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Theatrical Release:Sep 25, 2009

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… 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?

Director Alex Proyas, helmer of such cult favorites as “Dark City” and “The Crow”, steps into the Hollywood limelight with his first attempt at a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster.

“I, Robot” chronicles the life of Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) who has a techno-phobic view of the world’s newest appliance, a life-like robot created by the world’s leading technology giant US Robotics. A link in Spooner’s past is linked to his phobia of the automaton movement sweeping the nation. According to US Robotics, there will be eventually 1 robot to every 5 humans.

Spooner is called to the offices of US Robotics when a leading scientist (James Cromwell), with a secret link to Spooner, has apparently committed suicide. His death seems to have mysterious circumstances which could link to a robot. With man’s complete trust in the new robot technology, it seems too ludicrous to every one except Spooner.

As the mystery deepens, Spooner unravels the very fabric of the robotic giant, locks horns with CEO Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood) and learns more about his automated enemy with the aid of scientist Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan). Through the course of these events he may learn more than he could ever imagine.

It is hard to defend a film like “I, Robot” but I am going to try. For sci-fi purists, Isaac Asimov’s legendary work about the robot and how he will intricate into our society has filled the minds of readers for over 50 years. But the similarities between the film presented here and his work are few and far between. Kind of like last week’s release of Jerry Bruckheimer’s “King Arthur”. Both films take sacred subject matter and re-invent it with a new twist. I would have to say that “I. Robot” is better in a lot ways.

At the core of “I, Robot” beats the soul of Asimov as his 3 laws regarding robots are sacredly left intact and the film does abide by them. Also a lot of the characters have similar names to the people in the text. It is almost like taking Star Trek’s “prime directive” and some of the now classic characters and setting them in a new idea of the future. The core is left intact but in some ways it has been updated and refreshed.

The story, special effects and extremely zealous direction, however, all seem to be brought forth by the collaborators who cobbled this film together. There are influences of “Robocop”, “Short Circuit”, “Blade Runner” and even the classic comic-book series “Magnus: Robot Fighter”. Each of these robot influences echo back to what makes “I Robot” so intriguing, a joy to watch and memorable.

Sure the story does have a lot of sci-fi influences and clichés aside from robot films including “Star Wars” and “Planet of the Apes” but don’t these benchmark sci-fi films influence everything coming down the turnpike these days. It even has the classic sci-fi cliché of the social outcast claiming there is an invasion coming except no one believes him. But that is not what should bring us into the film.

You really need to give credit to director Alex Proyas because it is his magic as a filmmaker that holds this film together. He knows where to play it straight and where to let his lead actor bring on the charm. Also you really have to admire the man’s technical ability. His brilliant inter-laying of robots into the photography is astounding. Proyas is an A-list director in the making and “I, Robot” shows that he can deliver a big Hollywood film.

I also give credit to Will Smith who starts out being very unapproachable with his character but as the film goes we really become fond of his hero. Smith’s Spooner does have a lot of his previous sci-fi heroes inter-laced into Spooner but it comes off as more of a homecoming than an annoyance.

In some ways I think Proyas had something to do with that especially in the chase down scene towards the beginning of the film. It almost felt like “Men in Black” again.

As for Smith’s co-stars, Cromwell’s Lanning is a throwaway character used mainly for effect, Moynahan is timid and sometimes robot-like but it is a sturdy performance and Greenwood is menacing and a good match to face off against the rebellious Smith.

The reason I was so fond of “I, Robot” is because for once it was a summer film that didn’t apologize for trying to be entertaining. The special effects, the performances and the direction are all what people want to see in the summer and this film is loads and loads of fun. It is a great giant popcorn film with a light layering of message.

My only small problem with this film was that it is supposed to be set in Chicago in 2035. I didn’t buy it but if it was 2135, then maybe.

Sure the film doesn’t pave new ground but why does every film have to. It is pure summer fun and what is wrong with that.

If you want Asimov and sci-fi purism then you can always read the novels. Stop apologizing and most of all stop belly-aching, just give the film a chance. If you like science fiction films and want to be remembered how much fun they used to be then this picture is the perfect ticket for you.

4.25 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

(2009, USA, 88m)

★★★

In a future where humans live vicariously through robotic surrogates, an FBI agent must venture into the real world to solve a murder. An interesting premise is waylaid by indifferent direction and a sloppy, needlessly action-filled final act. Seek out the graphic novel source material instead.

Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Francis Ginty, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames, Jack Noseworthy, Devin Ratray. Directed by Jonathan Mostow; written by Michael Ferris, John D. Brancato; based on a graphic novel by Robert Venditti, Brett Weldele; produced by Max Handelman, David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman; original music by Richard Marvin; cinematography by Oliver Wood; film editing by Kevin Stitt.

Audio Stream:

http://www.imeem.com/people/8O6×8Hy/music/aQeoAXar/james-cromwell-if-i-had-words/

I know. Life sucks. We are all “born into the grave” so to speak. Humans. The plants. The animals. Everything.

13 years ago though I made a choice though. I wanted it to suck a little less… first for myself. I stopped eating meat starting with beef. I was tired of eating it because I had one too many bad hockey-puck hamburgers (sorry Mom).

It was at that time of my beef boycott I first saw the movie “Babe”. Immediately afterwards I decided I was not going to eat pork ever again. I was going to do my part in not making life suck for “Babe” and all pigs. I know it is like blowing into the wind, especially surrounded by so many meat eaters, but sometimes you have to stick to what you believe even if people think you are crazy or wrong.

I watched “Babe”, yet again, last night and felt reassured and affirmed in my decision. Watching the movie now is like a religious experience for me. I am not so unlike Farmer Hoggett. I believe I am generally quiet and patient in my disposition, and open minded to otherwise abstract, unusual and even bizarre possibilities, just as he is. Although I have never known a pig personally, I do believe them (and all mammals) to be too intelligent for me to consume ethically. I heard the song, “If I Had Words”, played throughout the movie and it was powerful for me. Silly? Perhaps. Do I expect anyone to understand? No. The movie changed my life though. From being annoyed by bad burgers, this movie pressed me to pursuing a new way of eating, and ultimately a new lifestyle that I still have over a decade later. This song represents a sort of theme song for my vegetarianism, and my wish to preserve life, not destroy it.

PS: I only just learned now that the words to this song, “If I Had Words”, were originally written by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley in 1977, with a reggae beat.

PPS: I learned last night that it is actually adapted from the classical piece, the “Maestoso” of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3 in C Minor”, written in 1886.

PPPS: Also, for those of you who want more, here is the version with the “mice” singing, which is actually just a sped up version of a recording of “If I Had Words” sung by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley. Crazy, right!? Who knew?!

PPPPS: Despite James Comwell’s rendition being made for film, and not for an album, and being very short, and being a cover of a cover so to speak, it still has a modest, humble and honest quality I appreciate greatly.

PPPPPS: PS (or more properly, P.S.) is Latin for “post scriptum”, which means “written after”, and thus PPPPPS is “post post post post post scriptum”, ridiculous for sure, but if you don’t like it, why don’t you go blog about it or eat one of my mom’s hamburgers?

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Harry Belafonte
• Lolita Ritmanis
• Yann Tiersen

I also suggest the music genre:

• Soundtrack

Click here for more info on James Cromwell – Babe Soundtrack – “If I Had Words”.

The CD of the soundtrack to “Babe” may be purchased here:

Babe Soundtrack

Throughout history, men and women alike have dreamed of technological advances such as advanced robotics, did they perceive that said technological advancement would subsequently result in near-constant isolation of the human race? Apparently not. The year is 2017 when a company known as VSI create ‘Surrogates‘, robotic shells in which the user can place their own personality, thoughts and to some extent their soul, into it’s well known invulnerable shell, protecting the user from harm and letting them experience anything they desire all from the safety of the users own home.

With the creation of the Surrogates, crime rates have fallen to almost nothing, until FBI agent Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) catches wind of the first murder to happen within years. Greer finds that everything isn’t what it seems within this futuristic, perfect utopia and in turn, questions what exactly defines a human. Now, that is something that really should be taken into account here, there have been countless films in the past which focus on the creation of somewhat autonomous sentient beings (even if that may be debatable here), such as in; I Robot, Terminators and Transformers, but Surrogates brings forward something unique to the table. Whilst at first, the film may not seem so dark and sinister, if you read in to the concept, it’s really quite disturbing, essentially exploring philosophical questions such as ‘What defines humanity?.’

The futuristic comic book adaptation features Bruce Willis (Die Hard Trilogy, Sixth Sense, The Fifth Element), Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black, Phone Booth, Silent Hill, also the upcoming ‘The Crazies’), Rosamund Pike (Pride & Prejudiced, Die Another Day, Fracture), Boris Kodjoe (Brown Sugar, The Gospel, Starship Troopers 3) , James Cromwell (Babe, L.A Confidential, The Green Mile) and Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission Impossible II, Dawn Of The Dead). Willis is renowned for his die hard attitude which appears in most of his films, and he does an exceptional job throughout Surrogates of preserving that, whilst some people may see as a flaw, I on the other hand, think it’s an attribute that should be carried with him. Alternatively, Mitchell’s performance, whilst definitely professional, seemed rather benumbed at best, but this may be due to the fact her character doesn’t really get a chance to make a big impact throughout Surrogates. I would however like to applaud Cromwell on his rather impressive representation of Dr. Lionel Canter which, teamed with Willis, kept the film going for me. An intricate film which subsequently makes you think, and definitely doubt, you’ll love it if you are sci-fi/comic book fans, otherwise it might not be the film for you.

]]> http://laternamagika.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/clones-the-surrogates-de-jonathan-mostow/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:18:04 +0000 Benoît Thevenin http://laternamagika.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/clones-the-surrogates-de-jonathan-mostow/ http://cinedirecto.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/el-cadillac-rosa/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:03:05 +0000 mickymousse http://cinedirecto.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/el-cadillac-rosa/ http://blogdoheu.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/substitutos/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:39:50 +0000 heuhein http://blogdoheu.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/substitutos/

Substitutos

No futuro, as pessoas não saem de casa. Usam robôs, os “substitutos”, para tudo, enquanto os controlam remotamente, isolados dentro de casa.

Esta é a interessante premissa do novo blockbuster, a ficção científica “Substitutos” (“Surrogates” no original), que estreou sexta passada nos cinemas brasileiros.

Uma coisa chama a atenção neste filme. Não sei se foi através de efeitos especiais ou através de maquiagem (ou, provavelmente, uma combinação de ambos), mas quase todos os personagens têm duas versões, o “original”, velho e mal cuidado; e o robô, de aparência mais jovem, mas com menos emoções. O mundo povoado de robôs ficou muito interessante, são várias as cenas protagonizadas apenas pelos substitutos.

Um eficiente Bruce Willis, se dividindo entre robô e humano, encabeça o elenco, que ainda conta com Ving Rhames e James Cromwell, além das mocinhas de rostos não muito conhecidos Rosamund Pike e Radha Mitchell.

A ideia (baseada em quadrinhos) é boa e o filme, curto (pouco menos de uma hora e meia), flui bem. E o roteiro ainda traz algumas reviravoltas interessantes.

Não entrará para a história como um clássico da ficção científica. Mas vale o ingresso.

Eu sempre quis envelhecer e morrer na praia.

Quer dizer, até ver essa cena.

Le 28 octobre sortira en France le nouveau film de Jonathan Mostow, Clones ( The Surrogates ). Une heure et demie de science fiction, juste le temps d’un aller-retour dans un futur imaginé où les Hommes vivent, cloitrés chez eux, par l’intermédiaire de machines.

Affiche officielle du film "Clones", sortie nationale le 28 octobre

Bienvenue en 2054

Librement inspirée de la bande dessinée du même nom, écrite par Robert Venditti avec l’illustrateur Brett Weldele, le film Clones part ainsi avec un bon scénario. Nous sommes en 2054, la criminalité a fortement chuté, car une invention a révolutionné la société : il est dorénavant possible de vivre par l’intermédiaire d’un clone. Chaque jour ce ne sont plus que des clones qui vont travailler, qui sortent en discothèque, permettant à leurs propriétaires de vivre leur vie par procuration, en restant en sécurité chez eux.

Et tout va bien jusqu’à ce qu’à ce que le meurtre d’un clone tue également son propriétaire… C’est le début de l’enquête pour les deux agents du FBI, interprétés par Bruce Willis et Radha Mitchell.

Pas de nouveauté dans la science fiction américaine

Photo Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France

On sort de la salle avec l’impression d’avoir vu un bon film, mais au final mis à part une ou deux scènes bien trouvées le spectateur a droit à une tartine de “scènes à l’américaine” qui nous rappellent Matrix, The Island, I-robot et autres. La majorité des scènes peuvent être anticipées, pour peu que vous ayez déjà vu des films du genre. Ne vous attendez donc pas à du suspens, ni à une réflexion profonde car ce sera à vous seul de la développer après la projection. Vous risquez tout au plus de croiser, en rentrant chez vous, des personnes trop parfaites, ou trop lisses, qui vous feront penser à … des clones? La présence de Bruce Willis n’est ni à remarquer, ni à déplorer. Un film agréable par son esthétisme, mais qui ne marquera pas les esprits… On lui donne la moyenne.

Le bon point est surement de faire découvrir la bande dessinée, éditée par Delcourt, qui développe elle, une vraie histoire et prend le temps de la réflexion.

Clones

Réalisé par Jonathan Mostow

Avec Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike et James Cromwell

Durée 1h25, Science-fiction américaine

Sortie en France le 28 octobre

Bruce Willis

Rôle : Agent Greer

Radha Mitchell

Rôle : Agent Peters

Rosamund Pike

Rôle : Maggie Greer

Boris Kodjoe

Rôle : Andrew Stone, superviseur du FBI

James Francis Ginty

Rôle : Canter (jeune)

James Cromwell

Surrogates… Quite the unusual name for a movie, but hey, if it works, what the heck anyway. As for me I would have given it the subtitle “Life on Facebook”

Although this is a new movie, I can say that this type of movie has been done before. Movies such as Freejack and The Island come to mind as I write this. But, since it stars Bruce Willis it has got to be a good movie, right?

Well without going into too much detail and ruin the fun for everyone, I will say that the movie is:  Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop (Willis) is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others’ surrogates.

As I watched this, I could not help but think that this is closer to our own reality than some would think. After all, with Social Networks such as Facebook, Tagged, Twitter, MySpace and all the rest of the SN Posse, it is common knowledge that there are some who spend every waking second of the day one or all of the popular SN’s.  Not that I have anything against that as I have been known to do my fair share of being zoned out on one or many of the SN’s at large. But there is also the real world that one has to live in, and although these sites are great, I try to maintain a healthy balance.

Hence why it can be understood that watching this film  hits home that living in a virtual world could soon become a disturbing reality

Brilliant performances by Bruce Willis, Aussie actress Radha Mitchell,  Rosamund Pike, and James Cromwell.

A movie I would definitely watch again.

Without further delay, here is the synopsis of the movie: The filmmaking trio behind the hit sci-fi sequel Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines re-team to explore a future in which humans live in isolation while only communicating with their fellow man through robots that serve as social surrogates and are better-looking versions of their human counterparts. Bruce Willis stars as an FBI agent who enlists the aid of his own surrogate to investigate the murder of the genius college student who invented the surrogates. As the case grows more complicated, however, the withdrawn detective discovers that in order to actually catch the killer he will have to venture outside the safety of his own home for the first time in many years, and enlists the aid of another agent (Radha Mitchell) in tracking his target down. Jonathan Mostow directs co-screenwriters Michael Ferris and John Brancato’s adaptation of the graphic novel by author Robert Venditti and illustrator Brett Weldele.

Movie Reviews Coming up next…. Zombieland and Bronson

Esse filme conta o romance vivido por Jane Austen com o jovem advogado irlandês Tom Lefroy. O relacionamento com ele inspira a criação de personagens, incluindo Orgulho e Preconceito.

PS1: Nesse filme, é possível entender esse comentário aqui.

If human beings could live via proxy through robots controlled by an individual’s thoughts, without any danger to the user, the world truly could improve in a number of ways. War could be waged without a single loss of human life– when a soldier robot is destroyed, its controller can simply log into another. Policemen would be impervious to the attacks of criminals they pursue. Sports would be more strategic, and athletes could play their whole lives without injury to themselves. Murder, violence, and disease would dwindle down to record-low levels. But would living through a robot truly be living? Surrogates examines this world, and while Surrogates will likely go down in history as a massive box-office flop (due to a bizarre release date, an uninspired ad campaign that made it look like a Matrix ripoff, and a huge budget), those who see it will find it to be an entertaining and well-produced sci-fi film.

Bruce Willis stars as Agent Tom Greer, an FBI agent investigating the murder of two people through damage done to their surrogates. In the world of the film, the overwhelming majority of people live their lives through their surrogates, opting to let them go out into the world while they experience it from the safety and comfort of their home. If the news got out to the population that one could die while attached to their surrogates, it would potentially change society as a whole. That’s exactly what The Prophet wants, a dreadlocked revolutionary played by Ving Rhames, who serves as the leader in a reservation located in New York City free of technology. Agent Greer wouldn’t mind a change either– his wife, Maggie (Rosamund Pike), has refused to see him in real life after the loss of their child, and they live out their marriage via their surrogates.

After an exciting chase scene in which Greer chases down the man with the murder weapon, is nearly killed himself, accidentally crashes a helicopter into the human reservation, and is then destroyed by angry technophobes, it forces Willis to continue conducting his investigation without a surrogate, on his own in a world full of robots. He is perpetually nervous and easily startled by the sudden shift in sensation, and every bump, punch, or push he takes from someone is painful, since it comes from a strong metal being rather than your average joe. Luckily for the film, no one does the “one beat up man against the world” routine better than Bruce Willis. This is the type of film that fits his star quality like a glove. The supporting cast around him, including Rhames, Radha Mitchell, and James Cromwell, all do solid work, but the loveliest performance comes from Pike, who manages to convey emotion through the way she carries her surrogate’s pauses and physicality. When we see what she looks like in real life, it’s shocking to see what a toll a life of solitude and medicine has taken.

The writers, Michael Ferris and John Brancato, and director, Jonathan Mostow, last collaborated on Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, a film about how technology will rebel against humanity. Here, they create a film about how humanity will take advantage of technology to destroy each other– a far more realistic starting point, in my humble opinion (then again, the Terminators aren’t exactly models of realism). Between Breakdown, U-571, Terminator 3, and this film, Mostow has shown he can capably stage a thrilling action sequence with the best of Hollywood directors. The movie never fully takes off, content to stay within the realm of safe Hollywood sci-fi films, but the execution is handled well, with strong effects work at every turn and some terrific moments. In Surrogates, a surrogate salesman explains that early models just show you the outside world without letting you feel anything, but the higher-end models gives you all the feelings and sensations you want. As a sci-fi film, Surrogates is a higher-end model: strong ideas that are used not as a jump-off point for manic action and big explosions, but rather to build thought, character, and even feelings.

NOTA : 8 RECOMANDAT

Download subtitrare Surrogates

Trailer Surrogates :

Surrogates
PG-13
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Starring Bruce Willis

There was a time, not too long ago, when Hollywood offering a token of science fiction with good production values and name stars was unusual. It was a dark time. As a result, I still get excited when I see a movie preview from the genre, despite the greater number of offerings.

Enter, Surrogates.

I saw the previews for this film and was really amped to see it. Real life delayed me, until this past weekend, but now I’ve seen it, and thought I’d go ahead and give my two cents about it.

In a future world quite similar to ours, technology has allowed the vast majority of people to purchase robotic surrogates, physically perfect avatars, to interact in the real world. No more need to fear the dangers of the outside world, people plug themselves in and live through these machines in perfect safety. Even if the surrogate is damaged, the operator is perfectly safe.

That all changes, though, when a college student is somehow murdered via their link with a surrogate. FBI agent Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) investigates the death, running into roadblocks from the company that creates the surrogates, the military, and those that rebel against the use of surrogates.

The movie is based on a limited comic book series from Top Shelf Productions.

I’ll admit, I haven’t read the comic book. I thought about seeking it out before seeing the movie, but I tend to believe that is a bad idea. Seldom to films live up to the source material, and I wanted to give this film every chance.

At the start of the film, I was completely struck by the look of the characters. I would bet that underwear companies had to delay their ad campaigns while every perfect underwear model in the world worked on this film. That isn’t a knock against the film – it establishes very early on the feel of the movie, and artificial perfection, a “fakeness” that allows the premise that people living through perfect machines is plausible.

In fact, this is reinforced when we meet up with the plastic version of Bruce Willis’ character. I don’t know what all they did to Bruce Willis to give us the plastic/perfect look that blends in with the underwear model cast so well, but it is impressive.

And, when his character is forced to go without his surrogate, the grizzled, wrinkled, and bald look of the actual human behind the puppet is also great for establishing the contrast of the film.

Unfortunately, one aspect of this compare/contrast demonstration didn’t really work. In the movie, there are those that are resistant to using the surrogates. Resistant is probably too subtle a term. “Violently opposed” is more accurate. They have been separated from the general populace in various camps. To emphasize the difference between these “real” people and the surrogates, most of the real folks are too real – sloppy looking, craggy, unkempt. It made me wonder, as I was watching, why none of the “real” people looked basically average. You can’t tell me that only the least attractive members of society reject surrogates. There have to be a couple of average folks mixed in, or it seems too black and white, which actually took me out of the movie.

The movie does have several good action sequences, and I have no complaints about the effects within the film. And, with a running time of under 90 minutes, the movie certainly doesn’t drag!

On the other hand, the film is pretty heavy handed in its moral. Not only does the main plot seem to revolve around the detachment of humanity, the sub plot of the relationship between Greer and his wife does as well. I think the makers of the film were trying to use the sub plot as a more personal reflection of the widespread issue of the main plot, but what results is the feeling of being hammered over the head in a “well, if you didn’t get the idea from that, how about this” sorta way.

(Ooh, by the way, wanna see what that surrogate having its face pulled off looks like? Okay!)

And, had the film stuck with the single social commentary of the detachment of humanity, I think they could have had a better product. Unfortunately, that non-dragging 90 minutes doesn’t really allow for the exploration of that theme, the violation of personal civil liberties, the question of justification in terrorism, and any of the other statements that the film failed to sufficiently elaborate on.

The movie failed to really offer anything new, though. We’ve seen this same sort of story done before, both better and worse.

The real problem with the film, though, is predictability. Every action seems to be telegraphed throughout the movie. Plus, I was able to figure out most of the film in the first five minutes, which is something I hate. OG tells me that this is partially my fault, because I never go into any book or film without overanalyzing as I go along. Maybe he’s right, but I still hate knowing how things are going to be put together at the beginning.

Overall, the movie was okay. Nothing spectacular, but it wasn’t unwatchable. I wouldn’t recommend running out to the theater to catch it before it moves to DVD. It isn’t worth that.

I’m going to give Surrogates two Running Steves.

I don’t know that they could have really done enough to make the film great, but there was definitely room for improvement.

It’s an eminence front

Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames, Rosamund Pike, James Cromwell. Directed by Jonathan Mostow. Based on the graphic novels by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele

NOTE: I have never read the graphic novels.

I never thought I would be saying this, but this movie needed to be 30 minutes longer.

Bruce Willis plays Tom Greer, a cop in the future. What is the future you ask? Surrogates. Paraplegic scientist Canter (Cromwell) invents a robot that enables those who are disabled to be normal. Per se, a disabled person can sit in a chair and plug into a “Surrogate” which gives them the ability to experience life as any normal walking, talking person can. Over a period of time the Surrogates become more advanced gaining the ability to “look” like the person who is controlling/plugged into the surrogate. VSI, a corporation for the mass production of Surrogates, is created because if the disabled can get a robot version of themselves to experience life without the hassles of aging, getting hurt, or being sick, why can’t everybody else? Soon everyone signs up for a hot, youthful, athletic robot version of themselves.

A human resistance is formed and many cities have “dread areas” where humans live but Surrogates are not allowed. One area is ran by The Prophet (Ving Rhames), who prophecizes about the coming day when humans will revolt against the Surrogates. Incidentally, Surrogate creator Canter disagreed with the idea of Surrogates for the populace and is fired and humiliated for it; he now lives in seclusion.

Back to Greer. He and his wife, Maggie (Mitchell), share an apartment but never truly see each other. After a car accident killed their only son Greer delved into his work while his wife, scarred from the wreck, decides to live through her Surrogate. The world is now became 97% Surrogates and more image-based than before (actual humans are nicknamed “meatbags”). When Canter’s son’s Surrogate is executed by a weapon that not only destroys the Surrogate but its controller as well, Greer steps into a plot that involves Canter, the Prophet, an abandoned military project and the possible death/destruction of billions of people.

2009 has inevitably became the year in which science fiction movies have returned. Maybe not the best of science fiction movies, but better than I’ve seen in a while and scores better than anything the SyFy (shudder) network can offer up on a good day. While it may not be “District 9,” or even “9,” “Surrogates” does provide some interesting ideas and tries to deliver a social message about reliance on computers and the ongoing argument of image versus substance. In a day and age in which we’re on the third incarnation of “The Sims,” or the online game “Second Life,” or even the Facebook/MySpace apps of Farrmville and YoVille, it’s easy to imagine people wanting to live vicariously through an attractive and nearly indestructible version of themselves. If you were given the opportunity to live life lying back in a chair while controlling a robotic version of yourself that could do or say anything you ever dreamed of, would you take it?

Alas, the questions and social commentary the film tries to make are brushed aside for action sequences and plot points that feel like they’re in a race for the finish. At 89 minutes, “Surrogates” feels like a sci-fi picture rushed in order to get it out and on the screen. A good chunk of characterization is sacrificed in order to keep the plot going when it doesn’t need to be. The questions regarding humanity losing itself behind a robotic facade, or what being human really means, or even how far is too far are glossed-over as if the director is too afraid to be labeled “heavy-handed” or to have his work called a “morality play.”

Speaking of direction, it could have been far worse. If Michael Bay had tackled this movie it would have been more useless than “The Island.” Mostow shows capability but not the heart for sci-fi and that’s really unfortunate because this movie could’ve been great. I liked it, but if more characterization had been thrown in it would have been good competition against “District 9.”

At best you may want to set this one on “Rental.” The premise is what sells this movie because, frankly, Bruce Willis playing a cop is about as new as James Cromwell playing a scientist. This has slightly more intelligence than “Die Hard” but less plot and characterization than “I, Robot.” It is worth checking out for robotic Californization (perfect hair, body, etc.) as well as its dark humor (“for all I know you could be a fat guy, naked in his house…”) and while I saw it matinee, I can only suggest Rental or Cable.

My grade: B

Surrogates

Mua ha ha ha ha! This is my first real movie review on WordPress.com. In the midst of my last-minute time off to sort out some personal matters I managed to get a bit of time for myself to catch “Surrogates” and I enjoyed the movie a whole lot.

Surrogates is adapted from a comic book and is set in the near future. The movie tells the tale of a world partly gone wrong where humanity has opted to live life by connecting themselves & controlling cybernetic creations called Surrogates in order to avoid death. Interestingly enough the use of Surrogates has solved not just the accidental deaths but crime rates have fallen and a lot of the social problems we face today somehow has been magically solved by the use of these robot doubles. It’s a thought-provoking idea to think that the problem with the human race is our inability to accept one another because of skin colour and how we look.

The end result? Everyone on planet Earth ends up living a lie and staying at home hooked up to their stem chairs while their robot doubles go about life. The movie is interesting and has a similar concept to Gamer but I must say that I enjoyed Bruce Willis a lot in this one. It’s a hoot seeing a younger version of him on screen and reminds me of Willis’ days in Moonlighting.

Needless to say the move has a hefty dose of sci-fi action plus some plot twists here and there for good measure. The tale isn’t that complex and I think it’s light enough fair for non sci-fi fans to also enjoy. The movie touches on multiple themes including the ever popular question of what does it mean to be human. It’s a pretty decent watch so I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a night out at the movies this month.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

It’s been way too long since I made a blog post.. Believe it or not, that’s as long as it’s been since I’ve been to the cinema. Appaling. The reason for this being many things, partly that nothing of interest has come out (we seem to be in limbo between the summer blockbuster camp and the oscar baiting camp), partly because I’ve been away to Oslo for two weekends in a row, and partly because I was ill during the week in between. Anyway, I’m back on form now. And I went to see Surrogates yesterday.

In a future where everyone but Bruce Willis has horrifying skin conditions, everyone has their own robot that may or may not look like a glorified version of themself. They can control said robot, or “surrogate”, from the comfort of their own home meanwhile going about their daily life in a risk-free way. However, someone has invented a means of killing an operator via their surrogate. Bruce Willis is sent to investigate, discover a web of corruption, be kicked out of the police force temporarily, get scruffier and dirtier throughout the entire film until he’s left with nothing but a limp, a bloody face and a look on his face that says “hey, did I just make Die Hard 5?”

Well, it’s not Die Hard. Surrogates is what happens when Terminator and 12 Monkeys meets The Matrix without the writers really being able to notice, and Bruce Willis oversees the precedings with his scruffy beard and manly demeanor. And boy, am I glad his scruffy beard was in place. In a thicket of hazy plot points, awfully mapped out characters, half-boiled ideas and character motivations that are not only uninteresting but completely, bafflingly, up-the-wall insane Bruce Willis stands firm as a rock, proving that his very prescence can elevate an otherwise mediocre-at-best sci-fi thriller to a watchable affair.

It’s certainly not 12 Monkeys. Or any of the other movies I mentioned. Perhaps Mr. Willis was hoping it would be (and he certainly doesn’t stand in the way of it being good), but frankly neither the writers nor the director seem to have half an idea what kind of film they have at their hands. Unfocused and meandering sums up Surrogates pretty well. There are villains aplenty, everyone seems to have their own agenda, none of which is thoroughly explained. When it turned out in the end that Willis’ character and our villain have the exact same goal except that for some arbitrary reason our villain hasn’t realized that he can accomplish his goal easily without killing everyone in the world I litterally groaned and felt that the entire misunderstanding could’ve been cleared up about an hour ago and the movie could have rather spent it’s time doing something interesting. The plot is riddled with these ridiculous character actions which are clearly there only because the plot requires them to be there and not because any character in the movie makes any sense whatsoever.

It throws away all everything it has going for it for a cheap thrill, really. The effects are quite alright, as is the cast likewise (James Cromwell is always good), and frankly there is a lot of interesting things that could have been going on. Still, it is quite exciting and Willis elevates it all to a decent flick. Undercooked, it ends just when it starts to get interesting. Depending on how much going to the cinema to see an aging, scruffy Willis in a slightly degenerated state become progressively more scruffy, degenerated and injured for 90 miuntes appeals to you, I recommend this. My recommendation, however, is only luke warm.

3/5