Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Simply A Masterpiece

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

This is one terrific film that sends a very strong message. It speaks volumes of just how dangerously close we are now to "never being alone." Will Smith is always fun to watch and he doesn't disappoint in this film. Jon Voight is terrific as the megalomaniac leading a goon squad that makes Tony Soprano's crew look like the Seven Dwarfs. Gene Hackman is always good no matter which role he's in. The action is non-stop, to say the least, never a dull moment. Really enjoyed this one!

Will Smith definitely doesn't disappoint the audience. He's extremely talented actor, and he adds his own charm to each character he plays. Of course some might find that annoying, but in the end his charm is what makes even the otherwise unlikable characters sympathetic. I read that Tom Cruise was first considered to play the main character. There are people out there who love Cruise but I personally could not like Robert Dean if played by him. I think I've only seen one movie by Tony Scott before, and that was Domino. In Domino I was annoyed by the overuse of the special effects and weird cinematography. In Enemy of the State Scott's input is clear, but it is definitely easier to follow this one. Sure, weird effects are used, but not all the time, and while some shots are still "artsy" in a way, it doesn't affect the whole movie, just few scenes, during which it's not always easy to even notice. Enemy of the State is an excellent thriller. It's the antagonist that makes you sit on the edge of your seat - NSA has satellites and basically eyes everywhere, how is one person going to outrun all that? I love the use of NSA as the antagonist, since it feels all powerful, and it makes the film still very current. This is one of those movies that make conspiracy theorists wet themselves, yet isn't too far fetched. All the chase scenes are excellently executed, and the feeling of helplessness is extremely thrilling. The only annoying thing is that sometimes the technology doesn't seem believable. Would there really be a surveillance camera in a lingerie shop that would be good enough for someone to almost get a full 360 degree view of the shop? That didn't seem real. Enemy of the state is a marvellous movie. It has clever twists and interesting characters, even if most of them are just plain annoying - all that is saved by Will Smith's charisma, and the main character's family. That way there's at least someone who to root for. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. This is, no doubt, one of the best thrillers out there.

Watching Will Smith become the inadvertent target of the National Security Agency and the way they monitored him so closely, I couldn't help thinking, how could 9/11 have occurred? Should you feel all warm and secure we've got all this monitoring or should you be afraid, be very afraid?Will Smith was already in enough of a jackpot trying to deal with Mafia hoods muscling in on a labor union he's representing. But he accidentally comes into possession of a tape showing the murder of a member of the House of Representatives played in a brief cameo by Jason Robards. Robards opposes further monitoring that NSA bigwig Jon Voight is fighting for and Voight is right on the scene. That could embarrass a whole lot of people.Fortunately Smith comes to the attention of old CIA guy Gene Hackman who helps him figure out his predicament.As for the rest of the film it kind of has an ending, a bit more complex to be sure, but an ending like a plan coming together on one of those old A Team television episodes. As for the surveillance all I can say is George Orwell's vision is coming close to reality.Interesting film, non-stop action when it gets going like an Indiana Jones film. Fans of the principal cast members should find it pleasing.

Enemy of the State (1998): Dir: Tony Scott / Cast: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Barry Pepper: The enemy in question is not asked within the compounds of the screenplay but rather in our own view on political issues. Will Smith plays a lawyer caught in a scheme where he must clear his name. Recycled plot yet director Tony Scott builds upon mystery elements to render it more detailed and a tad more intelligent than perhaps it is perceived as being. Smith gains accidental possession of a disc containing footage of the murder of a congressman. Gene Hackman appears after a third party is murdered. Scott shows skill here after making the highly overrated Top Gun and the vampire gore fest The Hunger. Smith is effective as a lawyer placed within a dire situation where he must clear his name. We know the outcome to this and that everything Smith lost he will regain. Hackman is in top form as a mysterious contact who has laid low for a very long time. Hackman is the reason to see the film specifically for his methods of outsmarting the enemy. Jon Voight plays the villain caught on camera committing murder and makes Smith's life difficult when he pursues a device placed in his possession. This will ultimately arrive at the standard shootout. Regina King is standard issue as Smith's wife. Pure action that should please fans of the genre. Score: 7 ½ / 10