Fight or Flight

This film was better than I expected. Is it a masterpiece, definitely not, is it the worst thing I've ever seen definitely not.

It's very 90s esq cheesy action film based around a group of assasins trying to kill someone on a plane while a drunk former secret service operative tries to save her. Do not watch this film expecting to see an Oscar worthy great.

However, Josh Hartnett is really good and carries the film well. It's the first thing I've seen Charithra Chandran in and thought she was really good to. The action is over the top and stupid but at the same time entertaining.

The worst thing about the movie is the ending where the film is left unfinished and set up for a sequel, which is a huge pet hate of mine.

Flight or Fight is ridiculous. Properly stupid film. Well over the top in every way.

Acting is so bad but funny and this is a darn decent watch.

The story is nothing not seen before.

Josh Hartnett is another in a long line of movie super spies with ridiculous skills in fighting etc.

But I'll put all that to the side because to be fair this film has some absolutely hilarious fight scenes and plenty of blood and creative kills.

It's colorful to an almost cartoonesque degree, bright and bold and at least you can see what's happening! So that's a huge bonus.

The humour mostly hits.

It takes about 5 minutes to work out who the 'baddie' is but this ain't Agatha Christie so probably best to forget that.

Just watch for the absolutely mental fight scenes. Because that's all this is.

Fight or Flight is a perfect example of a fun movie. So, what makes a fun action flick? Let's explore.

First, you have to have good pacing. Things need to move, plot points need to happen frequently, slow parts/character moments need to be relatively short. This movie succeeds.

Second, the action needs to be on the crazy side, a bit over-the-top. No holding back, no cowardly PG-13 rating. Blood and gore are a plus. And a cherry on top would be if the action is filmed clearly, easy for the viewer to see. This movie succeeds.

Third, add some humor, preferably organic to the premise as opposed to inserting random jokes. If the tone of the movie is bloody, then use the bloodiness for humor. Make me laugh at the extent of the carnage. This movie succeeds.

Josh Hartnett does a great job in this role, especially with the humor. I had an awesome time with this movie and would watch it again.

(1 viewing, 5/5/2025)

Fight or Flight is basically Bullet Train but on a plane. More specifically the plot is about Josh Hartnett playing an exiled spec ops who is called for one last mission to retrieve a wanted criminal from an airplane full of assassins. If you like Bullet Train then you will like this movie. I really enjoy Josh Hartnett in general and he does a great job as the leading man. Charithra Chandran is also great as a reluctant flight attendant who helps Josh's character. Overall the cast is good and the story is fun but wacky. There is a subplot revolving around the company who hired Josh that honestly the reveal is super head scratching. I kinda get with what they are going for but it feels totally unnecessary. The movie does gives you the gruesome fights and deaths it advertises. My biggest complaint though is I wish it went further with its baddies like Bullet Train did. You remembered all of the weird gimmicky assassins and added to the charm of the movie. For Fight or Flight, other than 1 or 2 gimmicky assassins, the rest are just some nameless boring stand ins. The movie also ends in a cliffhanger, hinting at a sequel which is really head scratching. But I still enjoyed it for the wacky story and kills.

I always used to have some soft corner for Josh Hartnett and was sad that over the years he didn't get a proper script to showcase his skills. The last good movie of his that I watched was Lucky Number Slevin and may be you can count 30 Days of Night too and since then I was expecting something good but didn't get any. Thanks to Guy Ritchie for bringing him back in Wrath of Man which somehow brought him into the limelight and he got to work with good directors from there on (sort of like KEANU REEVES who by the way is one of my favourites).

Fight or Flight is simply John wick on a plane but added a bit of humour to it so that the audiences won't find it to be boring and repetitive and added to that the surprise ending by the director made it more interesting. I never knew Josh could perform such slick moves and I hope he had fun filming them. Just for Josh and his never before stunts you could give this a try.