Movie Review: I AM NUMBER FOUR

I finally watched I Am Number Four after a weeks of speculating about it. Yesterday was a cinch too, since my niece just finished her exams. So off we went to the theater to watch this movie. To be honest, the biggest draw for me was that Alex Pettyfer was there. Why? Aside from the fact that he's hot, I want to see the actor who is a candidate to be Jace in the future City of Bones movie.

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I Am Number Four

-directed by D.J. Caruso

-screenplay by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar & Marti Noxon

-based on the novel of the same name by Pittacus Lore (Jobile Hughes & James Frey)

-Release date: February 18. 2011

Synopsis from IMDB

Extraordinary teen John Smith (Pettyfer) is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events-his first love (Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

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Yeah, it's that bad. The plot backbone was quite good but how it was told and the sequence of events left a lot to be desired. So much was not clear. There were loose ends and the transition for the sequel was not smooth. For those who have not read the book will go: "Huh?" Well, I have not read the book yet so as to spare the movie from "movie vs. book" lashing.

There were a lot of things that could be expounded on like the history of the Loriens and their feud with the Mogadorians. The how and the why. If only I had a remote, I would've fast-forward the movie through the cheesy, romantic scenes. Romance is good but not when it's much focused on in this type of genre.

Which brings me to another tick - Number Four and Sarah had no chemistry AT ALL. PERIOD. It's like Sarah was put there so that Number Four would have the cliche "human-who-is-in-love-with-an-unworldly-being". Jeez. Walang silbi (*useless*) I vote for Number Six. She was much more suited with Number Four - you could see the tension between them.

All in all, it would have been a good movie if only it was told better.