Such a frustrating disappointment

best movie i've ever seen.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I just saw this on the WB, and I can see why the previous comments weren't favorable. "Guardian" (2000) is put together like any of a number of books I've read over the years; important information is handed out at the beginning, then the story/action distracts and pulls the viewer or reader into another scenario, then the two are blended and brought to an end that refers back to the beginning info. I think the reason the end isn't fulfilling to some is that they aren't catching the hint given part way through the movie: "She'll take good care of him". And some perfectly good innocents get zapped along the way, which is a bummer. But that's all I'll say about that stuff.As for comparing "Guardian" to "Fallen", well, I think the movies have only one element in common, and I disliked "Fallen" so much it sits on my shelf collecting dust.Relatively formulaic, "Guardian" (2000) starts with an archaeologist digging up something he shouldn't, then the world as we know it is in danger unless a very human "chosen one" succeeds in saving the day. Mix that up with some modern cops-against-drugs scenes, a mysterious new drug, a couple protectors of a god's prophet-to-be, some supernatural goings on, and you have yourself a pretty good movie with several main characters portrayed by people you'll recognize even if you don't know their names. On the down side, if you don't read a lot, or if you read only non-fiction, you might not be able to follow the story.I thought the effects were great in that nothing was *obviously* computer-assisted, and the movie contained a healthy mix of stunts and other effects opportunities for variety. I didn't get bored at all. By the way, the "Matrix" reference made by another user is half correct; the woman's coat makes me think of "The Matrix" but the woman's stunts (IMO) are better compared to Alice's of "Resident Evil" fame, and very well done at that.I can recommend "Guardian" (2000) to anyone who might like the mix of detective story with supernatural and hero elements. And I'd like to mention that I didn't see anything I would call Sci-Fi; I'd label this Action/Supernatural/Thriller, or just a Supernatural Thriller.

Is it possible that screenwriters can get so bored typing away at a keyboard they decide to write another movie while they`re one third way through a screenplay ? This is the impression I got from watching director/writer John Terlesky`s GUARDIAN ***** MILD SPOILERS *****This starts off with a USMC recon mission to Iraq during the 1991 gulf war , then about a third of the way through it changes into something along the lines of NEW JACK CITY , while the final third becomes a supernatural fight between good and evil . I also couldn`t help noticing that other films are " paid homage to " , films that have a body jumping demon as in SHOCKER and FALLEN or a leather clad heroine like in THE MATRIX while a secret military mission against natives who believe in supernatural legends owes a little to PREDATOR Despite the unoriginal material and a ending that left me totally confused ( Did Mr Terlesky just get bored writing fight scenes ? ) there is some entertainment to be found in GUARDIAN mainly because the whole feel of the movie keeps switching around thus making it somewhat unpredictable . It`s by no means a great movie though

SLIGHT SPOILERS This could have been a very good film.It is the kind of film where somebody came up with a fairly good plot, and a decent cast, then the accountants got at it, and ripped the guts out of it.The plot is simple, an archeaologist in Iraq, inadvertantly releases a demon, a soldier who is there to guide a smart bomb onto the dig site gets involved with Sumerian legend without his knowledge, gets shot and we jump 12 years into the future, LA 2003.I was halfway through the film before I got a grip on it, kept on watching, waiting for the big ending, and it never happened.There is a slight similarity to Denzil Washingtons Fallen, and this would seem to be an attempt at suspense and betrayal, it works a bit, but is too easily seen through. It is watchable, but with a bit of work it could have been much better. If you know the way when you eat a big Chinese meal, and you are stuffed full, then two hours later you are hungry again, then you will know what I mean.It wasn't a bad film, it just seems like it because it falls so short of what it could and should have been. 5/10

1st watched 8/12/2001 - 5 out of 10(Dir-John Terlesky): Interesting yet unfulfilling strange action/sci fi yarn with good performance by Mario Van Peebles. This was an enjoyable movie until the tel-al demon seemed invincible and although I won't give away the ending, it really took the movie from "thumbs up" to "thumbs down" status for me. I was routing for this picture because of the variety of bad-movies that Van Peebles has been involved with, but despite Van Peebles well-done performance the movie didn't quite make it.