Ridiculous case of air rage
Stealth is a 2005 version of Top Gun that will appeal mostly to warmongers. The plot is so weak - even by the sorry standards of most brainless Hollywood action flicks - that it's ridiculous.
What makes the film distasteful is its disrespectful attitude towards human lives - except that of Americans. According to the film's warped logic, it's OK for a US Navy pilot, soullessly played by Josh Lucas, to bomb third world countries or butcher North Korean soldiers to save his sweetheart.
To ensure that those who enjoy this violent film can leave the theatre with a clear conscience, the filmmakers appointed a scapegoat for the mayhem. This is the role of an artificial intelligence-based fighter jet known as EDI.
The jet is an aerial version of Frankenstein that is brought to life after being struck by lightning during a mission with Navy pilots.
Through EDI's mechanical error and the reckless behaviour of an officer (Sam Shepard), the film sidesteps the question of why American jet fighters are storming foreign skies.
Director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious) has done a good job of crafting the aerial battle scenes. But apart from video game freaks, most viewers will find the non-stop and over-the-top sound and visual effects too much.
It's a pity that Jamie Foxx (Ray) is involved in this forgettable flick. His character spends most of his time either yelling in a jet fighter or chasing Thai women.
Foxx likely received a hefty paycheck for his superficial role, but he needs to be careful not to follow in the footsteps of fellow Oscar award winner Halle Berry, who is now a B-list actress.
VERDICT: WAIT FOR THE DVD
