12 Monkeys

First and foremost, a thorough script guarantees a quality spectacle. And I dare to say that on the first watch, this film is difficult to understand, and penetrating all the nuances and intricacies of the script can only be achieved on a second or third viewing. It can be said that throughout the the film, we do not know where we stand. There are plenty of deceptive references and supporting characters. All of this is wrapped in Terry Gilliam’s typical visual style and unmistakable signature. I dare not claim that I fully understood this masterpiece, but I can confidently say that there are very few films of this kind, with such a large dose of originality and directorial invention. And when you add excellent performances by Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe, the result is nothing short of a masterpiece. (2006-05-03)

An interesting futuristic view for that time and a nice concept of time travel, but not so impressive today. There are much better pieces in the genre, more action-packed and more nimble concepts and here not much happens in two hours. On the other hand, the main qualities of 12 Monkeys are not "during it", but in what comes "after it" - or rather, after the closing credits. I've never seen a film that didn't have an official interpretation of the ending, it was explained by the filmmaker, but also by the audience, who simply hasn’t agreed on the final version. And that's what I like about this film. Otherwise, though, the main storyline is too talky for me, and even Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis can’t significantly save it, so I'll leave the three-star rating with the comment that the ending will be on my mind for a long time to come. A fun film. (2023-02-03)

In the best role of his career, Willis left his acting mannerisms behind and dropped his smile #1. An extraordinary film with a brilliantly conceived plot and a breathtaking ending. You won’t get bored for a moment and your brain will work at full speed. The only weakness is the Brad Pitt’s awful overacting, it ruined the impression of the film for me. Thanks to the gods of cinema for Terry Cilliam. (2003-04-20)

Unfortunately I can’t award twelve stars for the 12 Monkeys, but that changes nothing about the fact that this is not only the zenith of Gilliam’s works, but also the best sci-fi movie ever. And therefore is one of the best works of world cinema. The screenplay is flawless to the T and the ending, which you will comprehend only after watching it several times over and the optimism of the elating message (not the obvious one, but the one hidden under the surface), is just unbeatable. And that’s all I intend to write about this picture - if you have already seen it, you know how powerful and what genius these monkeys hold inside them. And if you haven’t, then you’ll understand when you see it. (2004-05-24)

Imaginative, smart, engaging, dark, and very entertaining; one of the most interesting, perhaps even the best, time travel sci-fi fils ever made. It works as both a science fiction and a great and suspenseful thriller. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt give excellent performances. Solid film. 80%. (2014-02-08)