Talk about "Ladder 49" here:
Review by: Breanne Derby
Plot Summary
"Ladder 49" starring John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix, tells the story of Jack Morrison, a firefighter, and his life battling the deadly flames that envelop buildings all over. The film depicts Jack's experiences as a firefighter from his very first fire, to his very last. It also shows the major events which take place in Jack's life beginning when he first becomes a firefighter, and progressing through the rest of his life. The stories of the other firefighters who work in the firehouse with Jack are also told throughout the duration of the film.
Review
Personally, I really enjoyed how the film was set up. The storyline began with one major fire, and throughout it continually changed from the major fire to Jack's memories of previous fires and events, and back to the major fire. I really enjoyed this feature, because I am incredibly tired of the trite beginning-middle-end theme, and even more exhausted of the ever-popular end-beginning-middle-end fiasco.
Like all movies, to believe some of the things in this film, you must want to believe them. Personally, I am more than willing to be open to things that might not have actually happened in real life just because that way I enjoy a movie better. Perhaps I am a lousy critic because of it, but I do enjoy movies better than if I were a stickler for reality and desired every detail to be "possible". Possible or not, I enjoyed things.
The fire scenes which occurred at regular intervals throughout the film were very mesmerizing. I was haunted by the images of buildings with fire licking the windows, but I could not look away. The special effects (which I’m assuming they were as it would be rather dangerous to use actual fire) which were used to create the fire were fantastic and I was amazed by them.
When the force of firefighters arrived, it was a very hectic scene. The camera-technique used when the firefighters were leaving the station and arriving at the scene of the disaster really gave an incredible air of hurriedness, and I really felt like things were somewhat hectic during the fire scenes when the firefighters were doing just that; fighting the fire.
The acting altogether was believable, it didn't seem like things were too overdone, but John Travolta played the same role he plays in just about every movie I've ever seen him in. Even so, the "story" managed to come through, and I wanted to see what was going to happen next in the life of Jack Morrison. There were many unexpected things that occurred while the firefighters were in action, and I'm sure in actual fires unexpected events occur also. There were points in time when I felt stressed out by the fires, as I imagine the firefighters would have been. Every once in a while, something funny would occur, and it reminded me of real life. The bond that was apparent between the firefighters and the friendship between Jack's wife and the firefighters was definitely apparent.
Conclusion
Although there were parts which were a bit hokey and hard to believe, all in all, I'd say that this film was pretty good, though looking back on it, not much really happened. A lot of fires took place, and you saw a good deal of Jack Morrison's life, but there wasn't really much of a plot to the film; it was more like a human interest story. Perhaps I've been watching too many similar films over and over again, because this seems exactly the same as some other movie I've seen in the past, only I've never seen a movie about firefighters before. All in all, it was decent, but nothing spectacular. The film was well made, but I wouldn't really go out of my way to watch it again.
