Redemption and Hummingbird are two different films that share some similarities but are ultimately not the same movie. Here’s a closer look at the key differences between the two:
Release Years
Redemption was released in 2013, while Hummingbird came out a year later in 2014. So they are separate films that came out around the same time period.
Directors and Writers
Redemption was directed by Steven Knight and written by Steven Knight. On the other hand, Hummingbird was directed by Steven Knight but written by Olaf Olafsson.
So while both films had the same director, they had different writers behind the scripts.
Main Cast
The lead actor in Redemption is Jason Statham, who plays the character Joey Jones. In Hummingbird, the main character is played by Jason Statham again but his character’s name is Joseph Smith.
So while it’s the same lead actor, he portrays different characters with different backgrounds and names in each film.
| Film | Main Actor | Character Name |
|---|---|---|
| Redemption | Jason Statham | Joey Jones |
| Hummingbird | Jason Statham | Joseph Smith |
Plot Summaries
The overall storylines and plots of Redemption and Hummingbird are completely different. Here’s a quick rundown:
Redemption: A homeless ex-Royal Marine named Joey Jones assumes a new identity and gets a job as a dishwasher. When one of his co-workers is killed, Joey sets out to find the culprits behind it and uncover political corruption in the process.
Hummingbird: A homeless veteran named Joseph Smith suffers from PTSD. He assumes the identity of a dead man and gets involved with his posh lifestyle and girlfriend. But his past ends up catching up to him as he tries to keep his new life together.
So while both films involve men with military backgrounds who take on new identities, the specifics of the plots are totally distinct.
Locations
Redemption is primarily set in London. Key locations include the homeless shelter where Joey stays, the Chinese restaurant where he works, and the safe house of the politician he gets involved with.
In contrast, Hummingbird takes place mainly in London but also features scenes in Afghanistan as it delves into Joseph’s backstory in the military. The wealthy lifestyle Joseph tries to adopt is set against the backdrop of luxury mansions and clubs in London.
So the settings overlap in the city of London but differ in their specific locales.
Tone
Redemption has more of a gritty, crime thriller tone as Joey navigates the criminal underworld to unravel a conspiracy and avenge his friend’s murder.
Hummingbird incorporates more drama and tragic elements as it focuses on Joseph’s PTSD and dark past in the military. There is still action and crime drama involved but with a more somber, emotional tone overall.
Critical Reception
In general, Redemption received moderately positive reviews from critics, earning a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many praised Jason Statham’s lead performance.
Hummingbird got more mixed reviews, earning a 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. While some still enjoyed Jason Statham’s acting, others found the plot disjointed and lacking coherence.
So critics received Redemption slightly better than the later Hummingbird overall.
Conclusion
In summary, while Redemption and Hummingbird share some minor similarities like the lead actor and being set in London, they are completely separate films with distinct directors, writers, characters, plots, settings, tones, and critical receptions.
The only real connection is having Jason Statham in the lead role in both thrillers. But the characters, stories, and production details indicate they are totally independent movies and not different versions of the same film.
Some key facts demonstrating they are different films include:
- Redemption released in 2013, Hummingbird in 2014
- Different writers – Redemption was written by Steven Knight, Hummingbird was written by Olaf Olafsson
- Statham portrays different characters – Joey Jones in Redemption, Joseph Smith in Hummingbird
- Distinct plots about men with new identities, but completely different stories
- Redemption set primarily in London, while Hummingbird also features Afghanistan
- Redemption has a grittier crime thriller tone, Hummingbird is more dramatic and somber
- Redemption received moderately positive reviews, Hummingbird got more mixed reviews
So in conclusion, while Redemption and Hummingbird share some high level similarities, when you look at the specifics it becomes evident they are completely separate and distinct films telling different stories.
