Movie review: Lucy

Movie review: Lucy

Directed by: Luc Besson

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman

Rating: B-

This was a very interesting movie, to say the least. Eye opening. Thought provoking. At first, the flashes to animals in a forest many, many years ago may seem odd. Then you come to realize that it aids in telling the story, and this is no ordinary story with a typical, formulaic plot line. This movie navigates ideas on which scientists are only able to scratch the surface. It brings cognitive potential into the realm of understanding.

Lucy is basically abducted and drugs are planted in her body, she is turned into a mule. Something happens and the drugs leak and she finds herself on her own. I say “something” because I do not want to ruin the movie for you. The viewer is witness to the progression of her brain development as she seeks revenge for the predicament she was so violently put into. We watch as she is able to do more, control more, and understand more.

What happens in the end may be believable, depending on your point of view. It is impossible for any of us to know what would truly happen when 100% mental capacity is achieved. The way it is depicted in this movie may seem like an easy way out (perhaps the screen writer ran out of ideas?) because it seems so pedestrian and logical to what our brains are able to comprehend. However, that may be the design. We wouldn’t be able to understand or follow much more and neither would the characters in the movie, who are witnessing the transformation. Whatever happens at 100% cognition has to be something that the human mind can absorb if there is any hope that that person will follow, which in this case is the goal of Lucy, for the world to benefit from her knowledge.

This is a movie that definitely stays with a person, however not for superb acting (although it was not bad) or through excellent in directing (again not bad). This movie is memorable due to the nature of the content. It makes people think and wonder about concepts that are theoretical in nature.  This movie is entertaining and action packed. The viewer, in between wondering about the themes of the film, is in awe over what Lucy is capable of and what she will do next. This is great for anyone who loves action and anyone who is looking for a little more than the typical adrenalin packed movie.