Well Deserved Praise

Let's be realistic.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

If a smaller woman wants to beat a man in a combat fight, that's how you write it and how you do it! You don't just show up and he's beaten; that would make it completely unrealistic! What's so hard to believe: 1. An abusive husband that confines his wife, but does what he wants! That happens sometimes as it does in the movie: from first major argument on, a physically abusive man might decide to lay down his ground rules right then and there! 2. Slim(J Lo) had self defense training and anyone can get that(esp. against a coward who really can't fight). I LOVED THE PART WHEN SHE PUTS RINGS AND STEELTOE BOOTS ON TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS NOT FIGHTING AN EQUAL IN THE PHYSICAL DEPARTMENT! THIS IS JUST COMMON SENSE AND, YET, SOME B-MOVIES SHOW A WOMAN KICKING/ PUNCHING A MAN AS IF HE WAS A WOMAN! THIS MOVIE DOES NOT MAKE THIS HUGE MISTAKE! ALSO, THERE IS REASON FOR HER TO ENGAGE MITCH IN A FIGHT, SINCE SHE CANNOT BEAT HIM IN A COURT OF LAW AND GRACE'S CUSTODY CASE IS COMING UP!3. Mitch(abusive husband) had connections that rich men probably do! Even if a rich man is not crooked, he has connections and finds people who love being his friend. If he is crooked, he can find the kinds of friends he needs(BECAUSE THERE IS LITTLE RISK TO HIM). He talks in code speak and--even if a mostly petty criminal(like Mitch)--he is probably not going to do any time to make him stop. If a rich man is crooked, then both he has people that love finding or feel they "HAVE" to find criminal employment and there is little risk(SINCE HE WOULD DO RARE SERIOUS CRIMES WITH THOSE--AS IN THE MOVIE--WITH THOSE THAT HE HAD SOMETHING SERIOUS ON AND, THE OTHER STUFF, HE COULD ALSO DO WITH THOSE SAME PEOPLE OR OTHERS: AND IF CAUGHT IN THE SMALL TIME STUFF, HE DOES NO TIME WORTHY OF NOTE). Again, very realistic! 4. She had escape plans and routes--as every person on the run should!5. As smart and/or wise as she is(or through her dad's connections), she can definitely learn about the simple technologies, etc. of the day that could allow her to do what she did in the movie to keep Mitch from getting help.Negatives: 1. Slim has access to too many connections: Her father has connections that rival Mitch--if not surpass or circumnavigate Mitch's connections completely! Slim got "around" even before Mitch--having an ex in Seattle without explanation and she lives someplace else. Both happening to the same poor person creates instances of coincidence in a movie where she's on the run; this is bad for this movie. They could have had J Lo researching to find someone that was well studied in fighting techniques and stealing from Mitch or his mother to get money. 2. When she is on the run, there is a lull in activity there!

This is totally a film you don't want to miss, though it was made in 2002 and I have watched it in 2017. The feel is still brilliant and well designed to touch the viewer.One thing that I love about this movie is how the protagonist played her role, you could feel the betrayal, heartbreak, and anxiousness. I honestly felt trapped when certain details were reveal.And when she takes steps to relieve her anxiety or should I say when she tries to run from the problem and it continues to find her, she transitions into this strong, logical and powerful person. You can just feel this transformation and you truly understand the motivation for this transformation, which is something I always look for in a great movie!Beautiful work here, the only dislike I had was how often should would let her guard down with here child... But eh, that's I guess what makes it a movie

The society nowadays is not ready to accept the fact that so many women and girls fall victims of Domestic Violence, and it is pivotal to have movies like this which show the pain and endurance of a victim. Children are victim of emotional abuse as well, and it has a long impact on their life. Unfortunately, women are trapped by the fact that they are not capable to make it on their own financially and emotionally. The reason is the prolong abuse which harms their ability to function which is the reason behind the domestic violence, is to take control over the victim. In the movie the woman is portrayed as a strong woman who had decided to faith back and be example for women who have doubt in their ability to cope and show the perpetrator how is on the other side. When women decide to take control over the situation is because the court system usually gives custody to the father because he knows how to present himself so no one can notice his sociopaths personality. Women are more emotional and this is the reason most of the time for losing the battle in court.

Domestic violence is a serious topic that deserves a better platform than this crazy combination of domestic drama and crime thriller. Rather than deal with the realistic situations and consequences that abuse entails, it plunges off the deep end into an unrealistic, over-the-top fantasy of a poor little defenseless wife and mother abused by her suddenly psycho husband finding the only solution to her marriage problems is to become a Hollywood-style undercover martial arts expert bent on framing her husband for plotting her "murder" and killing him in "self-defense".Egad!Even a mediocre drama where the predictable plot elements seen in endless Lindsay Wagner/Meredith Baxter (Birney)/Lifetime movies playing out the emotional trauma of abuse (the lack of self-worth; the seemingly endless legal proceedings; the need to restore emotional health) would have been better. Instead, this movie ends with an unbelievable turn into a super hero/super villain knock-down drag-out fight.There are a lot of other reviews that buy into the "vigilante revenge is its own reward 'cause everything works out in the end" plot, but be forewarned that the many plot holes, poor decisions and ludicrous actions (the nighttime sneaking out sequence is just dumb) make it difficult for the more discerning viewer to overlook the flaws. It's not so awful to enjoy on a so-bad-it's-good level but it's not really got the right movie slickness to forgive the terrible parts either.