Writer: Loong Wai Ting

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Watch this if you liked: "The Day After Tomorrow", "The Da Vince Code", "Independence Day"

You know something bad might happen in the near future based on a set of numbers written 50 years year ago. You have two options: to stay or hide. But, either way you are going to die and so does every living thing on planet earth. Sounds familiar? For Hollywood, this isn't the first time filmmakers made movies using the "end of the world" idea. However, thank goodness these films never get too old or too boring, at least for this reviewer.

Honestly, we can't get enough of knowing the future. The ability to predict the future can be both very interesting and scary at the same time. However, "Knowing" can be a little confusing if you're not following closely. It may leave some of your questions unanswered, partly because there are two stories woven together instead of separating them.

"Knowing" isn't just a disaster film. It is sad case of human arrogance, religion, scientific experiment and unexplained series of events. The first half was rather predictable with certain major disasters waiting to happen and warning after warning falling on deaf ear. The events we see are a little too familiar from other movies, but the chain of mystery that follows soon drives the movie further.

Eventually, it will come to a point where it throws in new ideas and proves that disaster films aren't that dull and can be surprisingly refreshing! The intense sequence of a plane crashing in the middle of the freeway will send your jaw to drop and gawk at the screen for a moment. In fact, the movie has a few more jaw-dropping scenes that is worth the watch in cinemas.

Fortunately, it wasn't ruined by Nicolas Cage's under-the-radar performance. His supposedly cool manner and slow speech did not seem to suit such a heart-pumping thriller. There are times when he can be a little annoying. But considering that "Knowing" was an enjoyable and exiting watch, with or without Cage, I would say it has a good spot on the audience's favourite movies list.

Cinema Online, 25 March 2009