Surrogates - Bruce Willis
#51
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
I will buck the trend and say that I really enjoyed this. Its not high art, but whatever, it was a movie about robots, conspiracies and explosions; and it delivered. Willis was great, the action was fun, and it was amusing to see what the users looked like compared to their avatars.
I say: If you thought the trailer looked fun, then go see it.
I say: If you thought the trailer looked fun, then go see it.
#52
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From: So Cal
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
Jesus Christ. There are so many things wrong with this movie. I didn't even enjoy it on the basis that it could be a brainless action movie or just an entertaining popcorn movie, because the movie keeps provoking you into thinking about the moral consequences of living in a world like the one in Surrogates.
For example, it's never really explained why sexism, racism, discrimination, and violent crime plummet after surrogacy becomes widespread. If anything, wouldn't those problems become amplified? and later in the movie, don't those problems still exist? isn't there a colony of people living in near-squalor that are marginalized by society (meatsack sounds like a derogatory remark to me... all in a world that's free of discrimination!)? Jesus christ this movie can't even retain some measure of internal consistency.
I could understand there being a "twist" in that living in a world of surrogates, that crime would go down instead of customarily spiraling out of control; it's supposed to be a metaphor for how disconnected we are from reality despite still experiencing every facet of it. Our complacency breeds cooperation with society. But this is never really explored in the movie beyond the casual slovnly-guy-impersonating-a-hot-woman and the woman-escaping-her-pain-through-empty-vicarious-living.
Another problem I had with the movie is that it both vilifies and condones the lifestyle that's represented in the movie. It's possible to set up a future world like the one in Surrogates and vilify it without warping the main characters. For example, a movie like Gattaca explored the nature of the human condition and the struggle for accomplishment in a world of perfection. Yet despite the protagonist appropriating the role of another person, thus surrendering to the system instead of trying to tear it down, he STILL must struggle in order to succeed. The protagonist would be able to accomplish his goals BUT FOR the limitations imposed upon him in the world he lives in. So despite the fact that he's playing along with a corrupt system, he's still a champion of human determination.
In Surrogates, these characters are no better off without their surrogates; they are miserable, unhappy, incompetent, and utterly unable to function in their daily lives. But they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. In fact, we know next to nothing about them other than that they are all addicted to living a lie.
What really disappointed me about this movie, and this is certainly something that most other critics share, is that this movie had a lot of potential, but wasted it all on boring special effects scenes.
For example, it's never really explained why sexism, racism, discrimination, and violent crime plummet after surrogacy becomes widespread. If anything, wouldn't those problems become amplified? and later in the movie, don't those problems still exist? isn't there a colony of people living in near-squalor that are marginalized by society (meatsack sounds like a derogatory remark to me... all in a world that's free of discrimination!)? Jesus christ this movie can't even retain some measure of internal consistency.
I could understand there being a "twist" in that living in a world of surrogates, that crime would go down instead of customarily spiraling out of control; it's supposed to be a metaphor for how disconnected we are from reality despite still experiencing every facet of it. Our complacency breeds cooperation with society. But this is never really explored in the movie beyond the casual slovnly-guy-impersonating-a-hot-woman and the woman-escaping-her-pain-through-empty-vicarious-living.
Another problem I had with the movie is that it both vilifies and condones the lifestyle that's represented in the movie. It's possible to set up a future world like the one in Surrogates and vilify it without warping the main characters. For example, a movie like Gattaca explored the nature of the human condition and the struggle for accomplishment in a world of perfection. Yet despite the protagonist appropriating the role of another person, thus surrendering to the system instead of trying to tear it down, he STILL must struggle in order to succeed. The protagonist would be able to accomplish his goals BUT FOR the limitations imposed upon him in the world he lives in. So despite the fact that he's playing along with a corrupt system, he's still a champion of human determination.
In Surrogates, these characters are no better off without their surrogates; they are miserable, unhappy, incompetent, and utterly unable to function in their daily lives. But they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. In fact, we know next to nothing about them other than that they are all addicted to living a lie.
What really disappointed me about this movie, and this is certainly something that most other critics share, is that this movie had a lot of potential, but wasted it all on boring special effects scenes.
#54
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From: Guelph, Ontario
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
I thought it was entertaining enough and it look pretty, but the 'twists' and turns could be seen from MILES away, so there were no real surprises and a lot of motivations were very loose. Lots of cool ideas could have been explored here and they could have fleshed out the concept/characters/action sequences a bit more to make it into something memorable into something merely passable.
#56
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
I think Bruce Willis needs to stop wearing crappy hairpieces. He's almost to Cage level of bad hair. Though...Cage's hair is real....hrm...
#57
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
Indeed...I just don't understand why they didn't just go for a Die Hard like hairpiece. At least we'd believe that...or a more realistic hair piece as in The Jackal.
#60
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
This movie looked terrible. I thought Terminator 3 was bland and forgettable so I suspected this would be no different. In other words - I didn't go see it. Sounds like I made the right choice based on most comments in this thread.
#61
Suspended; also need updated email
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
Yeah i know, a blindfolded person lying down oblivious to the real world is ripe for the murdering or the raping
#62
DVD Talk Legend
#63
DVD Talk Legend
#64
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
Well you're all right cept the one who liked it. This movie sucked on every single level really. I couldn't believe how bad it was.
#65
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
Movie was alright, it was interesting in the right ways but so loosely scripted that many things were many borderline plot holes -- and then there were the plotholes themselves. I understand some of the complaints about "real people having no redeemable qualities" but that actually worked for me.
In all, it's a fairly entertaining movie, but the script needed a rewrite. Don't regret watching it, don't feel dumber having done so, but it's tough to give a real recommendation.
Willis' hairpiece was hilariously bad.
In all, it's a fairly entertaining movie, but the script needed a rewrite. Don't regret watching it, don't feel dumber having done so, but it's tough to give a real recommendation.
Willis' hairpiece was hilariously bad.
#66
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From: Bartertown due to it having a better economy than where I really live.
Re: Surrogates - Bruce Willis
rented it tonight
"lady I don't know what you are. For all I know you could be some big fat dude sitting in his sim chair with his dick hanging out"
that's almost enough for me to change my sig
So they can make their surrogate look like anything they want and Bruce Willis's character chooses that look?
must never see a mirror
"lady I don't know what you are. For all I know you could be some big fat dude sitting in his sim chair with his dick hanging out"
that's almost enough for me to change my sig
So they can make their surrogate look like anything they want and Bruce Willis's character chooses that look?
must never see a mirror




