With his latest science fiction film Lucy, French director Luc Besson invites us to envision what would happen if we were to unleash the full power of the human brain.

The story unfolds in Taipei, where American student Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is tricked by her boyfriend into delivering a briefcase containing a synthetic drug to Korean mob boss Mr. Jang (Choi Min-sik).

Poster for the film Lucy Photos: CFP

She is then abducted by the mob and has a bag of the drug forcibly sewn into her abdomen. The mob intends to force her and three other drug mules to smuggle the drug into Europe.

A beating from a captor ruptures the bag in her abdomen, releasing the drug into her bloodstream. As a result, she begins experiencing enhanced cerebral capacity.

Before leaving for Europe, Lucy escapes and goes to the hospital to get the bag removed from her body. She contacts Professor Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman) to find out more about the drug. She then goes to Paris to begin tracking down the other drug mules.

With the help of police captain Pierre Del Rio (Amr Waked), Lucy recovers the other bags of the drug. As the mob also wants the drug, a gunfight ensues with the police.

Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman star in Luc Besson's latest movie. 

 

By asking what would happen if we successfully tapped the full potential of the brain, the film inspires us to think deeply about life, evolution, the unexplored territories of human knowledge, and the infinite possibilities of science and technology.

The film hurtles along, delivering a tightly packed, exhilarating ride and preposterous, spellbinding plot. Lucy's incredible powers enable her to do things beyond normal human capability, such as mind reading, time travel, seeing through walls, ignoring pain and fear, telekinesis, and mind control.

Besson skillfully combines stunning action with intellectual depth using his unique narrative style. Some scenes are interspersed with fast montages and frequent cutaways to suggest the interconnection of all lives on Earth, while also establishing a parallel between the main character and the evolutionary process that has shaped us all.

Scarlett Johansson shines in turning a vulnerable, fussy victim at the mercy of her abductors into an empowered superhero full of confidence.

However, there are some convoluted plot points that the film fails to explain. For instance, as Lucy's brain capacity increases, she inexplicably turns into an oddly cold assassin with icy eyes and is more difficult to empathize with. She shoots a cab driver who simply fails to offer her a ride quickly enough, self-assertively ends a patient's life on the surgical table, and seeks revenge by nailing Jang's hands to his chair with knives, while maintaining complete composure.

The film also lacks suspense and emotional intensity. We don't have to worry for our omnipotent heroine, as she can defeat her enemies with ease.

Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman star in Luc Besson's latest movie.

 



Everyone's a critic

Jessica Jiang

22, Shanghainese

"This is one of the best films I have seen in a decade. The film is packed with interesting ideas and gripping action scenes. I was intrigued by the brain capacity of Lucy. I like the ending a lot, as it leaves room for us to ponder. All the actors did a good job, especially Scarlett Johansson, who makes her character feel so real. I would recommend this film to my friends."

Watson Zhuang

36, Shanghainese

"I found the film a bit disappointing with scene after scene of gun violence and no logic or thinking attached. The story is nothing new. The gun fights between the police and the mob are too ordinary. Even the premise that the average person uses 10 percent of their brain capacity is false. Anyway, this is not a film from which you'll learn anything. If you're prepared to suspend your disbelief, the film might be a solid choice for you."

Belinda Sun

34, Shanghainese

"Luc Besson did a great job directing this intellectual film with ethical and philosophical depth. He makes us think by posing the question: "What would happen if we used 100 percent of our brain capacity?" I was also impressed to see the film went back in time to the point when the Earth was made. Overall, the film is worth watching."