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Engagingly Impressive!

Sean Archer (Travolta) has been chasing Castor Troy (Cage) to avenge his son's death by the hands of the psychotic terrorist for six years. Now that he killed Castor, Sean must find a biological bomb by assuming the identity of Castor Troy by taking his face and being brought in prison. But Troy, who awakes from his coma, takes Archer's face in order to take revenge on him. Now, Troy turns Archer's life upside down by assuming his identity. Will Archer break free from his prison and get his face back, or will Troy have the last laugh ?

Face/Off is a smart, engagingly impressive film that you won't be able to take your eyes. Nicholas Cage puts on an extremely impressive performance as does the almighty John Travolta. The direction from John Woo shows definite effort, this is one of his best films.

Face/Off is a watchable and brilliant film that will keep you entertained until the credits roll. It is certainly one of the better action/thriler's of 1997.

One of the best action movies ever made.

After non-events, such as the disappointing HARD TARGET and the fun-but-insignicant BROKEN ARROW, John Woo finally achieved his potential for making great action movies with Hollywood's money. Using an amusingly improbable plot, Woo fleshes the bones of the script with some truly amazing action sequences, such as the speedboat chase and the apartment shoot-out. Woo shines as bright in the West that he did in the East, with films like THE KILLER and HARD-BOILED.
Starting with a scene that most films would be happy to climax with, a jumbo-jet and chopper chase, notorious villain Castor Troy (snarling Nicholas Cage) is comatose. All is said done, until anti-terrorist agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) discovers that Troy has planted a bomb somewhere in downtown LA, to go off any time soon. So, through the wonders of medical science, Archer swaps faces with Troy, to infiltrate a high security prison and get the location of the bomb off Troy's weedy brother. But problems begin when the real Castor Troy wakes up, sans mug, and decides to get his own back by nicking Archer's. Roles are reversed, in a very Grecian way. Travolta and Cage bounce off each other fantastically well, and it is good two potentially brilliant actors working in unison so well. Supporting cast, such as Joan Allen, the delicious Domanique Swain, and the ever reliable CCH Pounder add good back-up. The story could not be more implausible if Dolph Lundgren played Travolta's wife, or if suddenly Charles Bronson turned up in a blonde wig as his daughter, but you can forgive that for the sheer breakneck speed Woo goes at, and the fact that how original the plot actually is.
One of the truly great action thrillers of the '90s, this breathed new life into a genre dominated by yet more LETHAL WEAPONs, Arnie, and Stallone. A new, interesting variation on the old Good vs. Evil theme, with a neat schizophrenic twist in its tale. If you haven't it already, I urge you too now - it's the best movie John Woo will ever make in the West, espcially if you've seen (groan) M:I-2 and WINDTALKERS.
Go, see, now.

Great Concept! Great Movie!

One of my Favorite Nick Cage and John Travolta Movies! I could not believe the ending!!! It was awesome!!! The scene with the birds is one of the most detail catching I have seen! I think this movie shows that each one of us isn't very far away from becoming our own worst enemy, I still want to know exactly what that auto-matic pistol was!!! The Gun fights were the best gunfights I have ever seen!!! Better than Tombstone! Better then even the Matrix! I think anyway. I wish there could be some sort of sequel to this movie, or even a prequel hell! Good Movie, period. John Woo has made a movie that will be hard for him to ever top.

Top film

This film is one of the best of the year in my opinion. Two great actors, plenty of action all the way through and to top it off a gorgeous babe who is Travolta's daughter. Now this film is just over two hours long and as you know after this time if there's not plenty of action or a half decent story line to keep you glued then you lose the plot, become bored, irritated and and want to bash the person over the head who recommended it to you in the video shop. (personal experience). Well this film will keep you watching to the end, with hair-raising stunts and your mind constantly telling you keep watching, I want to see what will happen next. Well maybe. Anyway enough gibber gabber let's get to the plot. Well John Travolta plays an F.B.I agent who's mission is to bring in one of the world's most deadliest terrorists (Nicholas Cage). Cage was hired ten years earlier at the start of the film to take out Travolta, but missed and hit is son, who died. Travolta is angry at this as you can imagine and he works day and night trying to figure out cage's next move. To try and find out where cage has hidden a bomb in New York, the story becomes complicated as Travolta is asked to do something by his superiors which well without giving anymore of the story away, let's just say most people, wouldn't do.
Anyway go and hire the film out, you'll enjoy it, guaranteed. I gave this film an Eight out of ten.

"In order to know a bad flick, you must see a bad flick."

I suppose if you left your brain with the usher you might find this movie to be moderately "fun" and "enjoyable." If you're the type of person easily broiled by countless flaws, that's a whole other story.I found myself 20 minutes into the movie not enjoying it, but counting flaws. Sure, a movie could be really fun even with a few loopholes here and there, but "Face/Off" had a TON of 'em. Moreover, the film just bored me, stiff. And tell me this is not an original storyline! Whoever plotted this movie probably rented a bunch of similar movies the very same night it took to write it. I usually just sit down and try to be comfortable whenever I watch a Hollywood action movie, regardless of content, but with this, I was annoyed. It covered up its weakness with over-the-top lacho-drum/ chase scenes, laughable dialogue and other pretentiousness of the sort. I wonder why so many people bought into it?Was Cage ("Castor Troy") supposed to be creepy and villainlike? Everytime he kissed a woman, his character would say "peaches." If you want to cast a merciless terrorist character you'd get someone like John Malkovich, or Bruce Willis, or even Michael Wincott (The main kingpin in "The Crow") but Cage's portryal was about as endearing as a young child trying to sell lemonade. Travolta's role as the "so-called" hero is unsympathetic and long winded, and the endless shots of his cheeks only leads me to believe he needs facial liposuction.John Woo needs to stick to making movies in Hong Kong, not that he makes bad ones, but that Hollywood affiliation seriously ruins them.

Stylish Action Flick

The plot to this film is totally outrageous and extremely far-fetched (only Hollywood could really get away with it), but because the two leads (John Travolta and Nicolas Cage) are so good at being each other, it almost makes you forget about the unrealistic premise of the film. As unbelievable as the story is, this film is very entertaining, thanks of course, as already mentioned, to the performances of both Cage and Travolta and also the distinct and electrifying John Woo action sequences. The action scenes are definately a highlight. All of the performances in this film, besides the leads are also very good, and Woo is able to build tension and suspense in a way that he couldn't really achieve in Hard Target. In the end though, Cage and Travolta put this film a mile in front of the competition. 4 out of 5

A bad movie

To be avoided at all costs. The action drags on and on, the plot is virtually nonexistent, and the identity-swapping is unbelievable. If you want a good Cage actioner, watch CON AIR. If you want a good Travolta actioner, watch the one about stealing nuclear missiles.

peach, I can eat a peach for hours...

What can I say...first of all : I command u to WATCH THIS NOW... If you like action, twin pistol action more precisely, just see it ! Driven by an all-star cast, masterful imagery and awesome shootouts...THIS IS THE BEST Hollywood-ACTION MOVIE EVER MADE...Cage and Travolta are SUPERB, John Woo is a magician, and pulling two GOLDEN 45's out of an Armani suit is by far the coolest thing anyone can do. So i'll be brief, because I know everybody skips those long reviews: Like action? SEE IT. Like Hongkong double-gun action? SEE IT. Like good movies? SEE IT. If you have seen it and wonder what that little crazy Chinese man made before this jewel: check out HARD BOILED and THE KILLER, u won't be disappointed. "peach, I can eat a peach for hours"

The first American Woo film not to insult the genius of the man!

John Woo's best film in Hollywood and probably will sadly never be surpassed. He has been wasted post Hong Kong but this was a genuinely class action movie. The plot itself is about as logical as flushing the toilet and then crapping, but the convoluted story takes a back seat to interesting character development. Its Sci-Fi elements don't take too much focus which is good, and unlike Woo to do so anyway. The film has John Travolta and Nic Cage both playing opposite characters, Travolta playing a more refined and less showy role than usual and Cage playing his usual extravagant role, then the two roles are traded as their characters get their faces swapped. There is an interesting dynamic as both actors play both to their usual types (very theatrical) and against type (more refined). Not to mention the psychological elements of the character with both having to wear the face of their Nemesis who they despise. It is particularly interesting from Archers point of view because he begins to hate himself and almost can't take what is happening to him. Of course as you expect with Woo the action is first rate, albeit with mucho doubling for Cage and Travolta. What is amazing now though is that face transplants are possible, so who knows perhaps one day soon we could take on someones whole identity. ****1/2

This is a horrible, horrible "movie"

Let me start off by saying I have nothing against John Travolta (although i did not like Pulp Fiction), and Nicholas Cage is still one of my favorite performers. Actually, they both give good, twisting performances in this film. That said, Face/Off is an overblown, mind-numbing experiment gone wrong.

Granted, the first 15-20 minutes proceed well, with Cage as a dancing priest and the first-half of the airport chase/shootout. But this film so rapidly deteriorates into a series of almost every bad action movie cliche sewn together. Poorly.

There are far too many bad moments to list here. Is it the easy escape from the inescapable prison? Is it the heavy-handed use of a Disney tune during a shootout? Is it the fact that even the even the most disinterested of wives could tell if someone were impersonating her husband? Maybe an exhausting boat chase. No wait, perhaps a standoff at a church? This movie takes "ridiculous" to a whole new level.

People will say that often we need to check our brains at the door, and just enjoy a movie. With Face/Off, that is not possible (as it is with say, Independence Day) because it seems like it wants to be taken seriously, and it doesn't have enough of a sense of humor for us (me) to take it otherwise.

Fans of this flick are more often that not fans of the two leads, or worship at the feet of director John Woo. I don't know much about Mr. Woo -- except that M:I 2 was mediocre, but not offensively bad like this -- but his brand of so-called stylized violence can't save this sinking ship of a film any more than nice clothes could rescue Wild Wild West.

Please, do yourself a favor...avoid Face/Off on film, tape, dvd, cable, and/or broadcast tv. It is just that BAD!

Cool Movie!!!!

Face/Off is one of the coolest action flicks I've seen. This movie has a strong plot, and a cool diologue. John Travolta and Nickholas Cage give a worthy performances. I recommend this movie to everyone who likes action movies. Face/Off was cool.

One of the best action movies.

And the funny thing is that is actually not just an action film. Anyone who has appreciation for the plots of lets say stylish "japanimation" will appreciate the real meaning of this piece of entertainment.Most of the people I have talked to and disliked the movie have told me that the plot is unbelievable. Usually these people are the ones who say Lethal Weapon 4 was a FUN-ACTION movie. (*sighs*)I mean, they have not really a developed taste for a piece of quality entertainment.I am not trying to be a snob about it, but with all honesty I can see from where they are coming. They pay $9 bucks and expect to be entertained and usual.When I went to see this movie, I had no idea who John Whoo was and never heard the premise of the movie before. Went with my girlfriend and her dad who was a very respected brain surgeon well into his late 50s.He loved it.I was in awe of how the style was so magnificently captured and made `cool' to look at. Like the last 15 minutes of `The Last of the Mohicans' is the kind of movie that raises your neck hair with adrenaline and excitation.I am not a big fan of japanimation, but I DO can see how stylish they are in the execution of their plots.this movie strike those cords in a very beautiful way.(if you like things like Cowboy-Bebop.this is a must)

Clever and Original

I haven't seen many movies like Face-off, especially with its original plotline and all-star cast of characters. John Travolta and Nicholas Cage team up in what could be the best acting jobs by both of them. Cage starts off in the beginning as the villain and Travolta the good guy. After their faces are switched, then they reverse roles. Before this movie was released I know some people had been skeptical towards Travolta playing a villain. We're all used to seeing him play good guy characters with morals (i.e. Phenomenon, Michael, etc.). I'm sure he put those ballots to rest because he did a tremendous job as the villian. Cage also did a good job the short time he played the villian and did an even better job as the hero. The plot is powerful throughout the whole movie and keeps you motivated to keep watching. You have to see it to believe it, and I recommend this movie to everyone.

Worst Movie I've Seen

I cannot tell you how much I urge everyone to avoid this movie. Not only is the plot completely ridiculous and unbelievable, but the acting is much, much worse. Both Cage and Travolta mail in their performances, and when they "play" each other, it just gets taken to another level.Additionally, had there not been any slow-motion, then the movie would have been at least 45 minutes shorter. That is probably even more annoying than the horrid acting. Every scene involves slow motion, it is as if Woo realized that the plot/act sucked so he had to place an emphasis on something else, so he had a bunch of slow motion done so that you will only focus on various movements and action sequences.This tag line alone summarizes the ridiculous nature of the "film" - "To destroy your enemy, you must find him, face him, and then... become him." What a joke. Please, please don't waste your time watching this movie. I wish that I could have the 2+ hours of my life back that I wasted in watching this, as I feel that my life is now worse off for having watched Face/Off. I only recommend this movie to mortal enemies, and even then I still feel horrible for doing that to them.WORST MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN!!!

AWESOME!!!

Face/Off is an action-packed movie with great acting and a very intriguing plot.Six years after the murder of his son by brutal madman, Castor Troy(Cage), FBI Agent Sean Archer(Travolta) has hunted down Troy and put him in a coma. But before he did, Troy and his gang masterminded a plot to destroy a good portion of Los Angeles using a hidden bomb. Unable to get Troy's gang to speak, Archer undergoes a secret mission using Castor Troy's face and voice and goes to prison to try and get Troy's brother to tell him where the bomb is hidden. But then Castor Troy comes out of his coma and all hell breaks loose as he takes Archer's identity.The best part of the movie is the story(but believe me, don't try to explain it to your friends before they see it, because it won't make any sense)which leads to an explosive finale between Travolta and Cage. They are brilliant in their roles.I give this movie a 10/10

i like this

i want to see thi

Eh....Not bad.

It had its good points and bad points. However, I didn't like it because of Cage and Travolta. I stopped liking their characters as soon as they swapped faces. Travolta as the bad guy...I just wasn't scared. Cage as the bad guy, however? I was definitely scared. Then there's Pollux Troy...Let's put it this way. Alessandro Nivola's performance got me to check out his other movies. Same for Colm Feore as Dr. Walsh. Good movie. Not great. Not horrible. Mediocre, possibly. Middle of the line, yeah. I'd say *** of *****.

Greatest action movie ever made, period.

This is simply the best action movie I have ever seen. Very few movies come close, but don't overtake, this masterpiece. John Woo has unleashed an action movie that all should see at least once. And all action fans should own. The action scenes are fast and furious, the script is great, and the story is pretty good, and John Travolta and Nicholas Cage give excellent performances. See this movie now if you haven't already, or if you just haven't seen it recently you will not be disappointed. This movie would get 10 out of 10 from me.

A ballet of bullets and blood

If there is one thing that Asia does better than America, it is intense, violent action. John Woo, legendary Hong Kong filmmaker, strutted his prowess in this beyond-hollywood masterpiece. However, Woo wansn't the only one on his game here. The duo of Nicholas Cage and John Travolta, exchanging roles, faces, and mannerisms, really showed off their previously hidden acting abilities. The plot was surprisingly interesting, if repeatedly implausable. And everything bled of style. But none of this got to hold the spotlight for long, especially against some of the most intense double-fisted gun battles this side of the pacific. Unlike traditional hollywood fare which would throw more FX budget at a scene, these were intense because they were well cheoreographed, stunningly filmed, and playfully inventive. Sure, John Woo peppered his action with very cool, very human points of high drama, but the point of the drama is getting your heart pumping, and at that Face / Off excelled.

If the phrase "guns 'a blazing" doesn't appeal to you, you'll definitely want to pass on this one. For the rest of us, however, this is everything an action movie is supposed to be, and oh so beautiful.

Pure garbage

Face Off is the biggest load of garbage I have ever witnessed. Travolta swaps faces with Cage, and vice versa. They even have massive surgery to change their body structure, so they look alike. Complete tripe. Don't waste your money on it. And if it comes on TV, switch sides.
Marks: -10 out of 10.