas and it never appeared in the DVD shops. After a year or so I'd forgotten about it. Then the Sony Movie Channel started airing it... and am I glad(?)The story runs second to the action, being there to weave together the adrenalin powered sequences. However, the story is quite ambitious - you have a woman who is trying to bring her son to America; a dirty cop with a gambling addiction; a Chinese gang who are managing the cop to clear his debt; and a bike messenger who loves the job more than his girlfriend does. Wilee, played perfectly by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is a bike courier in New York, who is requested to deliver an envelope to Chinatown before 7 pm. Unfortunately for him, there's something of interest in the envelope which has him being pursued by a corrupt cop, Bobby Monday (this is probably Michael Shannon's strongest role), for its contents. Within the envelope is one woman's hopes and dreams of reuniting with her estranged son.This film would have been a perfect ten had these elements been expanded and tightened a little more, especially the relationship of the Mom, Nima (Jamie Chung) and her roommate, who is coincidentally Wilee's girlfriend Vanessa. This relationship and the scenes shot around it just feel like filler. Which is a shame since Nima actually requests Wilee to carry the envelope to its destination, though it appears Vanessa and Nima are more like strangers, than roommates.Though the acting is tight and the actors are strong in their portrayals it's the action and the direction which adds the cherry to the cake in this film. David Koepp has a great eye for this style of movie. From the extreme zoom-outs, from street level to satellite view to show the biker's route and back into street view adds a new dimension to the film. This is well crafted and thought out as you pass through clouds and the satellite views are never the same, which keeps these sections fresh and interesting. But the innovative sequences don't stop there as Koepp slows down time to show Wilee figuring out which routes to take when he hits heavy traffic, since the wrong direction may harm him, a driver, or a pedestrian. This is an awesome concept and works well. Then you have the speed as the bikes race and dance through speeding traffic on the streets - these scenes are deftly choreographed and filmed in every camera angle possible to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and marvelling at how nobody is getting killed.I would recommend anybody to watch this film, but please take an hour afterwards to calm down, before taking to the streets on your bikes. If you're an up and coming director or film student then this is a must watch movie as it shows originality, ingenuity, and artistic talent.

PREMIUM RUSH is a very silly Hollywood action thriller with a difference: all of the action involves a bicycle courier in New York finding himself chased by a corrupt cop. The film is very odd in tone, feeling like a kid's film throughout with goofy humour and stylistics, and yet featuring a torrent of bad language that automatically raises the rating.The nice-but-bland Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes the lead role, an innocent who just so happens to be a whiz on wheels. The surprisingly dire Michael Shannon is the villain of the piece; I love this guy in most of his stuff, such as BOARDWALK EMPIRE, but he's embarrassingly hammy here, trying really hard to be quirky and funny but never succeeding. Dania Ramirez is the token pretty girl along for the ride.The film's action scenes are watchable and fast-paced, but blighted by CGI effects which are embarrassingly bad in places; you'll think you're watching an Asylum movie. The plot has no place in the real world so a massive suspension of disbelief is required. The end result is a missed opportunity, although not without wasted potential.

Is it weird that i enjoyed this film? By looking at the reviews people were not crazy thrilled but what were they anticipating. you are watching an action film involving cyclists not a film aiming for the top ten movies of all time list. This movie gives you exactly what you would expect with a much better than expected execution. Never once was I bored during this film I put it on to watch a fun movie and that is exactly what I got. Makes me want to ride a bike not that I would I'm lazy but if a film manages that as I watch it that just proves that it's a fun ride. It's not perfect but it's a fun ride just as you would and expect does not deserve as much hate as it's got.

'Premium Rush' is indeed A Thrill Ride! Its furiously paced, crisply written, correctly directed & also well-acted. In short, a good watch!'Premium Rush' Synopsis: In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.'Premium Rush' works almost throughout. The story moves on a furious pace, although I must say, the pace slightly slows down in its second-hour. But, things get back on track with a lifting climax. The best aspect about 'Premium Rush' is its brisk pace, that never allows you to slow down. David Koepp & John Kamps's Screenplay is indeed well-done, delivering an engaging tale. David Koepp's Direction, on the other-hand, is perfect. Cinematography captures all the madness with zeal. Editing is superiorly done, as well.Performance-Wise: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the right guy for the part & he shines. Michael Shannon is the show-stopper, though. He nails it as the antagonist. Dania Ramirez is effective. Jamie Chung is very sincere.On the whole, 'Premium Rush' has merits.