Movie Review: Gamer

It's been over a month since I saw a movie in theaters, and with the exception of Distict 9, I haven't felt compelled to see anything lately. Sure, there was UP... but that film was LONG Overdue, and while I still enjoyed watching it in the big screen, I really wanted to see it at its official launch date. Still, no new movies have come up in the horizon save for one or two I find a bit interesting, and while I like some concepts, they don't really make me want to jump and rush into the mall just to see a movie immediately. Fortunately, I finally took time to catch a flick I did want to see, but only saw a limited release in selected theaters. It's a film that sees 300's Gerard Butler back to what he does best - kicking ass and sounding like a major tough guy who means business. For my 100th post here, this will do nicely:



Movie: Gamer
Starring: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Logan Lerman, Kyra Sedgwick
Directed By: Neveldine/ Taylor

Gamer has gotta be one of the most whacked up and brilliant concepts ever made into a film. It has humanity falling head over heels with video game concepts we've come to know and love in this era, only it's become much more realistic in the year 2034. A self-made billionaire named Ken Castle has bestowed the entire human race with a game that allows them to fulfill their hearts desires at the comfort of their own homes - Society - an online game that has the users controlling real people in a pseudo community. This has sealed Castle's reputation as a certified genius, but his next game is one that truly gets the fans into a frenzy. Slayers, his latest creation, is a game wherein the most sadistic criminals and convicts in deathrow get thrown in to do battle against each other, using guns, explosive devices, and their own physical attributes in a Battle Royal-esque death match. Winning 30 of these "games" gives the winner a full release and pardon from the government as a reward, and only one person has come close to this goal - a man named Kable (the role played by Gerard Butler).

Needless to say, the movie is full of nods to a lot of video games, past and present. The highlights, of course, are FPS (First Person Shooter) and Action Games that Slayer bases itself on, most notably the Call Of Duty and Gears Of War series. Like these games, a user guides the actions of a Slayer, and in Kable's case, it's under the control of a spoiled rich kid named Simon (played by Logan Lerman). As a 17 year old, he sees the world as a gaming paradise, while Kable has to go through lots of shit to satisfy the audience. In Society, Players "customize" real life people and have them interact with one another in a "virtual world" that's more of a restricted area dedicated to the entire game. It's pretty much a world where society depends on technology a lot... and loses any semblance of free will at the same time. That's where the activist group called Humanz comes in, attacking Castle and his games to spread the word that human life is being manipulated and controlled by the nanotech without them knowing it.

In addition to the gore deathmatch concept found influenced by Battle Royal, the movie also reminds me of the futuristic film, Blade Runner, with so much people depending on technology that it actually breaches everything we know about morality. Having someone literally controlling your actions through the power of nanotechnology is a real creepy concept, and while it may look fun from a user's perspective, it sure is a life in hell for the convicts and society avatars putting their whole lives and reputation on the line. Fortunately for Butler's character, he gets his chance to escape his Gladiator-lifestyle and deal with personal issues that got him into the mess in the first place. Keen eyed viewers will be pleased to see other well known Hollywood personalities in the film, like Dexter's Michael C. Hall playing Ken Castle, and The Closer's Kyra Segdwick as a talk show host and reporter Gina Parker Smith, who's determined to expose the truth. Legendary actors John Leguizamo and Keith David also make an appearance in this movie, so fanboys may want to watch out for that.

Despite the B-movie like atmosphere, Gamer is a great film to watch if your cravings for an action movie get the better of you. It's not the most mind-blowing action movie ever, but for a Lionsgate product, you can bet it's just as bloody, if not more gruesome, as John Rambo or the Saw series. Video game lovers will definitely want to check this out, not just for the gaming references, but the totally rad concept as well. Since it's directed by Neveldine/ Taylor, the guys who did Crank and its sequel, you can expect all the action to hit critical levels and make you go "Wow" at every explosion. Guaranteed, it's a complete must see for the heck of it.

Score - 4/5