Impressions based on the trailer
Computer gamers control a real flesh-and-blood human in a Doom-style first-person shooter game. The trailer promises action scenes with a heavy amount of violence and testosterone. There might be also be some social commentary about the dark underbelly of video game culture, but whether this is treated seriously or is just an excuse to see dudes shooting each other remains to be seen.
How intrigued are you, based upon seeing the trailer?
Anne: Not very
Jack: Somewhat curious
Comments after seeing the film.
Anne: The trailer accurately portrays the action-packed aspects of the film. They definitely play up the things that boys in their teens (and men who think like boys in their teens) would like to see most. That is fair, but I’m personally more interested in the social commentary in the film which is hardly shown in the trailer. I didn’t realize that I would like this movie because it seemed too much like a brainless action film. The film takes place in a society where regular people are willing to turn themselves into puppeted sims for cash and death row inmates have a chance to win their freedom by fighting through 30 rounds of broadcasted combat. I really like the idea of a “big brother” mind control society that has evolved from our cultural championing of Gears of War, World of Warcraft and Second Life. I feel that the trailer only depicted half of the story. However, the movie does deliver the goods as a solid action film as the trailer displays.
Jack: Gamer is a rare treat – a futuristic shoot-‘em-up with a winking self-consciousness and a satirical spirit. The action sequences taking place inside the game world of “Slayers,” as well as star player Gerard Butler’s escape (apparently shot by co-directors Neveldine and Taylor using handheld cameras while rollerblading) are obviously what the trailer plays up as its main selling points. Some of the more idiosyncratic aspects of the film came as a pleasant surprise, such as its disturbingly kinky portrayal of the relationship between gamers and sims, a black-lighted shootout in a nightclub that resembles a Jackson Pollock painting, and not one, but two incidents where characters burst into song. I was happy that these elements weren’t spoiled by the trailer, but at the same time, advertising the film as simply a poker-faced actionier runs the risk of turning off more intelligent viewers who might really enjoy it.
Final Grade for Film: B-
Trailer Accuracy: 50%
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