You won't be disappointed!

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

A Disappointing Continuation

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

2008's "Fragments," aka "Winged Creatures," was not released in theaters and, after seeing it, I can see why. This is a poignant drama that balances the beauty, mystery, mundaneness and horror of the human existence in the manner of "Snow Angels" (2007), "Grand Canyon" (1991) and "Crash" (2004). Unfortunately, it's not nearly as effective.THE PLOT: After a random killing spree at a diner five of the survivors deal with survivor guilt and post-traumatic stress.The movie had great potential but somehow the story fragments don't quite come together into a satisfying whole (sorry). The first bad sign for me was the unconvincing acting immediately following the killing spree by Josh Hutcherson (Jimmy) and Forest Whitaker (Charlie). Thankfully, after that, everyone rises to the challenge. But this leaves a bad first impression. From there, the story become marginally engrossing as we observe the five different story lines, which somewhat interconnect.Like the three films mentioned above, "Fragments" is a study of human nature and the human experience. Attempting to cope, each of the five characters responds to their trauma in a generally destructive way. The five story lines can be summed up as such:*** SPOILER ALERT!!! ***1.) Charlie gambles everything away and physically abuses himself directly (alcohol) and indirectly (failing to pay his debts). 2.) Carla (Kate Beckinsale) neglects her baby while seeking physical intimacy. 3.) Anne (Dakota Fanning) becomes hyper-religious to cover up a lie. 4.) Jimmy clams up, shutting others out, and ultimately arms himself. 5.) Doctor Lareby (Guy Pearce) alternately poisons and saves his wife.*** END SPOILER ***I appreciate the fact that the film shoots for depth and, despite the raw reality of each storyline, there's a tangible air of reverence and spirituality. Of course, any film that reaches for depth and partially fails will be accused of pretentiousness, and so it is with "Fragments."Yes, it's plainly flawed, but if you appreciate psychologically driven films you might want to give this one a look.GRADE: C+

Although there are many films on serious subjects the techniques used are many and various. Here we have a script which places a group of people in a diner in peril of a gunman. By restricting our field of vision the film allows us to either imagine all that happened on trust, or allow our instinct to take us where the story teller wants us to go. There are many deft cinematic touches along the way coaxing us to understand how the many 'victims' of the opening crime scene, which is slowly revealed as the film progresses, cope with the trauma of closeness to death.How we understand the trauma and the coping of the victims is left very much to each watching individual and for that I salute the production team. We are not encouraged to feel sympathy or empathy or pity or any other emotion. The film is as cold as the blood in the opening murder scene. And yet strangely this is not a hard film to watch perhaps because of the constant cutting between the various people involved. Yes there are moments when we may feel a little awkward but they seem accidental rather than deliberate.The acting is excellent throughout. I would like to have given this film a high score because the actors deserve it, but it always falls short of the pivotal axiom that humans are unpredictable even when being predictable. At least it takes its subject seriously and for that it is to be admired.And so I award it six out of ten.

There are quite a few very good actors in the movie and everyone in it delivers a stellar performance. The story is intriguing enough to hold your attention and be entertaining at the same time. But as another reviewer also stated, it does have a few flaws, that might actually let the movie down for you.First of all, you shouldn't start comparing it to "Crash" or other movies (especially because it most likely is only the same as those movies mood-wise), but take it for what it is. Of course many different actors means many different stories to tell. Therefor leaving a few stories with less focus than the other (at least that might be the way you absorb and feel the movie).Still, if Drama is your cup (of tea/coffee), than go ahead and give it a try. You can't go completely wrong with that I'd say

This movie wasn't as great as I expected but wasn't worse either. It's okay. I'm a big fan of Dakota Fanning and I was really into this movie. The plot was pretty good but the only thing that confused me was the scenes that had the flashbacks. But, this movie is a "see only one time" type of movie. Anyways, Fragments is okay. Dakota and Josh Hutcherson were so adorable in this movie and I loved it when they kissed. I thought that they would do more like "make-out" but whatever. I also didn't like how the black guy in the movie was so lost and kind of out of his mind a little bit. He really bored me and was confusing. But, Fragments is a must see movie. It's a real mind thinker.