Lost in the depths of a bizarre computer game generated world, or is this reality?
In my opinion Cronenberg’s finest work. Blending his penchant for unusual psychological drama with genetically mutated physical aberrations this film keeps you questioning reality right to the last minute and even then it may still have all been the game.
The film is based in a world, probably in the not too distant future, where games technology has evolved (quite literally) into organisms bred to become game machine component in systems that connect directly into biomechanical ports in your spine via umbilical chord like connectors. In this world top games designer Allegra Geller is about to launch an incredible new game – eXistenZ. The film opens at a pre-launch beta test group run-through of the game – then it all starts to go wrong…
With Jude Law at his best and Jennifer Jason Leigh as the ultra cool Allegra the cast are exceptional. Oh and Willem Dafoe and Ian Holm, need I say more!
The good news is the DVD is even better than just the movie! Cronenberg’s insightful, intelligent commentary is brilliant, to the point of being worth the price of the DVD alone, and the set design/fx documentary is really interesting.
My only complaint is it’s too short; I want more!
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
![Existenz [DVD] [1999]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78529516.jpg "Existenz [DVD] [1999]")
Aug 18th, 2003
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