Gamer: A movie that came out at the end of summer last year, highly advertised, but not as great box office return.

Starring: Gerard Butler (300), Ludacris, Michael C. Hall (Dexter).

Plot: In the future, technology is developed that allows one person to control another's actions. This is used in a game called "Slayers" which features a host of Death Row Inmates trying to reach the 'save point' while killing each other. If they survive 30 battles, they earn their freedom. Kable, an inmate, is just 4 games away from being the only 'contestant' to complete all 30 battles. This may seem boring and lame, but I assure you, it is only the beginning of the movie...there is more to it.



This movie pulled me in, being a Gamer myself, with the whole 'playing as a live person' angle. It, of course, has wild, over-the-top action and gore, as well as some nudity, so parents...watch it first.

And though the basic plot sounds a little like Death Race, this movie has a lot more to offer. It is more of a Hard Sci-Fi picture than anything Stathom has done. This one is a little part Running Man, part Surrogates, part I-Robot.

On the one hand, you have Kable. An inmate who volunteered to have his brain injected with Nanites which settled in his neo cortex then began to replicate a portion which became a receiver for a signal. Another hand, you have Simon...a 17 player who is at the top of his game and even has an entire room dedicated to playing the game.

They also deal with Angie, Kable's wife who works in a real life version of Second Life called Society which uses the same technology as 'Slayers'. Angie essentially becomes an real life avatar that someone else controls with no risk to themselves, like Surrogates only no robots.

There is also Ken Castle, the inventor of the technology. Apparent savior of the American Government by finding ways to pay for things using his technology. The 'Slayers' game pays for the prison system.

And then there is Humanz Brother. A hacker/conspiracy theorist who hijacks a talk show to broadcast a conspiracy theory.

The movie deals with some issues with technology, such as how far will the depravity of humanity go when they are disconnected from reality and did it much better than the recent Surrogates did. The in-your-face gore fests and blatant nudity illustrate the theme of virtuality encouraging depravity. There are even themes dealing with power and it's corruption effects. The story is well constructed, even starting off with 'small' conflict and escalating in to 'major' conflict with out much difficulty.

Some of the visuals can get confusing, especially at the beginning. This is intentional. It is supposed to seem like you are watching the game and experiencing lag. Some later visuals are used to show the real 'virtual world' of Society. But the effects are nice, explosions are always enjoyable...especially when it seems they actually hit people instead of landing 10 ft away and people still falling over dead.

This is a good movie if you want to see an action movie. It is also a good movie if you want to see a sci-fi movie. Do yourselves a favor and rent it atleast. This is not your typical mindless action flick.