Movie Review: Gamer

First there was Rollerball (the original) then came The Running Man. Add in a bit of Resident Evil (at least how it plays off of it's video game origins) and when you mix it all up you get Gamer. Well a handfull of hallucinogens helps too.

Perhaps its the fact that I'm a bit older than the target audience of Gamer. Or maybe I'm just not ADHD enough to flow with the kalidescope of scenes that dominate this film. But whatever the reason, this film sucked.

Let's start with the opening of the movie. It's frentic. Filled with explosions and and guns and lots of running around. Kind of like what you got in Saving Private Ryan, except not as focused or motivating. If you are prone to epileptic fits, good luck to you.

The film doesn't get much better from there. It's constantly trying to have things moving at hyperspeed at every step. Even just moving from one place to another without any gunfire is a series of jumpaction, shaky, flashes. It gives me the impression that the editor was on cocaine, and the director wanted the audience to feel that same kind of rush. Sadly though, it doesn't work in a positive way.

Aside from that, there of course is what passes for a plot these days. To say that it is full of holes and bad would be an upgrade of my opinion. The remake of Deathrace 2000 (called simply Death Race with Jason Statham) is almost logical and intellectual comparatively.

What are the problems?

**Spoiler**

Well let's go with the girl in the prison/holding area. How did she get there? Why doesn't anyone notice her interaction with Kable (Gerard Butler - our protagonist)? Why isn't she spotted since she stands out massively?

Another issue is the world domination theme. Was it really necessary? And why would the rest of the corporate lackeys go along with it, without being controled?

Or how about killing Kable in the most simple way possible. Just hold him in place as anyone shoots him. It's not like the film doesn't mention that there are internet drags and glitches just like now.

Or how does the kid, who had all his computers hacked, suddenly have the power to get back in control of Kable? Why is Kable a hero to the masses that have no clue what is going on? How does all of that get broadcast live?

Spoiler over

Seriously there are a dozen different issues in the film. But as bad as they are, the contrived end of the movie is just the worst part of it. Like they couldn't figure out what to do next so they stole the ending from Blade Runner, essentially.

Ok, skip what little plot there was. How was the acting?

Well I must say that Ludacris was not out of place. Which considering that I find his acting about as good as gangsta rap, is not a compliment. Yes, it was really that bad. He was about as emotive and compelling as watching static.

The shame is that he was on par with all the other actors in the film. Everyone was just here for the paycheck and it shows (Kyra Sedgwick, John Leguizamo, Amber Valleta, Keith David all included). Perhaps Michael C. Hall (of Dexter fame) was the best actor in the film. And he seemed asleep virtually every time he has a scene. Except when he was singing and dancing. That showed a bit of the talent that he has.

The soundtrack was good though. Several interesting revisions of older songs that really work well with the more stable scenes. And a few that hit the right tone for the more addict-looking-for-a-fix scenes.

I love videogames. I'm an avid fan of MMO's (I've played almost all the major ones to date). Explosions and gunfire are always a bonus to most any film. But none of these things can combine to make Gamer a good film.

If you haven't seen the film in theaters yet, congratulations. Don't buy the DVD. I wouldn't even recommend watching this when it hits cable.

If you want to spend 90 minutes watching something to entertain and distract your mind, try any of the films I've already mentioned. This film steals ideas from all of them, and they all do it much better.