Point Break remake footage review: We’ve seen 20 minutes of the new Point Break movie. Here are our thoughts.
Point Break remake footage review
We have made it pretty clear over the years that we are big fans of both Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, meaning that 1991’s Point Break is one of our absolute favourites. With this in mind we have of course been keeping a very close and critical eye on the remake.
Many, ourselves included, have spent the last few months questioning why anyone would be silly enough to touch a property that is loved by so many, especially when the bones of the story – FBI agent goes undercover to unmask a group of criminals, but gets seduced by the life – has already been remade within the Fast and Furious franchise. Director Ericson Core believed it was possible and necessary, his Point Break remake hits the UK on 12th February 2016.
In preparation for the release we were invited to an exclusive screening and we are among some of the first people in the world to get our eyeballs around it. Most disappointingly we weren’t allowed to see the whole movie as the editors are still hard at work on the final cut. Instead we saw around twenty to thirty minutes of footage from various points of the movie.
Enough of our rambling though, here’s what we thought of what we saw of the new Point Break remake.
The footage that we were shown is set at the very start of the film where we were introduced to YouTube sensation Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey). The jaw-dropping extreme action kicks off right away and is tinged with tragedy that will surely haunt this incarnation of Utah throughout the story. We then jump to the Point Break opening that we are used to, Johnny making his way through the FBI, though there is a distinct lack of rain and gum chewing.
Our first glimpse of the Ex-Presidents proves that they have had somewhat of a face-lift. Gone are the rubbery masks, replaced with stenciled biker helmets. With it no longer being 1991, our pick of presidents is also different, and this time include current President Barack Obama. Also, is that Putin?
Point Break remake footage screening
After getting this new environment setup, we leap back into the action, and if this film has anything going for it, it is the adrenaline soaked action sequences. We saw surfing of waves that would make original Bodhi curl up into a ball and a wing-suit jump that makes Tom Cruise look like a toddler. What really sets it apart is having actual extreme sport athletes involved in the production and shooting the film, which offers some brilliant POV shots. Never ridden a wave? Well after watching this you’ll be able to say that you have. We can safely say that action fans will have the time of their lives with this movie.
Where the new Point Break remake might suffer however, is with the script. Some of the dialogue seemed a little clunky and some scenes were a little too ‘talkie’. Granted we saw most of the narrative led sequences independently of their surrounding scenes and hopefully they will work when stitched into place. We also saw a ‘fight club’ scenario which allowed Utah and Bodhi to duke it out, and given that Bodhi is meant to be a very spiritual man it feels odd and out-of-place.
Overall, from watching this exclusive footage, we’re expecting something in the vein spiritually to the first film, but with the action dressings of a Fast and Furious movie.
Let’s just hope it’s akin to one of the good ones.
The Point Break remake releases in select US cinemas on Christmas Day before heading to the UK on 12th February, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
