From Description:

From Amazon.com:

Frenzied and relentlessly aggressive, Gamer seeks to translate the sensory barrage of violent video games into movie form--and does a pretty successful job. In a dystopic future, prisoners on death row are given a slim chance of survival as flesh-and-blood avatars for shoot-'em-up game players who control their very brains. The mastermind behind this game (played by Michael C. Hall, Dexter) has secret ambitions worthy of a James Bond villain, but his schemes are threatened by John Tillman (Gerard Butler, 300), the only living avatar who's survived more than a few games--so Tillman's already dangerous life turns even more deadly. Gamer revels in overkill: visual tricks abound as the action speeds up or slows down, skittering to and fro with jump cuts and flashes of light. The dialogue is a catalog of macho posturing or melodramatic exposition. The performances--from a surprising cast that includes Alison Lohman (Drag Me to Hell), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Chris "Ludacris" Bridges (Crash), and supermodel Amber Valletta--play cartoonish characters with exuberant gusto and commitment. By conventional standards, Gamer is a terrible movie… but the movie's creators don't care, because they aspire to step beyond conventional standards. As with their previous adrenaline-driven flick Crank, the writer-director team of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor want viewers to plug in, turn off their rational minds, and immerse themselves in sheer sensation. --Bret Fetzer

01/19/2010

John Leguizamo, Gerard Butler, Ludacris, Kyra Sedgwick.

Kable is the superstar and cult hero of the ultraviolent Slayers. Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned, and forced to fight against his will, the modern-day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game, free his family, regain his identity, and save mankind from this ruthless technology.

"Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor...make another good case for taking them seriously."--L.A. Weekly

"Butler is perfect..."--Newsday

"An injection of adrenaline..."--Empire Magazine

MPAA rating: R.

DVD.

English audio; English, Spanish subtitles.

Closed-captioned.

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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />If you do decide to watch this at some point, then you should probably drink a lot before hand.

I bought the movie for my grandsons who are adicted to games. It came as a big surprise that the whole family enjoyed it. Not recommended for young children which we discovered a little late but it was great.

If you liked Crank, then you will like this movie too. <br /> <br />I detested Crank 2 ... RETCH RETCH BARF!!! <br />;) <br /> <br />The movie had lots of sex & violence, so what's not to like! <br />;) <br /> <br />The pace is frenetic. <br /> <br />Don't bother with the special features. <br />The only thing I learned is that Neveldine / Taylor directed the movie. <br />If anybody knows which Mythology movie they produced, please let me know.

Directed by: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor <br />Starring: Gerard Butler <br />Running time: 95 min. R - 2009 <br /> <br />The movie "Gamer" stars Gerald Butler of "300" fame who is a convict used in a Call of Duty type virtual video game. If he wins 30 matches he gets his freedom, but the creator of the game has another agenda. The movie also has an interesting take on the game Sims, what if it were played using real people? "Gamer" has a similar feel to the prior movie I reviewed "Surrogates" although much more adult oriented. Not intended for kids at all despite being based around a video game. <br /> <br />Buy it, it's that good.

Great transaction. Movie was ok, but the ending could have been a little more intense.