Metascore
37 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Negative: 5 out of 9
  1. Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    63
    Lee deserves a lot of credit for attempt the same kind of complex story structure Quentin Tarantino made look so easy in "Pulp Fiction": Like Tarantino's interlocking stories, Lee's four segments occur achronologically and come full circle in a neat twist at the very end.
  2. The source for Jieho Lee's The Air I Breathe is an ancient Chinese proverb about the four cornerstones of emotion - love, pleasure, happiness and sorrow. But Lee and co-writer Bob DeRosa went 0-4 with their convoluted screenplay, making me thankful they didn't try to adapt the Seven Deadly Sins.
  3. Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    50
    Each story has its moments, but "Air" lacks an overarching vision.
  4. An ingenious contraption that holds your attention for as long as it whirs and clicks like a mechanized Rubik's Cube. After it's over, however, you may find yourself scratching your head and wondering if there was any purpose to this sleek little gizmo.
  5. 38
    Situations get increasingly ridiculous, and none of the characters ever seems like anything but a screenwriter's sketch.
  6. A top-notch varied group of actors, no doubt attracted by the colorfulness of their roles, has been assembled, but their hardworking efforts are ultimately done in by the supremely pretentious nature of the material.
  7. Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    30
    The destiny-versus- responsibility hand-wringing is Philosophy 101, the camera angles straight out of film school, and the pacing strictly music-video. Plus, the ta-da! twist ending is foreshadowed roughly 20 minutes into the action, for those still interested.
  8. A stew of cheap irony, ponderous but meaningless allegory, violence and pretension, the movie is all borrowed style and calculated pandering. It does, however, get more ludicrous by the minute. So in that sense, it's good for an occasional laugh.
  9. Reviewed by: Ronnie Scheib
    30
    Stellar thesps gamely strive to elevate the one-note material, but gravity ultimately defeats them in this relentless downer.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. "The Air I Breathe" perfectly intersects the stories despite the major flaws. Sarah Michelle Gellar never looked and acted better before throughout the movie. Overall a great movie and could have been better if it had a little bit of more budget added on. Full Review »
  2. Absolutely underrated! Awesome story where everything fits in the end. The acting is brilliant as well and all is mixed with the right dosage of action and thrilling moments. Full Review »
  3. What A GREAT Movie!!!!!!! Sarah Michelle Gellar Shows Us A Solid Role... Everything Is Good... Just Somtimes It Can Seem A Little Dull In Spots....