Movie Review: Gamer

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Synopsis: Set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken society by storm. Humans control other humans in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game. Reclusive billionaire Ken Castle has created the controversial form of entertainment, "Slayers," a hugely popular game that allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies -- online -- in front of a global audience. Gaming has evolved into a terrifying new dimension-mind control-manipulation-people playing people. At the center is Kable, the superstar and cult hero of "Slayers," the savage, ultra-violent first person shooter game. Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Kyra Sedgwick
Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
U.S. Rating: R

I'm not a gamer at all, I must confess, but I like movies related with games and anything that involves technology (of course, I'm a tech guy!). I felt motivated by the idea of this movie, even though, I thought it would be another prison movie where the good guy needs to kill everyone and break/beat the corrupted system to be free. I wanted to go and watch the movie, no matter all the negative comments and critics I read and heard from friends and movie reviews.

Well, it's not a secret that anyone who watched Crank (and its sequel Crank-High Voltage), wouldn't know what to expect from this movie: Lots and lots of adrenaline, violence, action and some sexual content. The only problem with Gamer is that the idea of the story gets lost in the middle of a futile and inconsistent script, and an unnecessary volume of sexual content that in most of the cases, are not even related with the main idea of the plot.

I must say that I actually enjoyed the first 5 to 10 minutes of the movie, and thought that it would be an interesting movie, but when we get in depth, we immediately detect the lousy and inconsistent material offered.

Gerard Butler, a man accused for a crime that was forced to commit is sentenced to jail and becomes one of the top players in a mind control war game supported by the federal government, where all the players are controlled by rich and powerful people. All the players have to fight in 30 sessions and the winners will obtain freedom (Gladiator style). Kable has become a hero and have got millions of fans and followers worldwide after being only 3 sessions away from the last session and obtain his freedom. The only problem... Ken Castle, the multimillionaire owner and creator of Slayers won't let him succeed. Everything is ok until this moment, the confusion starts when Slayers gets related with a previous live-mind control game called Society (something like SecondLife), where other people controls your social life and actions in real life. They mix all kind of weird and boring material, like rave parties, an unnecessary volume of sexual content and inconsistent scenes.

If you love computer games, love action and don't mind a few nonsense situations and content then, this movie will interest you!

What did I like from this movie?

1. The action scenes, especially the first 10 minutes are worth to watch
2. Some good effects and the basic idea could be considered interesting

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. As I've said, I can't understand the reason of such unnecessary level of sexual content (flash images) that in most of the cases had no relation with the scene or situation. It was like, too much, to the point of getting bored of it
2. Amber Valletta, I consider her a really good actress but in this movie she played a really poor and lousy role
3. The fat guy that controlled Amber's mind... so disgusting!
4. The dancing with Ken Castle scene when Kable gets to Castle's site. So ridiculous!
5. The very end of the movie, so lame. The nerds and IT guys just walking out of the room like nothing happened and Kable saying "shut it down"

I would rate this movie with a 1/5


What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?


Enjoy it!... Watch it!

2 comments

  1. when did you see this? how come i didn't know you went? YOU WENT TO A MOVIE WITHOUT ME?!?!
    I get to go see The Time Traveler's Wife now then....

     
  2. When you were working on Friday night ;)

    I know, you can go and watch the time traveler's wife (and write the review for us)

     

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