Im a recent graduate of Nottingham University. I now work for a large Computer company, well I have ...
Im a recent graduate of Nottingham University. I now work for a large Computer company, well I have for a month now anyway.
Member since:26.11.2000
Reviews:48
Members who trust:2
I recently watched this film for the second time, having watched it at the cinema when it was released. Since then I have wanted to watch it again, as I remembered being particularly confused by it.
My hope for clarity was realised by my second viewing, at least to the extent that I understand the plot and could identify exactly what was going on most of the time, but it is still undeniably a fairly confusing film.
I would say that this is a good film for sci-fi fans, and action fans, but there are many people for whom this film will not be enjoyable. It is confusing, fairly high-tech, and not for someone wanting to sit down with a film they dont have to think about.
The film begins in a time a few years in advance of us, with Christopher Eccleston introducing the latest game produced by the 'Game Design Goddess' Allegra Geller, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. It 'is not just
a new game, but a new games system.' Twelve volunteers are selected from the audience to experience for themselves the new game. However, in this games-orientated world, where gaming is the new religion, there are those that take offense to the amazing realism of this genre of game. To participate in the games, the game players require a bio-port to be fitted, which allows the game to be plugged directly into the spine of the game player. This allows the game to be experienced in a way that is undifferentiatable from real life. One such person has smuggled a 'gristle gun' - a gun made purely of bones and flesh in order to avoid metal detectors - and aims the gun at Allegra Gellar, screaming 'Death to the deamon Allegra Gellar'.
Jude Law plays a young PR Trainee, but ends up with the role of Gellars security gaurd as they desert the scene and go on the run...
The film is packed full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing all the time, and never quite sure what is going on. This feature of the film will undeniably put many people off. There are perhaps too many twists, and even at the end, working out exactly what has gone on is not an easy task. Personally I like this, and I think that the ending is excellent.
The three already mentioned stars, Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christopher Eccleston, are joined by Willem Dafoe and Ian Holm. All the actors (and actresses) do excellent jobs. Their skill is definately required, and the viewer can pick up a lot during the various transitions between games and the real world from their excellent performances. Director David Cronenburg decided against high tech morphing to merge games with real life, but instead simply switches straight to it, and relies on the skill of the actors to portray the transition, which they achieve with great aplom.
The camera work and direction is excellent, and the backdrops and sets are perfect. The more you watch the film, the more you realise the effort that has gone into such things. There are a number of parts of the film that on first viewing do not ring true. For example, during a driving scene, the background does not look completely real. To the more skilled eye, it is clearly done with the good old blue screen technique. On first viewing some audience members may mistake this for just bad camera work and a low budget. However, it was a consious choice by Cronenburg to give this, and a number of other scenes a look that just isn't quite perfect, to make the viewer think. Much effort has gone into the finer detail of this movie, such as ensuring none of the 'game characters' wear complicated colours or shapes on their clothes, as this would be far harder to animate were this actually a computer contained game.
The main futuristic theme of this film, is that 'computers' are no longer made up of purely manufactured 'hardware', but are in fact one hundred percent organic. They are basically living entities. This, along with a couple of shooting scenes, ameks the film quite gruesome and disgusting at times.
Hopefully this opinion has given you an indication of the nature of this film, and an idea of weather it will be your cup of tea. Personally, I enjoyed it very much, and although a little confusing at times, I found it to be original and entertaining, and would recommend it to any avid film watcher.
Mark: 7/10, worth watching.
Additionally, I would recomment that anyone watching this film on DVD watches the David Cronenburg Commentary once they have seen the film. This is a superb insight into his thinking, and demonstrates the amount of effort that he put into the movie.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Willow Smith, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, Alice Braga
Advantages: An intriguing plot effectively and intelligently executed; valid and relevant discussion of current ethical issues related to technology; visually striking and with good cast performances. Disadvantages: Will not reward a viewer who is impatient or in need of a very linear narrative; open to charges of repetition of ‘Videodrome’; are the faults a deliberate part of the simulation or just the result of bad filming?
B.Bligh 08.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of eXistenZ - DVD
Advantages: Excellent quality sound; inclusion of an interesting and relevant documentary; not one but three audio commentaries. Disadvantages: The print is not anamorphic (!); slight faults in reproduction of black space are occasionally noticeable, especially during credit sequences.
B.Bligh 03.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of eXistenZ - DVD
Advantages: An intriguing plot effectively and intelligently executed; valid and relevant discussion of current ethical issues related to technology; visually striking and with good cast performances. Disadvantages: Will not reward a viewer who is impatient or in need of a very linear narrative; open to charges of repetition of ‘Videodrome’; are the faults a deliberate part of the simulation or just the result of bad filming?
B.Bligh 08.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of eXistenZ - DVD
![Existenz [DVD] [1999]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78529516.jpg "Existenz [DVD] [1999]")
Oct 22nd, 2001
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