12 Monkeys (1996)

Inspired by Chris Marker's acclaimed short film La Jetée (which is included on the DVD Short 2: Dreams), 12 Monkeys combines intricate, intelligent storytelling with the uniquely imaginative vision of director Terry Gilliam. The story opens in the wintry wasteland of the year 2035, where a virulent plague has forced humans to live in a squalid, oppressively regimented underground. Bruce Willis plays a societal outcast who is given the opportunity to erase his criminal record by "volunteering" to time-travel into the past to obtain a pure sample of the deadly virus that will help future scientists to develop a cure. But in bouncing from 1918 to the early and mid-1990s, he undergoes an ordeal that forces him to question his own perceptions of reality. Caught between the dangers of the past and the devastation of the future, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) who is initially convinced he's insane, and a wacky mental patient (Brad Pitt in a twitchy Oscar-nominated role) with links to a radical group that may have unleashed the deadly virus. Equal parts mystery, tragedy, psychological thriller, and apocalyptic drama, 12 Monkeys ranks as one of the best science fiction films of the '90s, boosted by Gilliam's visual ingenuity and one of the finest performances of Willis's career. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

Loved it at first......now, meh!!!

I loved this movie when it first came out; I watched it again a few months ago.
I love the whole end of the world spin, but the animal rights garbage I can do without.
Brad Pitt is brilliant in this movie, too bad he's gotten so boring in recent years.
I dunno, it's just not a movie that really keeps my interest anymore.
The story is ok, the ending is great.
I would have given 12 Monkeys five stars when it first came out, I'm giving it three now.
There are better movies on this subject nowadays, I Am Legend being a five star example.
I recommend a rental. June 26, 2008

Good movie in Hi Def

I first saw this movie in the 90's when it came out, but had forgotten just how really good it is. Bruce Willis shows that, when he gets away from the "Die Hard" movies, he's a very good actor. And Madeline Stowe and Brad Pitt also put in fine performances. The plot twists and turns to a surprise ending. Highly recommended, even for those who don't normally like sci-fi. May 31, 2008

One of my favorites

This is a great movie. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you like "thinking" movies this is for you. It's a cerebral movie that requires you to follow every second to keep up. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt are Fantastic!!!!! May 23, 2008

interesting movie with a twist

This movie has an interesting plot. I love the acting by Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis. It really makes you think about the whole time travel aspect of messing things up. May 4, 2008

Quite simply nothing short of Sci-Fi perfection...

As many have already noted, `12 Monkeys' is one of the best (if not the best) time travel movies ever filmed. What makes `12 Monkeys' so extraordinary is its marvelously crafted script (inspired by Chris Marker's short film `La Jetee') coupled with some stellar performances wrapped up in director Terry Gilliam's glossy packaging. In short, `12 Monkeys' is a complete package. There is nothing lacking in this film. The intensity is high, the personal connection is strong, the emotional resonance is there and the overall engrossing subject matter is at an all time high. `12 Monkeys' is a film that grabs you and sucks you into its whirlwind of science fiction intrigue.

The film opens in the year 2035. The world as we know it is gone, substituted by a dark and barren wasteland; a world crippled by a devastating virus that wiped out most of the human population and forced the survivors to retreat to the desolate underground. The government comes to convict James Cole with a proposition he can't refuse; a chance to have his criminal record expunged if he `volunteers' to travel back in time and obtain a sample of this virus the government can then work with to develop a cure. This trip sends Cole on a strange journey not only physically but mentally as well, causing Cole to challenge his thoughts and views on what is truly real.

`12 Monkeys' brilliantly crafts a physiological thriller that stays with the viewer and challenges the way they think as well. It's one of those films that is mentally exhausting, but in a truly rewarding way. It's a film that leaves the audience feeling as if they just witnessed something meaningful and worthwhile; a film that ultimately becomes so much more than just a film.

Like I mentioned, `12 Monkeys' sports some brilliant performances by the entire cast; most notably though the two male leads. Brad Pitt (who had a phenomenal year in '95) justifiably received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Jeffrey Goines; the mental patient who befriends Cole and just may have something to do with the unleashing of that diabolical virus. Bruce Willis though is also flawless here and deserved an Oscar nomination as well in my humble opinion. While Willis is undoubtedly comfortable when jumping out of the way of explosions and shooting wildly at terrorists, in `12 Monkeys' (as well as other films like `The Sixth Sense') Bruce proves that he has the acting chops to tackle the dramatic with the save fervor and comfort in which he tackles the high-octane action film. His composure and complete understanding of his characters emotional makeup is outstanding here. He dominates in the supreme definition of the word. Also notable is Madeleine Stowe's performance as Kathryn Railly, the psychiatrist who Cole encounters during his travels.

`12 Monkeys' is pure brilliance in my eyes, a film that defies odds and breaks boundaries in order to deliver something fresh and enthralling from start to finish. This is a film unlike any other; one that mixes ample helpings of mystery and science, drama and fear creating a masterful concoction that will open your eyes and your mind in ways you never imagined. This is a tragically underrated film that may very well be one of the best films ever made. In the very least it is a science fiction staple that no fan of the genre should go without embracing. April 24, 2008

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