about aaron taylor johnson *spoilers*

While it might be realistic for someone like that to become emotionally distant, it doesn't stop it from being boring. That's a Cinema Sin right there. I took 25 of my friends to the show last night and they all agree: when the baton was handed from father to son, the film began to drag until the monsters arrived.

He was completely miscasted and also the script didn't help.

The way he was talking he would be perfect for a Marlon Brando type of movie from the 1950s. He had that 1940s 1950s sound to the voice which I thought was interesting and that subdued sedative thing.

well i suppose you are right. but really didnt find him boring personally. i find his story compelling 

I liked him the way he was. I mean, hes a soldier he has to keep his emotions in check and focus on task.

But that said he could ave at least shown anger when his teammates were killed or more sadness when he was *SPOILERS*

Stuck on the boat with the nuke.

Well, I think his complexity might have been an intent, but it just didn't telegraph well.  Durotok is right; I felt the same.  I don't know that Johnson did a bad job, but he--his face, his manner, etc. is fairly non-descript.  What about him stands out except he's a talented EOD guy? Not a lot.

Part of the problem IS Cranston...in that Cranston is so great, and so compelling a character that, when he's gone...well...no one else picking up the slack.  More Watanabe at that point might have helped but they reduced him to saying one liners at that point too...

Ford's tough, got it. That didn't have to make him boring, and well, he's pretty boring.  He could have been Chris Pine-Capt Kirk smartassy, he could have been Viggo Mortenson conflicted...he seemed none of those-(except maybe a superpowerless lesser version of Steve Rogers)...or much of anything else except dedicated to his mission...okay, fine, but nothing memorable or great.  Years from now, unless Johnson emerges elsewhere as an acclaimed actor, we will struggle to remember who played Ford Brody...

His father died in front of him and it looked like his team lost the nba finals. Total opposite of Cranston's effort.

you all make valid points. im probably going to have watch the movie again and try to digest it again