Jozua J. Jonker
Viewing: Sterkinekor
Release Date: 13 November 2009
Directed By Jonathan Mo-stow
Screenplay By John Brancato & Micheal Ferris Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman & Max Handelman
Cast:
Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Francis Ginty, James Cromwell, Jack Noseworthy, Devin Ratray, Michael Cudlit
Genre: Sci-fi
Classification: PG-13
Running time: 88 Minutes
This Sci-fi film places the audience in the not to distant future where ninety nine percent of the population lives out their life's through surrogates. The one percent of the population is called dreads who live on cordon off sections called reservations away from the general population. The technology was created by Dr. Lionel Canter (James Cromwell) whose son dies while linked to his surrogate outside a night club. This is where we meet our main character Thomas Greer(Bruce Willis) whose surrogate arrives on the crime scene with his police partner surrogate Jennifer Peters (Radha Micthell). This is off-course alarming to VSI (Virtual Self Industries) who create these avatar robots for their hosts. Who would want a surrogate which kills its host?
This leads the audience through action chases and an intriguing plot. What makes this film unique is that it actually makes this reality plausible motivated by internet sites like second life because we may very well be on our way to that. It gives rise to other questions like how do these people have sex or experience it or how does the economy function with robots who are perfect and need nothing expect clothes? The movie does not explore all these issues but stay on course and true to the premise which to me unveils the true nature of the beast at the end of the movie. Lets say we did live in a society with surrogates and all the questions where answered and solutions given, satisfying all our needs. This can become a major addiction to people and what will happen the day I have to start to live for myself when their is no more surrogate? A theme the animated movie WALL-E toughed on.
The surrogates are freaky and gives certain eerie feel to the movie which keeps you on the edge of your seat. What was interesting to me more than the surrogates was the life's of the people behind the robot's which in the cases of the two characters was explored but with rest only the way they looked was shared. Action sequences was done well, not too much, not too little, which one expects from director Jonathan Mo-stow who directed a movie like Terminator 3. Valuable plot points was introduced which created well thought out contrasts like Thomas Greer who needs to solve the case with out his surrogate and the motive of the killer that wants to pull the plug on an addicted society. Subtle themes comes through short scenes which adds to the value of such a film as this keeps the story interesting, like the life that VSI promises but
the things that a host needs to give up, to subdue unconfronted pain or the life of immediate superficial pleasure to give up the real thing just to look better and for that get an instant sense of self worth. But the trouble with any addiction one needs more and more to satisfy. So where does this spiral end.
With a movie like this the ending could be some form of self actualisation leaving the society (addicts) to deal with plug being pulled or the main charterer coming to terms with his situation and rides of it, galloping into the sunset to another adventure or a life of peace with the damsel in distress learning some moral. The movie does the former on a personal and society but on too good a note. Addicts don't adjust after 2 minutes, mentally and physically.
This movie gets not so well rounded 7 and half out of 10.
See you at the movies!
Release Date: 13 November 2009
Directed By Jonathan Mo-stow
Screenplay By John Brancato & Micheal Ferris Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman & Max Handelman
Cast:
Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Francis Ginty, James Cromwell, Jack Noseworthy, Devin Ratray, Michael Cudlit
Genre: Sci-fi
Classification: PG-13
Running time: 88 Minutes
Imagine a life, a real “second life”. Look the way you want and feel almost every sensation when it comes to your second life beyond the computer screen. In the comfort of you own home you linked to a “Stim Chair” which neurologically links your to an avatar robot which can look like a younger better you or look like someone completely different.
This Sci-fi film places the audience in the not to distant future where ninety nine percent of the population lives out their life's through surrogates. The one percent of the population is called dreads who live on cordon off sections called reservations away from the general population. The technology was created by Dr. Lionel Canter (James Cromwell) whose son dies while linked to his surrogate outside a night club. This is where we meet our main character Thomas Greer(Bruce Willis) whose surrogate arrives on the crime scene with his police partner surrogate Jennifer Peters (Radha Micthell). This is off-course alarming to VSI (Virtual Self Industries) who create these avatar robots for their hosts. Who would want a surrogate which kills its host?
This leads the audience through action chases and an intriguing plot. What makes this film unique is that it actually makes this reality plausible motivated by internet sites like second life because we may very well be on our way to that. It gives rise to other questions like how do these people have sex or experience it or how does the economy function with robots who are perfect and need nothing expect clothes? The movie does not explore all these issues but stay on course and true to the premise which to me unveils the true nature of the beast at the end of the movie. Lets say we did live in a society with surrogates and all the questions where answered and solutions given, satisfying all our needs. This can become a major addiction to people and what will happen the day I have to start to live for myself when their is no more surrogate? A theme the animated movie WALL-E toughed on.
The surrogates are freaky and gives certain eerie feel to the movie which keeps you on the edge of your seat. What was interesting to me more than the surrogates was the life's of the people behind the robot's which in the cases of the two characters was explored but with rest only the way they looked was shared. Action sequences was done well, not too much, not too little, which one expects from director Jonathan Mo-stow who directed a movie like Terminator 3. Valuable plot points was introduced which created well thought out contrasts like Thomas Greer who needs to solve the case with out his surrogate and the motive of the killer that wants to pull the plug on an addicted society. Subtle themes comes through short scenes which adds to the value of such a film as this keeps the story interesting, like the life that VSI promises but
the things that a host needs to give up, to subdue unconfronted pain or the life of immediate superficial pleasure to give up the real thing just to look better and for that get an instant sense of self worth. But the trouble with any addiction one needs more and more to satisfy. So where does this spiral end.
With a movie like this the ending could be some form of self actualisation leaving the society (addicts) to deal with plug being pulled or the main charterer coming to terms with his situation and rides of it, galloping into the sunset to another adventure or a life of peace with the damsel in distress learning some moral. The movie does the former on a personal and society but on too good a note. Addicts don't adjust after 2 minutes, mentally and physically.
This movie gets not so well rounded 7 and half out of 10.
See you at the movies!
