Jason KingSurrogates ($9-)
September 26th 2009 01:30
:
B Grade I ROBOT
Category: No Category
Surrogates ($9-)
I was keen for a new Bruce Willis movie, it's been a while and you can't go past any film that Bruce is in wearing a bad wig that is remotely action and sci fi.
FBI agents (BRUCE WILLIS and RADHA MITCHELL) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust? Thanks to Touchstone Pictures for their official synopsis.
The movie has some great visuals and sporadic bouts of good action but overall it's boring. You want some John Maclaine to burst forth in this one but Willis plays a miserable sad old thing with a story of how he sadly wants his wife back and it brings the film down. I would have preferred him as a single man who has lost his family and eventually turns into a psycho intent on bringing down the bad guys. This would have been much more exciting than the stupid need for his sad wife back out of her surrogate's bed.
The direction of Jonathon Mostow is impressive, he is a inclined to the action genre with films like Breakdown, U571, Hancock and Terminator 3 under his belt (although we may not want to mention the last one listed because it was shocking
). There is a fast paced sense of suspension and thrill in some action scenes and the lighting is great with the film having a very slick look. But the film lacks any heart and comes across as valium layered. I felt like I was observing, slightly numbingly, but not being immersed. It views as a B grade IRobot and lacks that sense of immersion on a roller coaster ride.
You don't need to think much in this film at all. Bruce is great, being able to walk into a washed out cops' role with his eyes closed, but in this one he was too washed up for me, I actually preferred his Terminator like surrogate when on the chase. I like Radha Mitchell in this film also but because all the characters are basically robots there is no emotion from the majority of characters you see in the film and I found this unnerving and part of the reason the film comes across as boring. Besides Willis you only get glimpses of the real people in their surrogate's operator beds.
I found Ving Rhames as "The Prophet" laughable, he is a large sized Bob Marley preaching crap. My favourite charachter was Dr Canter, played by James Cromwell. He is the creator of the surrogates and realises what he has created and then attempts to put a stop to it. I like the idea that as the creator he has all these surrogates and can walk around as a younger person or whoever he wants.
The premise for the film, based on an adaptation of Robert Venditti and Brett Weldelethe's graphic novel, is great however I would like to read the graphic novel due to my thoughts on the film.This story was done much better in Blade Runner and I Robot. What I don't like is the thought that we, as an "intelligent" race, would plausibly let this happen to society. I for one, love going outside and feeling the wind on my face and experiencing the world through my own eyes. Sure, I am tecnologically reliant but would any of us be that stupid we would want to be all sweaty and sticking to our beds while running around in a robot's head? Me not thinks so. It maybe a great idea for physically disabled people or where it could benefit us as a society but I can't imagine this ever happening.
There is one scene at the end of the film that is brilliant, there is a crash in the Surrogates that knocks a lot of them out and they all just fall to the ground as one. I loved this scene but it was all the way to the end so I had pretty much tuned out by then. I looked at my clock twice and Sammy even walked out to make a phone call because he was over it by half way. Sean on the other hand enjoyed the film and a lot of reviews I have read have similar attitudes. But it wasn't for me. But make up your own mind as it's out now at most cinemas. This is the better pick from this and Fame. Worth $9-
I was keen for a new Bruce Willis movie, it's been a while and you can't go past any film that Bruce is in wearing a bad wig that is remotely action and sci fi.
FBI agents (BRUCE WILLIS and RADHA MITCHELL) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust? Thanks to Touchstone Pictures for their official synopsis.
The movie has some great visuals and sporadic bouts of good action but overall it's boring. You want some John Maclaine to burst forth in this one but Willis plays a miserable sad old thing with a story of how he sadly wants his wife back and it brings the film down. I would have preferred him as a single man who has lost his family and eventually turns into a psycho intent on bringing down the bad guys. This would have been much more exciting than the stupid need for his sad wife back out of her surrogate's bed.
The direction of Jonathon Mostow is impressive, he is a inclined to the action genre with films like Breakdown, U571, Hancock and Terminator 3 under his belt (although we may not want to mention the last one listed because it was shocking
). There is a fast paced sense of suspension and thrill in some action scenes and the lighting is great with the film having a very slick look. But the film lacks any heart and comes across as valium layered. I felt like I was observing, slightly numbingly, but not being immersed. It views as a B grade IRobot and lacks that sense of immersion on a roller coaster ride.You don't need to think much in this film at all. Bruce is great, being able to walk into a washed out cops' role with his eyes closed, but in this one he was too washed up for me, I actually preferred his Terminator like surrogate when on the chase. I like Radha Mitchell in this film also but because all the characters are basically robots there is no emotion from the majority of characters you see in the film and I found this unnerving and part of the reason the film comes across as boring. Besides Willis you only get glimpses of the real people in their surrogate's operator beds.
I found Ving Rhames as "The Prophet" laughable, he is a large sized Bob Marley preaching crap. My favourite charachter was Dr Canter, played by James Cromwell. He is the creator of the surrogates and realises what he has created and then attempts to put a stop to it. I like the idea that as the creator he has all these surrogates and can walk around as a younger person or whoever he wants.
The premise for the film, based on an adaptation of Robert Venditti and Brett Weldelethe's graphic novel, is great however I would like to read the graphic novel due to my thoughts on the film.This story was done much better in Blade Runner and I Robot. What I don't like is the thought that we, as an "intelligent" race, would plausibly let this happen to society. I for one, love going outside and feeling the wind on my face and experiencing the world through my own eyes. Sure, I am tecnologically reliant but would any of us be that stupid we would want to be all sweaty and sticking to our beds while running around in a robot's head? Me not thinks so. It maybe a great idea for physically disabled people or where it could benefit us as a society but I can't imagine this ever happening.
There is one scene at the end of the film that is brilliant, there is a crash in the Surrogates that knocks a lot of them out and they all just fall to the ground as one. I loved this scene but it was all the way to the end so I had pretty much tuned out by then. I looked at my clock twice and Sammy even walked out to make a phone call because he was over it by half way. Sean on the other hand enjoyed the film and a lot of reviews I have read have similar attitudes. But it wasn't for me. But make up your own mind as it's out now at most cinemas. This is the better pick from this and Fame. Worth $9-
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