‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ — Review
An attempt to create an attractive plot within a well-known issue, forest fires
CNS photo/Emerson Miller, Warner Bros.
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ is a combination of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ and ‘Only the Brave’. This combination of themes lends itself to creating an alluring plot with an emotional side. Instead of only being a genuine action movie, it’s attempting to create a more varied plot.
The film includes all of the elements of an exciting action movie: conspiracy, “bad guys” who will do what it takes to win, and a troubled but effective protagonist. A movie with both a savior message and an action melody, it accomplishes exactly what it set’s out to complete.
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Movie Background
Angelina Jolie plays Hannah Faber, a smokejumper who is still reeling from a tragic loss of life during her last fire. After being relegated to a fire tower in the Montana wilderness, she encounters a situation she was never trained to combat… A skittish boy who is traumatized by loss and remorse. Unaware of the mounting danger following the boy. Hannah must face the greatest battle of her life, she is forced to reconcile her past in order to protect her as well as the boy’s life.
EMERSON MILLER/WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT
Review — Barry’s Bites Rating (7.8)
It’s an interesting new addition to a problem we’ve all grown too comfortable with, forest fires. Fully expecting this to be a clear-cut fire fighting movie, it was a genuine surprise that there was equally as much plot as action. Instead of solely focusing on the fire aspect, the filmmakers decided to create a mixture of conspiracy and enticing action.
One aspect of this film that is particularly interesting is the full-circle nature of the journey. As Hannah Faber is still reeling from the loss of life from her last fire, she is provided an opportunity to make things right. It creates an interesting character arc as well as provides a motivation for her character to keep going in life. It’s a heartwarming story told in an innovative approach.
While this film was cheesy and goofy at moments, it really does try to be more gritty than a typical heartwarming story. This is essential in differentiating it from a typical action movie. Part of the reason is due to the actor’s ability to pull off convincing performances that create an air of tragedy and struggle. In the end, this film creates an exciting and attention-grabbing experience for the audience.
