Ben-DutkaThere's a long-running history of terrible movies based on video games, but perhaps things will turn out better if Hollywood simply focuses on the concept of the gamer itself.
The movie "Gamer" is a "high-concept action thriller set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken society by storm." In this warped time, humans actually have the capability to control other humans in a "mass-scale, multiplayer online game." Basically, we no longer control animations, but living, breathing people. In the movie, billionaire Ken Castle, played by Michael C. Hall, has created a futuristic first-person shooter of sorts; a piece of controversial entertainment called "Slayers." It "allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies – online – in front of a global audience." And yet, on the outside, there is still another human…"playing" a human, which is why the movie poster you see here asks, "Who's Playing You?"
Gerard Butler ("300") is the star of "Slayer," and is controlled by Simon, a "young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week." Of course, Kable is a human after all and isn't too keen on the concept of someone else controlling his actions, and he's basically a prisoner. His goal is to escape the game, free his family, reclaim his identity, and "save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology." The film also includes the likes of Amber Valletta, Logan Lerman, John Leguizamo, and Kyra Sedgwick. You can watch the trailer and gain a bit more information on this Lionshead picture by visiting the official site . …the gamer has suffered many long years of obscurity in the realm of "geekdom;" let's hope "Gamer" adds to the continued "normalizing" of the hobby and those who participate in it.
After watching the trailer, we have to admit: it shows promise. We say this about movies based on games occassionally, but that's just us being ever-optimistic. In this case, it might…actually…work… We anxiously await its release in theaters on September 4.
A matrix-esque concept pitting human on human instead of against machine. Sounds like it could be a decent movie if they don't try to "Hollywood" it up too much and just try to make something that is equally intellectually stimulating and attention grabbing.
you use Hollywood as a verb too? heh
nice new avatar world
Using Real people instead of Graphic avatars, thats sounds rather implausible….
Last edited by Vivi_Gamer on 5/12/2009 3:34:00 PM
thanks for the logic spock
I wish I could "play" Ultimadream. I'd make him like stuff. It'd probably have to be a glitch or something though…
if i could play as ultimadream, i might run into a fire pit until his cold attitude went away and a personality came through…
^^^^^^^^
LoL!! YESSSS!!!!
Well done, well done….
John Leguizamo? oh god is this Super Mario Bros. all over again?!?!?! AHHHHH!!! 😉
I don't know, the concept sounds ridiculous, even to me…
-Arvis
It sounds cool. Definitely something I would watch, even if it turns out to be a "B" movie.
sorry Avris, I actually didn't mean to reply to your post.
But now you did TWICE! I'm reporting you, man…
Incidentally, this is something I would watch too, even if it does sound ridiculous.
-Arvis
I'm torn…it sounds cool at first but the more I read about it..the more I was worried. And if I see this in theaters, I'm going to have a hard time to not yell out "Sparta!!" everytime Gerard Butler is on the screen..lol
If anyone has ever read Enders Game, this movie seems to be taken a bit from that concept I think.
Now the question is, will they make a video game based on a movie about a video game?
I just watched the trailer and saw the guy from Dexter in it..I love his show, so I'll give his movie a shot. Count me in!
Last edited by CH1N00K on 5/12/2009 4:03:51 PM
I'd rather just have a movie based on Enders Game. Actually, I'm surprised they haven't made one. Such a good book… I'm going to go read it again.
Dexter is just plain awesome.
Didnt they do this in Spy Kids 3-D?
*Suddenly has flashbacks of the awful "Arcade" movie* I'll have to see some trailers of this. Movies that use gaming for the concept have usually been awful. And hey John Leguizamo has done great movies. lol When I think about the Mario Bros. movie though. Kyra Sedgwick hmm..
Arcade was an awesome flick, remember Brainscan too LOL.
This is kind of like taking The Running Man and adding an element of remote control. I'll stick to Arnie and his "I'll be back" and heavy accent. The Governator could take Gerard with his eyes closed.
I'm in!
2 reasons why this film will be awesome:
A] Gerard Butler
B] The plot sounds so daring it HAS to be great.
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I mean it's like one of those nutty movies that you'll never forget. I mean, we ALL remember how awesome Highlander was, no matter how cheesy it was. Same for 300, & Fifth Element.
For s**ts & giggles there has to be kill narrations & a teabagging scene.
Exclusive content on Xbox live, huh?
Movie's got potential. I'm not sold yet though.
Sounds pretty awesome. Especially with Gerard Butler.
Hopefully they can pull it off.
Sounds good. Itd be nice if you could control someone to bring out your innermost GTA fantasies!
You're scary. 😛
The idea is actually good. I'll look forward to this. It kind of reminds me of a futuristic gladiator theme with a twist…
I'll watch this 🙂
I'm seriously sitting here in shock that anyone could possibly think that this movie sounds like it has any remote possibility of not being beyond horrendous. (Disclaimer: I'm not calling anyone out on their tastes and I don't have a problem with anyone so please don't respond to this like I'm trying to accuse anyone of having poor taste or anything like that.)
Honestly, from hearing that plot summary, this movie sounds so chocked up full of cheese that I'm actually upset by it. I just don't understand; how could anyone read the part about the dude in the game wanting to save his family and not give themselves a Spartan-force forehead slap? It sounds terrible, just absolutely terrible. There's no logical basis for this plot. Like the Matrix had its foundation in the fact that mankind was enslaved by the robots, not by itself (Well, I'm speaking solely from watching the first; if that turns out to be untrue, then I definitely understand why the sequels are considered so bad).
Here is how this plot could redeem itself to the level of barely passable mediocrity:
People play video games and control video game characters with true artificial intelligence. In other words, they aren't real, physics human being because that's retarded; instead, they are real personalities that exist in virtual reality, thus we sympathize with them as if they were real people, but it still has some logical basis for the whole situation.
I seriously can't believe this movie has actually come into existence AFTER the 1980's.
Last edited by KevinCairo on 5/13/2009 7:03:10 PM
Yeah…Because X-Men could happen…and everything in Indiana Jones could happen…Lord of the Rings and Star Wars is totally logical, and so is the whole Harry Potter series. Since when do we want real life logic in movies? I personally go to the movies to escape reality for a while, not to get another big dose of it.
You confuse logic with realism, which completely and entirely invalidates your point.
Well you seemed to imply that it was illogical because it was unrealistic. So, what is so illogical about it? Also, thanks for including two words of the same meaning for me. It really helped as I knew what "completely" meant, but the word "entirely" was totally foreign to me.
P.S. And logic is subjective anyway which completely, entirely, utterly, fully, detailedly, exhaustively, perfectly and wholly invalidates your point inside out, up and down, altogether, through and through.
Last edited by NiteKrawler on 5/16/2009 11:13:09 PM
If done right, I foresee this obtaining a "cult" status….
And maybe even more so if done horribly wrong too, LMAO