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Gamer

A futuristic action movie directed by Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine starring Gerard Butler

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Wouldn't it be brilliant if all the soldiers I killed in Call of Duty 4 were real?

  • Jan 3, 2011
  • by
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Rating:
+2
There seems to be developing a trend in recent years with these films being critical of society and the way it looks to be going. Films such as Live!, Surrogates and now this all seem to enjoy saying the same thing; "This is an image of you society and we don't like it". Ken Clarke's one of the originators of this type of film with his collection of films featuring teenagers getting down and dirty under the sheets. Clarke's films were quite deep, clever and had a serious message to send. "Gamer" - on the other hand - said "we don't like this blood thirsty society, phwoar look at that man's head explode, that was so testosterone pumpingly awesome; now here's a pair of breasts for you to enjoy". I usually like these types of films, as they usually have something quite serious to say, whilst at the same time still managing to be entertaining. "Gamer" was just confusing from this stand-point because, on the one hand it tries to be critical of a blood thirsty society, whilst at the same time being a film that caters to exactly that type of audience.

In the year of the future a maniac by the name of Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall) has invented self replicating nanites which allow people to remotely control the movements of others. This technology led to the creation of the game "Society" where fat, spotty, disgusting teenagers would pay to control other people who are paid to be controlled and have them have sex with each other or just be downright depraved without leaving the comfort of your own sofa. It's also led to the creation of convict slaying computer game "Slayer" which allows gamers to control death row convicts in a call of duty deathmatch type game where, if the controlled player, in this instance "Kable" (Gerrard "KING LEONIDAS" Butler), wins 30 rounds they are set free. He just has to rely on the skills of his controller and a computer hacking pro-humanity group aptly called, "Humanz" to get good old "Kable" free to get his revenge on that madman Castle.

It's got enough blood spattered walls and breasts to please any 13 year old, or every adult with the IQ of a goldfish. Let's look at "Gamer" in the context of a relationship. "Gamer" is the dominant one while its audience are the naive loved up puppy just wanting to see someone be blown apart by a grenade. Now and again "Gamer" will give its audience the love and affection it deserves by showing enough nudity and gore to give any red-blooded male a semi; but then "Gamer" has the dark, hidden personality that rears its ugly head in the odd scene and starts abusing its audience. "Look, see this fat greasy scumbag teenager. This is you. I hate you. You're disgusting" but will then realise the harshness of what it's just done, apologise to its loved up audience and promises never to hurt it again, and proceeds with the blood and nudity.

If you look past the self loathing, violent relationship between the film and its viewers, you will be mildly entertained by the mindless action and the - sort of - twist. Michael C. Hall makes me want to watch this film as he's just truly magnificent for every moment he's on screen. You're never sure whether he's, just all of a sudden, going to go slightly mental and start dancing around a sombrero singing la cucaracha while punching a small animal just for the hell of it, as he comes across as that unbalanced. King Leonidas does what he does best which is violently mutilating people while looking intensely into the camera making to worried about whether he's going to punch you just for watching the film. The supporting cast members are forgettable to say the least, as they're merely there to try and give the films plot more purpose and meaning, but just winds up becoming too cliché to bare.

If you do decide to watch this at some point, then you should probably drink a lot before hand.
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January 03, 2011
I did not like this movie at all...I think I gave it a 1; just for being there. Nice review!
 
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More Gamer reviews
review by . August 12, 2011
   1.   In 1992 Neil Esterbrook wrote “cyberpunk is dead,” stating that most cyberpunk authors had moved back into mainstream science fiction.  Cyberpunk exists as a subgenre of science fiction literature, a subversive exploration of a ruling technocratic corporate culture.  Indulging in both a fascination with, and fear of technology, cyberpunk often blurs the lines between what is natural and what is completely artificial, sometimes even reversing the …
Quick Tip by . June 12, 2010
posted in Movie Hype
Atrocious dialog and pointless scenes make over-the-top violence seem voyeuristic. Makes Surrogates look like Out of Africa.
Quick Tip by . March 11, 2010
posted in Movie Hype
From the people who brought you 'Crank'. Cool actors, but the plot and action were all over the place. Should have been better.
Quick Tip by . January 21, 2010
I was left speechless as to how weak and bad this movie was. Some nudity, sub-par action and bad direction. Skip.
review by . September 08, 2009
Discalimer: I saw this movie on Saturday at 12:30am completely on a whim.      Set in a future world where (shocking) one corporation has dominated the global marketplace and is now showing hints of heading towards world domination, Gamer strives to scramble your brains not with its clever plot lines but rather with camera shakes, ultra-fast editing and the occasional POV shot.  Gerard Butler plays a real-life video game soldier on death row, controlled by a swarm of neuron-inhibiting …
see all Gamer reviews (3)
About the reviewer
Steven Stewart ()
Ranked #96
Currently studying Law at University, my main interests revolve around Politics. I read quite a lot and love learning about History. Not just the history of a specific time, place and person, but I'm … more
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About this movie

Wiki

Gamer is a 2009 science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. The film stars Gerard Butler as an unwilling participant in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players. Gamer was released in North America and the United Kingdom on September 4, 2009.

Flash Animation

Set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken society by storm. Humans control other humans in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game. Reclusive billionaire Ken Castle has created the controversial form of entertainment, "Slayers," a hugely popular game that allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies -- online -- in front of a global audience. Gaming has...&#160;See Full DescriptionGenres:Action/Adventure and Thriller Release Date:September 4th, 2009 (wide) MPAA Rating:R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity and language. Distributors:Lionsgate See Full Details
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Tags

Movies, Action Movies, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction Movies, Thriller, Thriller Movies, Gerard Butler
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Details

Release Date: September 4th, 2009 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min.
Studio: Lionsgate, Lakeshore International
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First to Review

"Quick cuts and flashy lighting don't make a bad film good"
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