Dual Reviews – Gamer

There are tons of reasons I love watching movies.  There’s also tons of reasons I love reading and writing.  Both of these reviews are awesome examples of different takes on film and writing, so I hope other people can enjoy these too.

And without further ado!

Gregg’s Review

Since their beginnings, the art of filmmaking and technology have formed a real bond. One could describe them as a couple that has been together for around 100 years, give or take a few, depending on the argument. Enhanced sound, computer effects, and of course the high-definition digital cameras of today are even behind recognized films like “Sin City” and “Public Enemies.”

What happens though when technology isn’t just behind the scenes, but is also a major basis for a story?  You might receive an intensely stylized vision from the likes of writer and director duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Neveldine/Taylor).

Their newest film “Gamer” is high on action and technology, pushing them both to absurd extremes.  Kable, the alias of Gerard Butler’s character, is a death row inmate fighting for his freedom in corporation-funded war arenas.

This ‘game’ doesn’t leave him in control; he cannot act under his own free will.  Each inmate in the arena is controlled by someone on the outside, like a string-less marionette, or a video game.  If there were to be a mix of “Gladiator”, “The Running Man” and “The Sims” game franchise, this would be it.

Explosions and violence are plentiful and necessary for the combat-driven setting.  The camera focuses heavily on placing the action above the audience while looking up at the characters.  Frequently it’s placed below waist level, and at times when bullets are involved, it’s somewhere around the knees.  At one point the camera even makes a run towards the cement ground, which felt a bit odd.  This overall grandiose effect may or may not be noticeable for some, but could irritate others, although, this gripe doesn’t affect the characters.

Mr. Butler is able to show a blend of subtlety and roughness as Kable, while other well-known actors give performances that are equal in quality.  Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”), Terry Crews (“The Longest Yard”), Amber Valletta (“Hitch”), and Christopher ‘Ludacris’ Bridges (“Max Payne”) are all endowed with the skill to perform, but two stand out in particular: Mr. Hall and Mr. Crew.

Both men participate in moments where they tap into their musical prowess to provide some of the most bizarre scenes in an action movie, possibly ever.  With those lyrical lapses in time, this odd direction may make quite an impression, an incredibly strange and unbelievably hilarious impression.

Since the film is set in the not-so-distant future, it shines a spotlight on the anonymity that the Internet equips its users.  The pushes to the logical limit are often disturbing as this is a world where anyone has the ability to control another human being, from the privacy of their own home.  Just imagine a few indecent or suggestive scenarios and it should be easy to guess where “Gamer” travels.

With that said and without spoilers, “Gamer” is a film that earns its ‘R’ rating easily.  The ride taken through Mr. Neveldine’s and Mr. Taylor’s world is jarring and fast-paced.  It continuously reminds you with quick cuts and sounds that this is a real world with an unconventional, game-like structure.

Following the plot and each of the characters stories can be ridiculous too, but it doesn’t shy away from that.  This is not a film that takes itself so seriously that it hurts.  Enjoy it at its face value, a stylized action thriller experience.

Ruben’s Review

Whooo! What to say about Gamer? Well let’s see to, um, sum it up in a single sentence here: *In my best Fontaine impersonation* If you like bloody fight/action scenes that look like they were cut up in post production by the Slap Chop, great actors poorly acting or poorly directed (I assume the latter), gratuitous shots of boobs and scantly clad women, and love a good song and dance number, well then you have hit the jackpot my friends!  Because pretty much this is all that I got out of the movie. I thought the premise of a guy who was wrongly imprisoned trying to make it out of this “reality” game while being controlled by another human, a child at that, it would be an awesome action packed adventure.  I mean it has Gerard Butler (The best Phantom of the Opera in my opinion since I’ve only seen that version of the musical) and it’s a movie about a real life video game.  Boom, I’m there for it baby! Where’s my Doritos and Mountain Dew? Boy, was I poorly mistaken.

Now I’m not saying that I despise these type of events occurring in any movie or anything.  I do enjoy a good show tune every now and then, especially one with breast, but it really depends on the type of movie you are trying to sell here.  I mean in regards to the fight/action sequences, I swear it felt like I was watching and Uwe Boll film (i.e. House of the Dead).  There was no fluidity between the movements and to me it seemed such a waste.  As from what little I was able to piece together of the action sequences, it would have been great if it could have been slowed down a bit and less choppy.  Then in the midst of the adrenaline rush you throw in a musical number?  That’s like Ray Lewis doing a dance piece from the Nutcracker Ballet after sacking a quarterback.  Highly unnecessary.

Also, I wasn’t quite to keen with the acting of the cast.  I felt that they were not given any chance to “act” really.  It just seemed to me like everyone was reading there lines from a script and not even trying.  Butler was even making it difficult for me to believe in his character and root him on. Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick, Michael C. Hall, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (don’t knock me on this one, I think the man has talent), all great actors who should have been able to give this movie some sort of depth or edge…but I guess if the script and the directing are full of fecal matter then you just have to go with what was given.  But seriously, if you had a cast of those actors, you really should have brought your “A” game for making this film.

I do have to say one thing that I did like about the film: the song and dance number they had in this movie.  I laughed so loud I think I scared this piss out of some kid next to me.  Maybe that will scar him for life and think twice about seeing bad movies ever again with his 17 year old uncle.