Skyscraper (2018) Reviewed by Jay

Jay´s Review

It's inevitable that this will be compared to 1974's "The Towering Inferno" (3 Academy Awards) but that movie was done before the advent of Computer Generated Imaging, so with that in mind, Dwayne Johnson, the artist formerly known as The Rock is willing to challenge the likes of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Fred Astaire. 

 

This PG-13 2018 version (not to be confused with the 1996 classic which starred Anna Nichole Smith) is written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber ("Easy A" and "DodgeBall"). For a movie with credentials like this, we entered the press screening with high hopes. And thanks to lavish amounts of CGI, generous shots of Mr. Johnson performing hair-raising stunts, plus bits of humor, we were in for an entertaining white-knuckle ride that never let up!

 

Part of Thurber's cast: 

  • * Dwayne Johnson ("Jumanji" 2018) Former Hostage Extraction Specialist Will Sawyer, after a traumatic event nine years earlier, now assesses the safety of high rise buildings. This skyscraper in Hong Kong is his latest assignment and he has scrutinized every aspect of it.
  • * Neve Campbell ("House of Cards") Sarah Sawyer came to Hong Kong with her husband because she and their kids want to see the sights. This former combat veteran is tough and smart, make no mistake.
  • * McKenna Roberts ("The Young and the Restless") Georgia trusts her father even when things look hopeless.
  • * Tzi Ma ("Arrival") The fire chief has a vested interest in proving Sawyer is behind the catastrophe he sees unfolding.
  • * Chin Han ("Marco Polo") Zhao Long Ji is the developer who has absolute faith in his astonishing building. Along with the amazing building however, it seems he has developed some powerful enemies.

Do we ever doubt Mr. J? How could we when we learn that he believes "If you can't fix it with duct tape, you're not using enough duct tape."

 

There was so much noisy mayhem, fisticuffs, gunshots, motorcycles, crowds, and shouting from high places, I was glad I had closed captions. I suspect I picked up more dialog than the two fellows giggling next to me. By the way, if you are in the least bit acrophobic, the heights depicted in this one will make you break out in a sweat.

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Take a look:

https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi3970349849 

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