Collide

I went into this film with an open mind. I wasn't expecting much in the way of OTT action sequences or sex and violence that is the staple for most blockbuster-esque action films with it being a PG-13. That said it did deliver on the action sequences. Some well shot and exciting car chases and gun battles which kept you watching even if the plot (which has some twists) was rather predictable at times. Essentially though it is a love story although that is glossed over a bit too much for me. Would have preferred a 15 rating and a bit more from the two leads. I disagree with the other reviewer who thought Anthony Hopkins didn't play the villain believably enough. I thought he nailed it. What was a bit unbelievable was the lack of police support during most of the gun battles. Are the German police really so useless? I had an overall sense that a bit of comedy was trying to be injected into the dialogue (especially the scenes with Hopkins and Kingsley)it did make me smile but I fear that may not have been the intention after all. Overall an enjoyable film that I am glad I saw. Could have been made better - yes, could have had more depth - yes. Recommended - yes.

Problems aside i thought this movie was pretty entertaining. Nicholas hoult and felicity jones had good chemistry in their characters. Hoult plays casey. A man that works for.geran and steels cars. One day in a bar he meets julliete and the two of them hit it off. Things skip a head in time to them sleeping together and eventually living together. But she has a medicle condition she kept secet and dosent have money, so casey has to go back to his old life. I felt that kingsley and hopkins performances here were a little lackluster but they brought some fun to it. The car chase was good and the quick action was well done. Overall collide was pretty entertaining, maybe could be better but still good.

This is not a movie with deep meaning, a complex plot or redeeming value but was surprisingly enjoyable. The primary characters were not glamorous but rather down to earth which lent a certain innocence and believability. I thought their acting was excellent and sustained the movie through to the end. The bad guys deserve kudos. Ben Kingsley and Anthony Hopkins played quirky drug lords which they pulled off really well in a low key manner. These are often the most difficult characters to pull off in a movie, often being overly done but not here. The secondary bad guys were superbly cast and relentless in the chase which kept the tension level high through the entire movie. Plot wise this was a basic caper gone wrong and chase movie with a surprising twist at the end. Wreakage and carnage on the Autobahn while extensive, was not overdone. In fact, the chase scenes and crash scenes were really well choreographed and not over the top or gratuitous. The only weakness was the ending which was predictable and didn't follow through which left a feeling of abruptness, probably forced through mandatory time constraints. As a result, Anthony Hopkin's character and story did not feel complete. Collide was great entertainment that didn't require deep thought to enjoy....

Comment: the main characters were not "backpackers" but rather ex- pats living and working in Germany. Seems to be growing tendency to refer to anyone between 20-30 as backpackers...

A few good stunt sequences, a lot of action, but little brains in this contrived action thriller about a guy, trying to get money for his girlfriend's kidney transplant, who tries to rip off a major drug dealer in Koln by hijacking a delivery truck filled with golf balls filled with cocaine. He gets caught by said drug dealer (played by Anthony Hopkins, in what is basically an extended cameo) , and escapes far too easily in a car filled with five million Euros in drug money hidden in the door panels, and leads them on a high speed chase on the Autobahn.

Did you get all of that?

Far too complicated of a setup for what basically amounts to a car chase movie, with Ben Kingsley putting in the oddest performance of his life. The entire second act is a seemingly endless car chase, when one car is demolished, another is stolen, and the chase resumes (with the money now being carried by Hoult in a conveniently located tin)

Anthony Hopkins is wearing a really silly looking, double-breasted, sky blue suit throughout, which made me cringe at the sight of it, and wonder if this is supposed to be a comedy.

The second act car chase might be worth a look, if you're into such things, but this really is a braindead, mind-numbing affair.

"I need $200,000. You can have the rest. I just need you yo do something for me." Casey Stein (Hoult) has gotten mixed up in a drug smuggling ring and his girlfriend has been taken. Now he is stuck between kingpins Hagen (Hopkins) and Geran (Kingsley) with only one option. Steal from one and ask for help from the other. Casey is now left to wonder if he chose wisely. This is a pretty intense and exciting movie but at the same time really toes the line between generic and original. There is enough in here to make it seem fresh and new and keeps you interested, while at the same time being just predictable enough for you to stay one step ahead of the movie. Normally that's a bad thing, but when it comes to these B action movies excitement is the goal. This one does have that. Overall, nothing all that original or fresh but it is fun to watch and a good way to spend a few hours. I give this a solid B.