As a science fiction film, Surrogates is a movie we are very familiar with. The cautionary tale of over dependence on technology and all the morality issues that goes with new technology has been explored in many previous movies. Movies like Blade Runner, Gamer, and Artificial Intelligence: AI has all explored this theme. With evolution of technology, some of these morality issues that we must deal with are getting closer to reality. This movie does nothing set itself apart from the earlier science fiction movies with similar ideas. This isn’t to say the movie is boring or lacking in any originality.
The movie opens up with destruction of two surrogate robots. Normally, this would not be a problem except that their controllers are dead as well. With the invention of surrogates, people interact and work through their surrogate robots from comfort of their home. This virtually eliminates all crimes and disease. The death of two surrogates and their controlling human counterpart brings about the investigation from FBI. The people that oppose the surrogate life style are the primary suspect. There are some twist and turns. But, it’s fairly straight forward plot with some decent action mixed in.
The movie is entertaining most of the time. The fact that overall story has been told in other movies is not that big of deal. The problem I had with the movie was the lack of “ooohs” and “aahhs” you are supposed to get from science fiction movie. Blade Runner and other good science fiction films usually deliver some very good wow factors that Surrogates lacked. I felt like I was watching a movie of the week on Syfy channel. The overall cast was ok. It would have been cool to see different actors play the surrogate instead of the younger and better looking versions of themselves. Otherwise, it is passable film and decent way to spend 90 minutes.
What do you think about this movie? Please leave your thoughts below.
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Boogie Nights [Blu-ray]
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This turned into quite useful – in the beginning I didn’t agree with this though in the end it proved to be wonderful. Effective for every man and woman … if you think that this info was not enough, read through it over again and you’ll see. My very own romantic life simply exploded – speechless!!
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Thrill
I really enjoyed the movie. It’s got its own kind own slow suspense that never stops, and I was hooked from the start. I don’t see this as an anti or pro-war film, simply a story about how it could have been to go to Iraq, and why some do it.
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On The Fence
I anxiously awaited the DVD release of The Hurt Locker since I first heard about this film from my neighbor. It’s a good flick. The cinematography is incredible and the editing top notch. I’m probably noticing editing more and more in everything I watch (film & tv) since I’m in film school learning AVID and editing right now. But that’s what’s so great about editing. You really appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of movies when you understand the editing process for telling stories through film. It really is WAY underrated! But back to the movie. It’s a pretty simple war story about the war that we don’t seem to yet fully acknowledge as a war: the “conflict” in Iraq and Afghanistan. This movie is set in Iraq, but really speaks to war in the 21st century. The film stars Jeremy Renner as a soldier who disarms bombs. While everyone else is running away from bombs, he is slowly walking towards the bomb to diffuse it and render it harmless. Of course this story premise is extremely attractive as a movie. And I loved each of the bomb scenes in the movie. But I guess there was just not enough character development to really pull me into the movie and make it the “Best Picture” of 2009. I did fall in love with the characters and I really admire actor Anthony Mackie who was brilliant in his supporting role as Sgt. Sanborn. And Brian Geraghty as weezly Specialist Eldridge is interesting to watch as a young kid with “issues” from his service in the Army.
Kathryn Bigelow is one of the few women directors in Hollywood making action movies, and The Hurt Locker is up there with Point Break (1991)…her best movie in my opinion. I’ve always loved Point Break since I first saw it in the early 90s. Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reaves at their best. It’s a fast-paced surfer/bank robber movie with some great action sequences and a good story. The bottom line is that The Hurt Locker left me frazzled and on the fence, much like our actual presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. So I wouldn’t be surprised if down the road I end up watching this movie again and liking it more. Maybe it’s just a little too “current” like so many film and pop culture critics have said about all of the various Iraq war movies from the last few years. But ironically, my favorite movie dealing with 9/11 and the last decade of terrorism is United 93 (2006) by director Paul Greengrass of the last two Bourne movies, which came out over 3 years ago. So maybe time and distance from 9/11 isn’t as important as we think. Maybe a great movie is a great movie regardless of when it comes out? All I know is that I like what I like. So check out The Hurt Locker, Point Break and United 93.
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At least it wasn’t a bomb…..
The greatest war film ever made? In my humble opinion -
absolutely not! An excellent first time effort from Bigelow
but this film will not stand next to superior war films that
stand as classics (‘Das Boot,’ ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’
for example).
Isn’t it always the red wire? Or is it the green?
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This is Hyper-Reality and its a Movie
In my own way, I can identify with being an adrenaline junkie. I walk around with a limp from a bad motorcycle crash and I’m still addicted to motorcycles.
This movie is an adrenaline rush with knobs on. It takes you into a hyper-reality journey where just like the character, you dont know what’s next. Except these aren’t bikes. These are bombs. And unlike mindless action movies, its also a pure pychological labyrinth of the wordless expressions of mortality. A salient death wish that becomes an ally for how else can one accept the underlying destruction that waves its hand unless one has made friends with it.
Surrounding all of this is the obvious fear that bites at those that wish to get out alive. Such a medley of strange sensations to feel fear, love life, resent death but embrace annihilation. What a cocktail.
Even after the second or third viewing its was still reverberating with all the heightened sensations. Kathryn’s a genius. Im so happy for her.
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It’s not a documentary, genuises.
Some of the negative reviews on here reveal an unbelievable level of stupidity by the general viewing public. This is NOT a documentary. While I appreciate the service-people who have pointed out the discrepancies, I, as a viewer, am fully cognizant of the fact this is a FICTIONALIZED account. As per criticism that the film doesn’t have enough “story”, this is simply a stylistic choice by the filmmakers. Like it or don’t like it, that’s a personal choice, but not an indictment of the filmmakers’ competence. I found the film to be plenty engaging and I’m not surprised it received the accolades it did. There are always going to be the clueless who fail to “get it” or grasp what the filmmakers are trying to do, and there’s nothing we can really do about those morons but to put up with them. Furthermore, the lawsuit by Voltage against the “fans” who were illegally downloading the film is entirely appropriate. Action should be taken against these criminals and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These are not “fans”, they’re bottom-feeders freely benefiting from the creativity and hard work of the creators of this film who deserve to be compensated for their product. Any criticism toward “greedy” Voltage is a woefully and transparently misdirected level of indignation that should be turned back on the perpetrators of the crime.
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