A movie that opens with such a big bang is bound to be promising from the start.

The sinister Gabriel Shear (Travolta) targets $9.5bn of Drug Enforcement Agency money for his counter-terrorist unit, Black Cell.

In a last attempt to win custody of his daughter, Stanley Jobson (Jackman), a reluctant but brilliant computer hacker, agrees to 'unlock' the government mainframes and get the money for him.

The film incorporates a vast amount of mind-blowing stunts, including a scene where a bus, full of hostages, is chased by everything from cars to helicopters.

Travolta has been praised in his role as the merciless mastermind and again proves himself as an imposing screen presence. Never is this more apparent than during a breathtaking car chase that competes even with such stunning efforts as Ronin.

Hugh Jackman also proves his worth here with some good lines and a clever interpretation of his character. And little needs to be said about 'that scene', in which Oscar-winning Halle Berry went topless for a reported $500,000 bonus.

With the producers of The Matrix and Face/Off on board, no wonder we're in for non-stop, high-octane action, including up-to-the-minute CGI technology in what can only be described as the best action film of year.

Dominic Bloch