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

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

thomasjay-52277 A fine film 'Twelve Monkeys' conveys a confusing story of rebellion, activism and time travel as well as cause and effect. The content seems bulky and is indeed however it's communicated well through the narrative and story which despite seeming fractured on a surface level is quite simple to follow, littered with surprisingly great performances from what's now recognised as a fantastic cast and brilliantly shot to convey multiple atmospheres there's many a reason why this film is highly regarded however for those who are more aware of the world of film and other releases within and outside of this genre a potential issue arises. The climax is triggered by a viewing of 'Vertigo' (Hitchcock,1958) rather fitting giving the relevance it has in relation to character identity and to some extent conspiracy which can sort of be applied to this film itself yet all seems a bit jarring having now seen both films. It's well documented that 'La Jetée' (Marker, 1962) was the main inspiration for 'Twelve Monkeys' but it feels a little cheap given that it's essentially beat for beat tha same film only the 'remake' (and I use that term very lightly) is slightly padded out by a few subplots which are mostly irrelevant to the core story of the film, nevertheless it's not all bad and the well shot '95 release is worth one watch at least.

Osmosis Iron Really good apocalyptic science fiction. Has a great plot, with twists and turns so good that it benefits from multiple viewings. Both Willis and Pitt are great in it. Pitt actually turns in perhaps one of his most memorable roles in this, in my opinion! It's sort of a remake of an experimental b&w short french film made almost entirely of still photos in 1962, called "La Jetée" if you can, check that out too!

Miguel Neto Do you know that movie that you watch without knowing what to expect and it surprises you a lot? I felt like Twelve Monkeys, I wanted to see the movie, but I had no expectations, even though I had a great cast and Terry Gilliam in the direction, but while I watched, I realized how obsessed I was with the movie, I did not blink, he has a slow tempo sometimes, but it does not get tiresome, the soundtrack is great, highlight for the theme song that is incredible, Terry's direction is excellent, showing that he is a great director, the cast is very good, Bruce Willis great, Madeleine Stowe is too much in this movie and Brad Pitt does one of the best performances of his career, the film is not confusing even using time travel, and the end surprised me when Twelve Monkeys is a masterpiece, one of the best films of the 90's and one of the best in science fiction. Note 100

zkonedog Currently, the topic of "time travel" is all the rage these days due to the incredible mind of JJ Abrams and a little show (you may have heard of it) called LOST. However, unless you hold a degree in quantum physics and can wrap your head around such concepts as Schrodinger's Cat or the Many-Worlds theory, the concepts that LOST throws around may be a bit overwhelming and a little frustrating. Fortunately, "12 Monkeys" provides what LOST cannot: a mind-bending time-travel plot that is both intellectually stimulating, yet easy enough to understand if one just pays close attention.The basic plot of the film centers on James Cole (Bruce Willis), a prisoner from "the future" (1997; where all surviving humans now live underground due to an apocalyptic event), who is sent back in time to try and gather information to prevent the catastrophe. While skipping through time, Cole meets two people, Dr. Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and mental patient Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), who ultimately prove crucial to his mission of saving humanity from an underground existence.The brilliance of this film is that, although most time-travel plots are either overwhelming (LOST) or too simple (think Star Trek episodes), director Terry Gilliam manages to find the perfect mix. Upon completion of viewing, I was quite certain that I understood what had just transpired (a feat never to be overlooked when dealing with time-travel). Only after some auxiliary study did I begin to consider some alternate interpretations, none of which cheapen that original reaction in any way.The acting is also very solid, with Willis progressing the Cole character very nicely (from completely lost--like the viewers--to informed and ready for action), Pitt turning in a good show as the manic Goines, and Stowe portraying the "straight gal" who, like our minds, must be convinced that all of this is really happening.Thus, I would recommend "12 Monkeys" to any and all fans of science fiction, mystery, suspense, and action films for its ability to strike the right balance between mind-stimulating material and utter confusion. Plus, it is a film that can easily be viewed multiple times, as little tidbits can be picked up each time through.