This often unbelievable action movie combines elements of The Towering Inferno and Die Hard, as a Hong Kong skyscraper burns out of control as a massacre and robbery takes place elsewhere in the building and vicinity.  Technology is presented as the reason d’etre for constructing the tallest building in the world (by far), but also the primary factor as to why it is attacked and burned.  The architecture (while far-fetched to my eye) is beautiful to behold and awe-inspiring in concept.  Still, I don’t care for heights and the visuals in this movie certainly made me nervous.  So this is a very mixed, but attractive and exciting, bag for me.

Rawson Marshall Thurber’s film is an original take on dangerous skyscraper dramatics, but derivative in execution.  On the plus side is Dwayne Johnson as security expert Will Sawyer.  On the minus side is his all-too-brief meeting with the owner, Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han).  In the preview, that meeting was longer and more meaningful.  On the plus side is Neve Campbell as Sawyer’s wife, and the fact that she and their two kids are in the building as the fire begins.  It’s always more motivational to have family involved.  On the minus side is the ultimate prize for which the building is being attacked, and the ridiculous violence that ensues as the bad guys (and gals) go after it.

The story carries immediacy by having the crowds surrounding the building all recording the fire and Johnson’s heroics with their cell phones and broadcasting it to the world as it happens.  Then again, with a real fire, crowds wouldn’t be allowed within blocks, possibly miles, of the tallest building in the world as it burns out of control.  Another asset is making Johnson a vet with a disability.  His false leg is sometimes a hindrance, but it saves his life on more than one occasion, and the special effects which make it seem that he is missing much of his leg are quite convincing.  But wouldn’t there be a tremendous wind 225 stories in the air, more than enough to prevent a helicopter from landing or taking off?  I don’t know for sure; I would never venture that far up in any building.

I enjoyed Skyscraper for what it is, even when it wasn’t very believable.  It is better than the 1996 Skyscraper, which boasts Anna Nicole Smith as a helicopter pilot trying to rescue hostages from a skyscraper targeted by terrorists.  But this Skyscraper has too little empathy; except for Johnson’s family there is no one to worry about.  At least The Towering Inferno had an all-star cast of guests-in-peril, while Die Hard had dozens of hostages, a cop on the ground and a limo driver inside to provide actual drama.  Skyscraper has spectacular visuals and great design, but it is an inferior film.  Even the fire itself is disappointing, at the end.  ☆ ☆.  22 November 2018.