It is a revenge fantasy. It is supposed to be a cathartic exercise for the victims of crime, and people who hate crime and criminals. It is not supposed to be a "How to" for how to be a good person.
No, it is not a great movie. But it is good and it is done well. And Jodie Foster is a great actress.

It's a s-h-i-t-t-y movie (well hey that's just me, don't get your panties in a twist). Cliche and predictable. Dragging at times. But still a watchable movie. Not really enjoyable but I don't feel like I wasted my time watching it either. Most definitely won't watch it again though.

It wasn't terrible, but the whole thing felt very cliche and obvious. Anyone who's ever seen a few films in this genre could practically see every plot point coming, and the film was INCREDIBLY heavy-handed about its themes and subtext. The narration practically spelt out all of Erica's inner thoughts and emotions, leaving little room for interpretation. The film is also a little too black-and-white with its characters. Erica is unrealistically naive and wholesome about New York at the start, acting as though it's the beep Land of Oz. The film does have some good performances from the two leads and it does pick up at the end as it is fun to watch Jodie Foster become Charles Bronson, hunting these guys down like a badass and the overall ending and climax is satisfying, but that's not enough to save an entire movie. Overall, meh.

Yes terrible, but watchable. Just to see Jodie looking like Charles Bronson in a skirt.

I thought she looked like Keith Urban the whole time.

but she wears trousers - LOL

Yes terrible, but watchable. Just to see Jodie looking like Charles Bronson in a skirt.

I'm sorry for your loss and for the horrible thing that happened to you. I hope you eventually recover from the trauma of being kidnapped but it's unlikely you will ever fully trust other people again. I lost my Husband tragically and suddenly. it's been seven years (actually yesterday 10/27/06) since he died and I'm still so f'ed up that I rarely leave my home. The loss of your mother may take longer than you think to recover from. Grief affects different people in different ways. At first when my husband died, I tried to get out and do things with people. I bought a motorcycle. I got a second full time job. By the end of the second year of working two jobs and rarely being home. I had some kind of breakdown (meltdown) and stopped working, stopped eating, stopped living basically. Now my daughter pretty much has to care for me. My point, deal with your problems don't try to work/play or run from them like I did because they will catch up to you if you don't stand still and face them.
Just as a side note, I liked the movie.

No, I've once been kidnapped and mugged by a mob armed with knives. I've been very sick later due to the shock, but I didn't change my mind. But after my mother's death (of a long, incurable disease) I experienced deep changes in my persona that were really surprising - my brain literally reconstructed me from scratch and there are many parts of my former self that I can't access any more.
The Brave One
and
Shutter Island
have been quite helpful on my path to recovery.

"I think you have to relate to the character on a personal level to fully appreciate what the film tells us."
I know what you mean. I identified with Erika because I've been mugged and so has my mother. The second time I was mugged I was absolutely furious. If I'd had a weapon I would have kneecapped both thugs-and with joy.
Send lawyers,guns and money/The beep has hit the fan

I think you have to relate to the character on a personal level to fully appreciate what the film tells us. I've watched
The Brave One
and
Shutter Island
a short time after going through a traumatizing experience, and somehow these two films have helped me deal with the psychological, intellectual and even spiritual changes I've seen happen to and in me during this period and consider them as a natural process of personal reconstruction and healing.
The end result is not so brutal and dramatic though, my life wouldn't inspire an action movie.

Awesome movie.

Hmmmm
First off I am a huge fan of Jodie Foster and I think its a shame that she has done so little acting in the last decade or so, she is a huge talent.
However I think this was a well intentioned misfire. The script felt underwritten, underdeveloped and just plain wrong The motivation for her character was muddled to say the least.
It feels like the first 3 times you see her going outside someone gets killed. A little OTT imo.
What the film does not convey at all is that killing someone, even a complete scumbag, would not be easy. Doing something like that would have a huge emotional impact on a person.
Also the relationship between her and the cop, played by Terrence Howard, was pure Hollywood. The ending so rushed and completely unrealistic.
Why would her thirst for killing just stop suddenly and how could she live with what she had done?
This was kinda like a classy version of Death Wish.
2/5 Foster and Jordan are capable of much better.

I like TH a lot, but was really disappointed with this film. Tiresomely derivative, doesn't bring anything new to the deal, characters who are meant to be in relationships but appear to have met only on the first day of shooting, and some really off casting. JF is a good actress but really doesn't belong in this role. It seems wrong for her, and would have suited a younger actress.
^ That's, of course, only my opinion, but being that IMDb is a place for people to air their opinions
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings.

Eh? Come again? like der.. HE LOVES HER!

How on EARTH can you be serious? You trolling? This was a good film, no-one could possibly think its 'terrible'

It's just a movie. Get over it. It's a good movie too.

I agree with the OP. ALso in the end the cliche movie magic: he turns up at the exact right moment at the very place she fled to (ran to). Unbelievable that he shot someone "for her". Semi romantic bravado nonsense. And a little wrong. No?
They may have opted for a "feel" Taxi Driver mixed with the 25th Hour. But failed. Those two mentioned are terrific movies.
with [cheese]

Yes, so he's going to look the other way and let this female serial killer/vigilante continue?
I think seeing the video changed his heart about busting her. He knew whatever "justice" she got couldn't make up for the brutality of what she suffered.
I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

Yes, so he's going to look the other way and let this female serial killer/vigilante continue? Shes probably got a taste for killing now. Crime is still crime - especially murder, irrespective of who commits it!

Stupidest, cheesiest, corniest movie title ever. Could they not come up with something better?

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4 out of 10, that's generous

"It's fiction dear."
Praise Jeebus! The voice of sanity in an insane world. A lot of film viewers seem to forget that fact.