I've seen plenty of bad movies, but, by gum, this was just one of those films which totally turned me off, so I'll make my review short. I guess the thing which annoyed me the most was the amount of money spent on a film which achieves so little. Definitely one of the many low points in Keanu's acting career (THE MATRIX was still three years away), this film presents him as the world's most unlikely scientist, a braindead dope whose survival until the ending of the film is simply preposterous. Morgan Freeman isn't served much better, and definitely shouldn't be appearing in junk like this if he wants his career to stay afloat.The plot is minimal, and basically it's all one big cat and mouse movie with some poor CGI explosions. Frankly, the action isn't handled very well so many scenes are repetitive, a surprise considering that director Andrew Davies made some really exciting films with THE FUGITIVE and UNDER SIEGE. The violence is tame too, and this is nothing we haven't seen before. Ultimately a big disappoint, CHAIN REACTION is shallow, empty, stupid and pointless. Avoid unless there is absolutely nothing else on television to watch, and for god's sake don't buy it!

I found reviews for this film on IMDb confusing and wondered whether people had watched the same film as me. One reviewer said that the film doesn't mention sonoluminescence (it does, explicitly), others say that certain things aren't explained ie the explosion in the warehouse. Well d'uh! Hydrogen is not an inert gas and is highly flammable (mentioned a LOT in the film) and people complain about lack of plot then demonstrate they didn't understand it anyway! Chain Reaction is a science-heavy sci-fi chase film where two people who barely know each other are framed for something they didn't do and go on the run. Suspension of "why didn't they just go to the FBI and explain" aside, it's a ripping good fairly intelligent yarn which isn't dumbed down so it's not all spelled out, especially Shannon's character (Morgan Freeman) who throughout is ambiguous in who's side he is actually on. Aspects of the story are insidious - an environmentally friendly fuel that would revolutionise the world and a Government Agency wants to suppress it and an idealist is labelled a dreamer for wanting to make a difference. It's isn't too hard to believe that is a possible scenario. Okay some of the acting is a little cheesy but overall the performances were perfectly fine. Freeman of course is superior. Dr Alistair Barkley (Nicholas Rudall) was also a lovely actor and character, although not well known, and his monologue at the beginning is just superb and emotive - clearly the writing/screenplay was very good except for the repetition of everyone's names during conversation, that really gets on my nerves. The plot is as simple or as complex as you want. On the surface it's a simple on the run film, but the political conspiracy aspects and science-stuff make it a deeper story, which not being spelled out adds to the mystery. Reeves of course is excellent at the action, and plays resourceful convincingly and easily; I liked his dogged determination to rescue Lily and clear their names. Rachel Weisz's Physicist the "too serious Lily" is a bit weak, a bit of a drag on the survival given that everything is done for her but perhaps that is more realistic, women don't miraculously turn into gung-ho running leaping shooting and fighting survivalists, but I do expect her to do something but her emotions are very real especially regarding Chen (Tzi Ma). Whilst you see a potential romance on the cards for Eddie and Lily it's nice that the screenplay doesn't dwell on it, and the focus of the plot given the lack of time and Eddie Kasalivich being a gentleman.The SFX in the film are good, especially the explosions, and I'm betting Reeves does his own bike stunts. There are many stunts which are pretty good but they are within the bounds of realism - and this is generally why the characters are relatable and convincing. It's got a tense crescendo to how it runs out, and it's entertaining and adult without resorting to bad language and gratuitous violence - I would consider it almost a family film (older family). I'm not saying it's the best film every made, but I like all aspects of it to have seen it a number of times. I think some people try and read too much into the science, it's not supposed to be an episode of the Open University, it's just a science-fiction that isn't too far from feasible possibility. Just sit back and enjoy for some entertainment.

Just watched the big budget CHAIN REACTION on the Reelz channel, and it all made for a very underwhelming Sat. night. Some sort of convoluted plot about alternative fuel which didn't make a whole bunch of sense was the back drop to Keanu Reeves & Rachel Weisz running everywhere around Chicago and So. Wisconsin in January of 1996.It certainly was fun picking out Chicago bit actors of the era, including Chelcie Ross, a very young and skinny Michael Shannon (or as I know him now, Nelson Van Alden from "Boardwalk Empire"), John Cusack's late father, and even a couple of CBS2 Chicago veteran investigative reporters, Pam Zekman and John Drummond. The best parts were the location shots at Williams Bay on frozen Lake Geneva Wisc., including the inside of the Yerkes Observatory and Keanu spinning around on an "everglades like" hovercraft just missing some 'Sconnie fish houses.But all in all, I'd say take a pass on CHAIN REACTION unless nothing else is on.

When the scientist leading the search for a new low cost energy source announces that he intends to give the discovery to the world he is looked on as a bit of an idealist but when a breakthrough leads to the energy source's discovery things quickly go bad for his team; he is murdered and his lab totally destroyed; another of his team vanishes, presumed to have taken stolen data to China and another two; Eddie Kasalivich, the man who made the breakthrough and Dr. Lily Sinclair, a physicist on the team find themselves on the run having been framed for murder and selling the data. The only man they think they can trust is Eddie's mentor Paul Shannon but he is in no position as the FBI are watching him almost as keenly as they are watching Eddie and Lily. If they are to survive they will have to get out of Chicago and find a safe way to meet Shannon; all the time avoiding various law enforcement agencies and more dangerous characters working for the shadowy organisation that killed the scientist and destroyed his lab.While this is hardly a classic thriller it is a lot of fun; there are impressive explosions, numerous chases, shootings and a constant sense that our protagonists could be caught, or worse, at any moment. Keanu Reaves does a decent job as Eddie and Rachel Weiss is fine as Lily; however it is Morgan Freeman who dominates proceedings as Shannon; a man we aren't sure whether or not can be trusted for much of the film. Brian Cox also puts in a fun performance as the obvious villain Lyman Collier. The story itself is fairly silly but it is well told and there should be enough action and suspense to keep most viewers entertained well enough. I wouldn't say this is a must see film but it is worth watching if it is on television and there is nothing better on.