The Protege

Great atmosphere and plenty of action. Maggie Q was terrific as the dispassionate contract killer. Samuel L. Jackson was also satisfying. Michael Keaton seemed a little old for the part, but he basically pulled it off. The story was quite implausible but with a lot of interesting details and a couple of clever tricks. Awesome soundtrack. Overall, I am quite satisfied and looking forward to future bad ass roles for Maggie. Worthwhile and quite fun at times.

Keaton's character was the highlight but Maggie Q is a a convincing action star. People don't like to admit it but women have a harder time in those roles just due to biology. Her and Keaton's dynamic was the most interesting thing even if it was a bit vapid ultimately. Not really a whole lot else to say, it's just a solid action thriller that comes and goes.

This is ridiculous junk elevated by it's pretty astonishingly good cast. Q and Keaton have chemistry ... and Keaton displays some pretty amazing fighting for a 70 year old man (and the fight scenes are not hyper edited ... Keaton trained). I enjoyed this predictable nonsense, but I'd say ... see it for the chemistry between the appealing leads and maybe the decent, dumb action will also entertain.

Exactly what you can expect - and then of course with a little "thriller-twist". *Okay

the movie just dosen't hold itself together, there are these "fun" and "enjoyable" action elements mixed in there but towards the end the plot of this film is just this slobby slush with no payoff. this in a twisted way resembels a haneke-like atempt of exposing the viewers desire to watch action-violence but gives back this nonsensical gruesome unresolved nature of reality, by no means is there anything that profound here though

Starts off better than expected, ends in an absolute snooze fest.

It's better than I expected. Figured a fun little actioner, and got a pretty damn good b movie actioner w heart and humour. 7.4. Some moments are cringy, but that's okay. Maggie Q was stellar, Keaton and Sammy play their roles well also. Worth your time and then some.

Contrary to many, I found this quite enjoyable. Engaging story, good delivery, some good laughs, beautiful sets. If just the soundtrack had been a bit more engaging...

An undistinguished effort from the director of my two favorite Bond films. The squicky romance between the two leads (reflecting a nearly three-decade age gap) is straight out of the '90s. Needs way more Samuel L. Jackson.

Nice surprise; solid action film.

Entertainment: 3.5. Spirit: 0.5. Sustainability: 0.5. Family: 0.5

Enjoyable action film. If you've seen contract killer films before, it's nothing new, but I liked the main three stars' performances, even Keaton.

watchable

It’s painfully obvious that the first edit of this movie was a full hour longer, and the narrative gaps are that much more painful because the wrong scenes were cut. Not only is Keaton 28 (light)years out of Maggie Q’s league, a good quarter of the film relies on their Mr. and Mrs. Smith chemistry and they have utterly none. Q’s a solid action star, though, and when Keaton is absent the film has a few good moments.

#21#, exp3, rw2, popcorn, story, cast

The Protege is kind of a culmination of a lot of films. It isn't the most original film, but this cast is loaded. Maggie Q, Keaton, and Jackson are all phenomenal for something like this. Particularly Maggie and Keaton's back and forth really being the driver in all this. The action sequences are quite brutal and entertaining. However, this story is pretty forgettable. Nothing is too interesting, but it does a good job of being a landing mat for a solid action flick.