MovieChat Forums > Gamer (2009) Discussion > i think people are missing the point...

i think people are missing the point...

posted 15 years ago by lightspeed240
21 replies | jump to latest

Guys, this movie really is meant to be more than another Crank-type action movie. I kept thinking "Idiocracy" when I watched it the first time... The best way I could sum it up would be calling it a fusion of "I Robot" and Idiocracy. Some other posters mentioned BladeRunner, which I can see somewhat as well.

I think the primary intent is to point out how totally immoral and out-of-control modern society has become. And from that perspective, I think the movie is quite successful. The really scary thing is that this movie really isnt that far-fetched in terms of what is happening to society right now.

Michael C Hall was awesome in this role, as it seemed tailor-made for him and his "brilliant lunatic" acting style. I also think the interaction between him and the talk show host was great, further highlighting the total dissolution of ethics and morals in everything from news to politics. Gerard Butler was OK, but nothing new for him. Personally Im a bit tired of seeing him in everything now, but he can still whip some serious $^&*... I even think Simon did a good job at acting like a spoiled little brat. He definitely had the coolest role of any kid in a recent movie...his home entertainment setup was incredible.

I also really liked the production style of the movie. The color saturation and palette was really cool, IMO. One annoyance was that they kept showing psuedo "glitches" in the video feed of some of the action sequences. The point was to highlight the fact that it was virtual and introduce the "ping" delay, but it became annoying quickly.

Oh, and I liked that they showed the little hover-cameras that were following the players around...it was a nice detail. At least it tried to explain how people were getting a 3rd-person view of the action without people filming directly. Nice detail I thought.

Anyway, I would suggest people not judge Gamer as just another action movie. It really tries for more... whether or not you think it succeeds.

[–] Nick55419 15 years ago

I agree that it did portray immorality and the savagery of the human race... I liked the dialog from Michael but ludacris and the kid gamer had some really really awful lines.
It used some cool shots and video effects but the movie failed to stand out in any way.
Nothing worked.
The scenes were too fast, and I'm amazed at how gory and sexual it was and yet it still didn't get nc-17... that's what I found funny. I've never seen such a violent movie.
The end was a total let down and anti-climactic in the Gymnasium. and where the hell were they driving too? The last scene of them driving through the mountains made no sense at all... This movie is not one I'll be watching again.

In summary: yes it tries for more but fails to be anything but a violent run around kill and explosions film. There's not enough other substance to carry it in a different direction. "I want my daughter back" seemed more like a side plot overall. IMO :)

[–] hxrd-1337 15 years ago

I had to stop reading after you said you could somewhat see Blade Runner.

That's the whole base of this movie's "plot"

[–] saynosecretidentity 15 years ago

I do not agree that it was MADE to show how immoral society has become (or could become). It's very showing of the immorality contradicts that. That is like saying someone will drink alcohol and kill someone to prove that drinking and driving can be fatal. The act discredits the means.

With that said, I don't think they intended to prove a point, but a point was definately gained by many viewers who saw that if this technology was available today that we would not be very far from this movie.

[–] pawful 15 years ago

It reminds me of The Running Man and feels really dated, Like a running man update done by american guys stuck in the 90s. I think its pretensions about being deeper were really just cliches present in many other movies of this genre.
The dialogue was atrocious as well!

[–] poopymonkey666 14 years ago

The only reason it reminds you of "The Running Man" is that you've only seen the movie, and didn't even know that there *was* a book. The movie version of "The Running Man" is an ATROCITY, and doesn't in any way convey the spirit of the original story... If you'd actually read the book you'd never have made that statement. It's like comparing apples and Tuesdays.

Also, the movie version of "I, Robot" was a crime against literature, and Will Smith should hang his hat for being involved... Of course we're talking about the guy that made the movie "version" (hahaha....) of "I Am Legend" so i'm not holding my breath... (p.s. that flick was another anti-lit crime. and that is all.)

Basically, what I'm trying to say is this... Don't try to compare a crap movie to 2 crap book adaptations, because all you get is, well, crap. And crap, even when compared to crap, is still crap. :)

[–] kav2001c 15 years ago

The only thing Gamer has in common with Blade Runner is the fact it was set in the future. To even try and compare the point of the two films is absurd.

Current society is not "out-of-control" (despite what the media portrays). Ironically to me the only thing the movie does portray accurately is that societies rejects end up obsessed with computer games.

The actors try their best to act without a script and I won't fault them for it.
What worries me more are the people who keep seeing the bigger picture... seriously it was a cheesy action flick, pretty lame, there is no real point to it

[–] swinggold 15 years ago

It definitely emulates Crank in that because it's based on fps video games, the movie jumps all over the place and tries to cram too much excess and vice into a small space with no little foundation on reality or mortality. At least Crank didn't try to take itself too seriously.

[–] ZeroCoolKate 15 years ago

Well Said! I thought this movie was awesome and I think it does deserve not to be judged as another action movie. It wasn't purely action, it had an interesting plot. The theme of being able to control humans isn't all that original, but what is these days? The writers made the plot its own and I think they did a pretty damn good job. And Michael C. Hall was brilliant as always!

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Dyellyc 15 years ago

this is a fun for some action film only. nothing wrong with that.

but please dont try to compare it to blade runner or i robot. one has to dig though vast amounts of ultra violence; gore; sadism; porn; S&M to get to any 'plot' by which time there is little of.

speaking of i robot - asimov would have turned in his grave at seeing how his books were brought to the screen. by itself the film was ok, it was only at the last minute they got the rights to use the name 'i robot'. his books are nothing like the film. [1]

[1] behind the scenes

[–] Vyth 15 years ago

My god, you actually think this movie was trying to potray some kind of moral story? Or that this message should be taken seriously?

I pray you don't have any offspring, and contaminate the human gene pool any more than it already is.