"Gamer" Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live.
http://img2.allposters.com/images/MG/487914.jpg

Release Date: September 4, 2009
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Starring: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Alison Lohman, Amber Valletta, Logan Lerman, Kyra Sedgwick, Ludacris, John Leguizamo, Zoe Bell, Terry Crews

Plot Summary: "Gamer" is a high-concept action thriller set in a near future when gaming and entertainment have evolved into a terrifying new hybrid. Humans control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online games: people play people... for keeps. Mind-control technology is widespread, and at the heart of the controversial games is its creator, reclusive billionaire Ken Castle (Hall). His latest brainchild, the first-person shooter game "Slayers," allows millions to act out their most savage fantasies online in front of a global audience, using real prisoners as avatars with whom they fight to the death.

Kable (Butler) is the superstar and cult hero of the ultraviolent "Slayers." Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology.

Visit the official movie site here (http://gamerthemovie.com/).

Comments?

[Mesousa]

I can't believe that forget that these are the same people who made Crank and it's OMG-ish sequel, but even that questions me a bit on watching this, mostly because it's gonna be like Crank, with the serious-ness and stuff.

[Robin2099]

I can't believe that forget that these are the same people who made Crank and it's OMG-ish sequel, but even that questions me a bit on watching this, mostly because it's gonna be like Crank, with the serious-ness and stuff.

You might literally be the only person I ever met who's used the word serious when referring to Crank.

Anyway, saw this today, and overall I enjoyed it. It reminded me of a cross between The Running Man, and the Christopher Lambert movie Fortress.

Pros:
-Gerard Butler isn't given much to work with in a pretty one note role, but he has that bad ass presence that the atcion icons of the 80's had. He could easily be the next Sylvester Stallone.
-Michael C Hall is pretty entertaining in this. He's having the time of his life chewing the scenery and it's hard to not enjoy it. You watch him and you won't think of Dexter that's for sure.
-Terry Crews makes for a good villian playing the part of the psycho fairly well. Can't wait to see him in The Expendables.
-The concept is actually pretty cool, it's basically a videogame take on The Running Man, complete with hackers.
-The fight scene where Kable beats up everyone in the finale was handled well.

Cons:
-My old enemy the shaky cam is back, and it ruins some of the action scenes. I really, really wish this would dissappear because now it's just goofy and annoying. Save is Sylvester Stallone, your our only hope.
-Zoe Bell is in it and is totally wasted. She basically just has a cameo.
-The finale was rather dissapointing. After the aforementioned fight scene, it just kind of stops. This leads to Michael C Hall's death being nowhere near satisfying. Especially compared again, to the host's death in TRM.
-Did I mention the stupid shaky cam and quick cuts?

Overall I would give Gamer ***1/2 out of *****. You dont go to a Neveldine/Taylor movie, and expect anything more than a way to turn your brain off for two hours. And they deliver pretty well. While this movie is more mainstream and not as unique as Crank, if you want a fun way to waste two hours this is as good as any.

[Tobias]

Sorry, folks. Been gone a while, but I saw this one last week and here's my thoughts:

- I found the 'Society' scenes infinately more disturbing than the 'Slayer' scenes. At least in a game like Slayers you expect stuff to get sick and brutal, but the 'Society' gamers were much more twisted IMO.

- I, too, was put off by Mr. Shaky Cam. It was too distracting from what was happening. I was also kind of hoping we'd see more of the Slayer gamers beyond just Kable's player.

- Micheal C Hall was the best part of the movie. I loved his 'Got You Under My Skin' number. But I think there should have been more to Kable/Castle's final showdown as well, and I wasn't too happy with Logan Lerman's character being the one to deliver the final blow, when he should hav been the one controlling Kable during the intitial fight with Castle, then having Kable break free at the last moment and win the fight for himself.

I enjoyed the movie a lot more than I thought I would.