Review : The Foreigner

DiDa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Kcs said:
I like that movie too. I think the locations are beautiful, the directing is stylish, and the plot is very clever. However the movie doesn't explain how did the two Russian get to that old cottage with the package. And this is a bit disturbing.
Yeah, that's true. we most presume that Marque found this out and that is it not explained in the movie. Also another question, where do the denish people come from at the end of the movie in Norway? They belong with Dunois i thought..
 

Kcs

Member
Mr. Van Aiken made a phone call just before his death. He ordered the Danish guys to the Norwegian farm.

btw: a possible explanation for the two Russians with the package is the following:

Mr. Cold (Jonathan's and Sean's father) collected the evidence about the plane crash and the involvement of his colleague, Olyphant in it, and Mr. Cold was the one who created the package. Dunois, Olyphant and Marquet killed Mr. Cold, but didn't get the package, only some information about the package being en route. They catched one Russian, killed him, but no package. Note the facts: the killed Russian knew Mr. Olyphant's name, and said that the "truth is too dangerous" about the package's way.
What does this mean?
The Russian man knew, that the package was sent by Mr. Cold to his son, Jon! But the "truth is too dangerous", because the Russian guy knew that Olyphant and Mr. Cold do know each other, but officially Olyphant shouldn't know about the package. Which means that if he reveals that the package is sent to Jon, it'd mean a big trouble for Mr. Cold. (Too bad that Mr. Cold was already killed, but the Russian guy didn't know this)
Olyphant found out where Jon is (note Sean's words later: "Jon, to get your phone number was a matter of national security"), informed Marquet, (mis)ordered the Russians to the cottage. And as Marquet informed Oyphant about hiring Jon, Olyphant had no choice but made the Russian's tongue cut out, to prevent that the Russians tell the story to Jon.
 

TwoCents

New Member
I didn't like the ending seemed a build up to nothing, one of Seagals weakest but at least a little different.
 

DiDa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Kcs said:
Mr. Van Aiken made a phone call just before his death. He ordered the Danish guys to the Norwegian farm.

btw: a possible explanation for the two Russians with the package is the following:

Mr. Cold (Jonathan's and Sean's father) collected the evidence about the plane crash and the involvement of his colleague, Olyphant in it, and Mr. Cold was the one who created the package. Dunois, Olyphant and Marquet killed Mr. Cold, but didn't get the package, only some information about the package being en route. They catched one Russian, killed him, but no package. Note the facts: the killed Russian knew Mr. Olyphant's name, and said that the "truth is too dangerous" about the package's way.
What does this mean?
The Russian man knew, that the package was sent by Mr. Cold to his son, Jon! But the "truth is too dangerous", because the Russian guy knew that Olyphant and Mr. Cold do know each other, but officially Olyphant shouldn't know about the package. Which means that if he reveals that the package is sent to Jon, it'd mean a big trouble for Mr. Cold. (Too bad that Mr. Cold was already killed, but the Russian guy didn't know this)
Olyphant found out where Jon is (note Sean's words later: "Jon, to get your phone number was a matter of national security"), informed Marquet, (mis)ordered the Russians to the cottage. And as Marquet informed Oyphant about hiring Jon, Olyphant had no choice but made the Russian's tongue cut out, to prevent that the Russians tell the story to Jon.
Thank you for this. It is indeed a possible explanation. And i think it is the right explanation! Because everything comes together now. Oh...i forgot about the phonecall Van Aiken made to the Denish people.
But the Denish people and Dunois were hired by Mrs. Van Aiken, I think. Because Dunois says to Cold, "Mrs. Van Aiken contacted the Denish to get to me". He and the Denish people were hired to kill Mr. Van Aiken. Isn't it strange that Mr. Van Aiken calls the Denish people than?
 

Kcs

Member
"Mrs. Van Aiken contacted the Denish to get to me."

There are more possibilities for this.

1: Dunois didn't tell the truth, and he wasn't hired with the help of the Danish guys.

2: According to the original plan, when the Danish guys attack the cottage, Dunois is there, but alone. After some shooting, Dunois gives the package to the Danish guys. tells Marquet: sorry, but I couldn't do anything. Meredith has the package, everything is okay. But Cold was there. Dunois had to keep his secret, so he had to kill a few Danish guys. Of course the Danish guys were angry to Meredith, they wanted to catch her. So they've contacted Mr. Van Aiken.

----
Anyway, in most of the movies, the movie itself tells the story. The Foreigner is a puzzle: it gives you lots of pieces of information, and you have to figure out the charachter's connections with each other, the motives, and what happened.
 

DiDa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Kcs said:
"Mrs. Van Aiken contacted the Denish to get to me."

There are more possibilities for this.

1: Dunois didn't tell the truth, and he wasn't hired with the help of the Danish guys.

2: According to the original plan, when the Danish guys attack the cottage, Dunois is there, but alone. After some shooting, Dunois gives the package to the Danish guys. tells Marquet: sorry, but I couldn't do anything. Meredith has the package, everything is okay. But Cold was there. Dunois had to keep his secret, so he had to kill a few Danish guys. Of course the Danish guys were angry to Meredith, they wanted to catch her. So they've contacted Mr. Van Aiken.

----
Anyway, in most of the movies, the movie itself tells the story. The Foreigner is a puzzle: it gives you lots of pieces of information, and you have to figure out the charachter's connections with each other, the motives, and what happened.
Yeah, that's true. That's exactly what I like about The Foreigner. Thanks for your information! The Foreigner rules!!!
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
DiDa said:
I've just watched The Foreigner for the 4th time, and I think this is a good movie. Seagal doesn't fight a lot but i just like the style and the plot of the movie! All those people which are chasing a package. It's just a story that you will have to follow or else you don't know where the film is about. I like that, this is just not a simple story just like other Seagal movies. Great style, great story, nice rolles and a great Seagal. One of my favorite films he made in the last years.

I totally agree with you. The plot is very creative and clever especially for a DTV release, I give alot of credit to that. I think The Foreigner is Seagal's best DTV release. The story is clever, and the action scenes although very short and sweat are pleasing. I enjoyed this movie and have been urged to watch it again.
 

latinojazz

Well-Known Member
That´s the reason for the sequel, many people bought and rented the movie and Sony realized about it

I like the movie too.He looks fantastic in this¨misterious¨foreigner role
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
latinojazz said:
That´s the reason for the sequel, many people bought and rented the movie and Sony realized about it

I like the movie too.He looks fantastic in this¨misterious¨foreigner role

But why wouldn't they spend more time with the movie, budget, and why not put more effort in the film. Man I really hope Black Dawn is a pleasing film.
 

BridgetA

New Member
I only know the beginning and the end of Foreigner,because i slept during the film.
But the review in an german forum was not good.They said nobody could understand the meaning of the film.The Film made a lot of money but they do not know why.Should i watch the film again without sleeping?Perhaps i could understand it.
 

latinojazz

Well-Known Member
The Film made a lot of money because the release was inmediately after Exit Wounds, the concept title is great¨The Foreigner¨, the European filming style as The Bourne Identity was different to his classic flics and was in the mood of times, and the audience was needed of more Seagal films after his number one box-office.

See you
 

Oldsexyblackman

New Member
weird

Oddly enough this is one of my favorite Direct to Dvd Seagal films.

Does this film make sense? NO.

Is Seagal doubled a lot? Yes.


Is someone shot or is something blown up every 5 minutes? Oh YEA!!!


If Seagal had actually had some good fight in this movie it would have been one of my favorite Seagal films.
 

Oldsexyblackman

New Member
I'd like to add something to my review. The bad guy that never dies and is always smoking (I cant remeber his name) He is a good actor and a cool character.
 

Wrist-Snapper

Seagalatron
THE FOREIGNER. It's starts off interestingly enough as a post-Cold War spy thriller. I think that's a genre perfectly suited to Steven. The grey Eastern European locations also add pleasingly to the spy movie mix, but...

The plot is a mess, devoid of logic, with people consistently doing illogical things. The structure of the film suffers and there's a lot of head-scratching going on. There's no backbone to hang the plot on. Even a simple story of Seagal being pursued for the flight recorder would have been stronger.

Yes, I know the seemingly indestructible (I audibly groaned when he came back from the dead for the third time) bad guy is a bad guy, but having him going around needlessly shooting EVERYTHING in sight became annoying. I feared for the building containing the window he was thrown out of in case he decided to shoot it too! Then, Olyphant's henchman started in on the act!

The action is disappointing, with unnecessary speed-ramping and slow-motion designed to make the film look modern, but we don't get Seagal doing what he does best enough. A real FBI agent or bodyguard one said Seagal was the most convincing handler of weapons and sweeps a room like a pro. What better opportunity than to see him do it than in a spy thriller? Also, his fights are poorly handled, they should take a tip from the earlier movies and have Seagal fight, in camera, for real. I know he's older, but I doubt he's become so slow as to disguise it?

All in all, I love the idea behind THE FOREIGNER, with Seagal as an expendable relic of the Cold War. A low-budget BOURNE IDENTITY. I think that had the script been better this could have been just that. As it is, it's a disappointment. :(
 

anoli

Wierna Fanka Stevena
Pictures Movies "The Foreigner " 2002
 

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anoli

Wierna Fanka Stevena
Movie is enough heavy,but this movie of i pleases and thanks too site.:)
 

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suziwong said:
The Foreigner shows Seagal's age
25/07/2003 - 21:02:33


The Foreigner features Steven Seagal as Jon Cold, a former undercover operative, now working as a freelance agent delivering high-risk packages.

He is keen to retire from the business, but as he prepares for his father’s funeral, he is asked to make one last trip.

He reluctantly accepts the job of taking a mysterious package from France to Germany.

However, Cold soon discovers there are a lot of people determined to make sure he never completes his task.

Father Time has caught up with Seagal, he’s put on a few pounds and looks as out of place as a secret agent as an elephant in a tutu.

His lumbering efforts at being suave and sophisticated aren’t helped by the fact that he’s stuck with a nightmare of a film.

The Foreigner is convoluted and confusing. The characters come and go without leaving a mark, sometimes you have to wonder why they were there in the first place.

The fight scenes, normally a saving grace for Seagal, are just as bad.

He looks slow and heavy and every one of his 52 years.

I think it’s pipe and slippers time for Mr Seagal.
Action, 15. *
****************
Steven Segal was 52!!!
Good god that makes him older then Jan and Jan moved fast for a pole playing a german.
As for characters not leaving a mark but one character in particular thou he was only in it for 14 seconds certainly left a lasting impression with me.
As for the movie it was a muddled mess without any decent fight scenes and far too many gunfights. Steven looks boss in his coats (almost as good as man with porsche but please dont start wearing a turnio Steven the style is not you mate you might lose your hair and we all love your fantasy warrior locks) and of course A big thank you for showing me a pole looking as good as any englishman but they cant save a slow confusing film.
And the Berlin Airport scene left a nasty taste in my mouth. Next time Mr Segal please for the love of all holy place a message on the end of the movie "I dont endorse cruelty to old people nor cruelty towards those who wish to look tradional Flatcapmen like man with porsche and many many others ARE human beings and not targets"
I should know cause I am quite like Man with Porsche

FCM
 
Kcs said:
"Mrs. Van Aiken contacted the Denish to get to me."

There are more possibilities for this.

1: Dunois didn't tell the truth, and he wasn't hired with the help of the Danish guys.

2: According to the original plan, when the Danish guys attack the cottage, Dunois is there, but alone. After some shooting, Dunois gives the package to the Danish guys. tells Marquet: sorry, but I couldn't do anything. Meredith has the package, everything is okay. But Cold was there. Dunois had to keep his secret, so he had to kill a few Danish guys. Of course the Danish guys were angry to Meredith, they wanted to catch her. So they've contacted Mr. Van Aiken.

----
Anyway, in most of the movies, the movie itself tells the story. The Foreigner is a puzzle: it gives you lots of pieces of information, and you have to figure out the charachter's connections with each other, the motives, and what happened.

Ok I have some questions about the foreigner concering one scene.

1) There were equaliy good cars in that you store it place and Dunior proved he can pick a lock so why go for the old guys porsche?
2) How could Jan run in so many damm clothes? I wear 3 piece suits and they are tough to walk around in much less run like he did throw in a sweade winter coat and scarf and a heavy and rather solid flatcap and it would not have been easy for Jan to run without going butt-up without the help of lead.
3) the only plot connection that I can think of is mayby Dunoir was born poor and hates rich people. That Mark 2 Eridrick had was 8000.00 dollars at least mayby more. and belive me his clothes are not cheap either since a sweade coat coat like his nearly cost me 400 bucks from half price (his fashion went out 1 year ago) so perhaps mayby it was Dunoir getting back at a rich person for a childhood revenge.
4) he was carrying a briefcase I wonder what was in it? he clung onto it like grim death but it could not have been money since most businessmen hand-cuff the case to their wrisit.
5) judging by his style of clothing he was headed for England since it is a 2 to 3 hour flight and he had no luggage with him only the case. I have seen businessmen in real life sporting only a briefcase on planes. The yellow paper he tapped on the window was his plane ticket (plane tickets look quite the same in real life but depening on the flight for color) If dunoir knew the guy in any way why did he take a gander at his plane ticket which dropped into the car from his hand.
Any answers will be most welcome.

FCM:confused:
 
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