I Am Number Four Movie Review–Wait For The Sequel
Ah, the growing trend of turning everything into Twilight. We’ve got Red Riding Hood coming up looking to bring out Twilight with more werewolves, and some are already calling I Am Number Four the Twilight of alien invasion movies. They’re not too far wrong, sadly, though this is a bit more entertaining than Twilight, but only just a bit.
I Am Number Four follows the Loriens, who have, in the grandest Kryptonian fashion, sent nine of their young folks off to Earth to be raised by Protectors. The displaced Loriens are a powerful set of kids, with all sorts of bizarre superpowers, but as is generally the case with this sort of thing, it takes training to use them properly. The displaced Loriens also have a bigger problem on their hands, the psychopathic Mogadorians, who apparently managed to put paid to everyone on Lorien, but will somehow be killed by nine kids with superpowers. This is the first of many such plotholes. Anyway, the kids are rapidly being killed off by Mogadorians, and the first three are already down. Now, they’re on their way to take out Number Four, who’s been moving around the United States for years under a variety of names. And he’ll have to survive the Mogadorian onslaught long enough to learn how to use his powers and find the rest of the kids to have any shot of taking down the Mogadorians.
Seriously, I could go down a list of plotholes this movie’s packing. Like how a small town in Ohio, where Number Four spends most of the movie, has sufficient wealth to make both a camera store and guitar shop viable businesses but not sufficient to host a community college. Or how Number Six, who Number Four will encounter later in the movie, knows so much about her planet while Number Four spends most of the movie surprised by LITERALLY EVERYTHING. It goes on like this.
Now, this was actually a book to start with, apparently, so maybe some things have been lost in translation, like pretty much every Harry Potter fan will huffily point out every time I mention a plot hole in the movies. But still–a movie should not come with required reading just to get anywhere with the plot. A movie needs to be self-contained, with maybe some points left open for sequels (as this one so clearly did). Worse, it took almost an hour for I Am Number Four to start getting interesting, and much of the last few minutes was a terrific rolling fight scene but even here they didn’t take long to start setting up that sequel, which is inevitable, because we’ve got all sorts of unanswered questions in here.
Still though, it’s not bad–it’s certainly not the reprehensible train wreck that Twilight was–and will prove at least watchable. Though if you take a pass on this one until it hits on video and the sequel comes out, you might feel better about the whole thing.
The Screenhead Ten Scale gives it a passable five out of ten, and looks at least somewhat forward to seeing where we go with this.
I think you are incorrect, this movie was not as terrible as you say. Some of the so called “potholes” such as “how Number Six, who Number Four will encounter later in the movie, knows so much about her planet while Number Four spends most of the movie surprised by LITERALLY EVERYTHING. It goes on like this” This is because number six is older and thus remembers more about the planet then John does since he was 8 yrs old and on earth. This movie was far better then Twilight and had 100% better acting. I have seen the movie twice and both times went with a group of people and everyone in that group thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
I am so not in accord with this, obviously, biased review from a critic severely out of touch and probably is twice as old as the dump of a run down theater they went to, to view, not watch and enjoy because it was their “job”. I will say this, it’s good and it’s entertaining. Comparing it to Twilight is an appalling comparison because the last Twilight wasn’t good really. This movie is geared towards a younger crowd but it pretty much can be enjoyed by everyone, with exception of toddlers. Hopefully ‘I am number four’ is the beginning a great franchise series and follows suit as the novels.
Ya I disagree as well. You are obviously reaching for things not to like about this movie if you have to mention camera and guitar stores not being a viable business in a town without a college. I fully went into this movie expecting and understanding nothing about what the movie was about and I was blown away by how good it was! My wife who really isn’t much of a movie buff loved it. And even she understood perfectly why number six knew so much more than number four. It managed to be very interesting and entertaining without bloody violence or swearing which was very refreshing. I am very much looking forward to at least one sequel to this movie and I would like to read the book as well.
I really enjoyed this movie and left the theatre hoping to see the story continue. I really think it should have a sequel and was SO much better than the twilight movies.
I went and saw the movie last night with my husband and my 3 boys (ages 9, 7, and 5) we all loved it. I knew it was a great movie cause my kids sat through it and not once talked or wanted to go to the bathroom or how kids their ages act when they don’t like a movie. I can’t wait for the next one to come out. I just hope its not while my husband is deployed. I would recommend this movie to everyone.
i’ve seen it twice and loved it both times. although i hadn’t read the books, i am number four sure looks promising. i am eagerly awaiting and hoping for a sequel.
great movie, acting of boy is really impressive. he is brave and intelligent….watch it in hq http://watchonlinemovies-tv.com/IamNumberfour.aspx
I disagree with this critic! I went into this movie not knowing a thing about it and both my husband and myself thoroughly enjoyed it!! We were very pleasantly suprised. I am a Twilight fan, however just a fan of the books, not the movies. The acting was brilliant, the script writing was excellent, i loved the funny Magodorians, they had us in stitches! Stop comparing everything to Twilight – i admit it’s the age of fantasy combined with sci-fi action when it comes to movies but that’s just because it appeals to a lot of people and it’s pure entertainment.
My husband and i cannot wait for the sequel to release!!
I read I am number four and loved it. The movie was great and the content was fresh and different. They can’t pack everything from the book into the movie and what they did in the movie exceeded my expectations given the time to cover the story line. I love how they created the Mogadorians and keep in mind that this is suppose to be an ongoing story, more than one movie so they would probably cover more in the second movie. I hope at this point there is a second movie because it isn’t doing as well bringing in the $$$. I can’t wait for the second book and look forward the second movie.
This was a beautiful movie…..It had me clenching my seat at all times!!!I really dont understand why people are commenting so badly on this movie.I loved and i cant wait for the second installment of the book and movie!!
I read the first book and loved it…cant wait for the next one!!>>>hope it comes soon!!!
This was an Awesome movie..loved both the book and movie….Hope there a second installment
I just saw the movie yesterday, i usually watch movies according to the previews or trailers and since i saw that this movie was coming soon i wanted to see it, i am surprised about all the good reviews everybody is giving to this movie and i completrely agree with all of you, i really liked it and i am hoping to see the sequel soon. Toodles
I truly enlaced this movie. My husband and I went to this movie just to see. While I must admit the beginning had us wondering if we had made a mistake we were glad for the entire show at the end. This is a must see with a cliffhanger that matches the Twilight Saga, in my opinion. There should be a coninuance of this movie for sure!
nice movie. waiting for the sequel. i wish it comes soon!!!!!