Gamer 2009

In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live.

5.715 / 10   2281 vote(s)
R
Action Thriller Science Fiction

Mind-control technology has taken society by a storm, a multiplayer on-line game called "Slayers" allows players to control human prisoners in mass-scale. Simon controls Kable, the online champion of the game. Kable's ultimate challenge becomes regaining his identity and independence by defeating the game's mastermind.

Homepage http://gamerthemovie.com
Release Date 2009-09-03
Runtime 1h 35m
Directors Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Ekkehart Pollack, Peter Borck, Jon Mallard
Producers Richard S. Wright, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Skip Williamson, Steve Griffith, Annabelle Troukens, John Ramsay, Jenny Foster, Tiffany Smith, Carey Michaels Keeney, James McQuaide, Brian Taylor, Eric Reid, David Scott Rubin, Michael Paseornek, Mark Neveldine, Devin Sterling, Andy Kaplan
Writers Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Running Man with a dash of Facebook

Running Man with a dash of Facebook, and not much more. Maybe more the book Running Man, less the Schwarzenegger thing. But essentially, it's that story - bits of which have been filmed numerous times.

The logistics and the logic in this story don't add up. Unclear rules and chaotic action scenes permanently maxed-out on violence make it impossible to either feel the danger, or compassion with the protagonists during the battles. And outside the battles, there is not much suspense either, nor acting possibilites, nor dialogue, let alone character development. Even the technobabble is off.

Oh, and the CGI at start is sub-par, even for its day. (Hint: If you can't afford to do it with good CGI, use physical effects instead.)

If you want your fix on "action without too much brains", watch something like Hardcore Henry; if you want something somewhat clever and entertaining on the topic, read the book "The Running Man". This movie is a waste of time.

jw