Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-17 09:34:41

Are you kidding me....

If you like this movie, why not just visit a slaughter house. At least there is a plot. I have to vent b/c this flick really sucked. I watched a good deal of the last hour in fastforward. This movie lacked a plot, special effects, acting, and a soundtrack. What was the budget 1/2 Million? Mentioning this in the same breath as the Matrix is a joke. Thank god I rented it!

Lone_Wolf_and_Cub 2012-05-16 11:39:35

Perky Pat--Homage to PKD

In case you didn't notice, the two main protagonists pick up somefast-foodfrom "Perky Pat's"--you can see the logo on the take-out bags. "The DaysofPerky Pat" was a short story by Philip K. Dick published in 1963(Amazing--Dec. 1963). PKD later used this short story in a fullyfleshed-outnovel entitled "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch". If you've readthisnovel, then you realize that this entire movie is simply Cronenberg payinghomage to the master, PKD, the quintessential practitioner of `is therereally a 'real' reality?' In the novel, instead of using VR, theparticipants, the entire population of the world, are transported throughvarious degrees of reality by using a new drug called Chew-Z. Of courseit'sbrought to Earth and the Mars colony from the Proxima system by, you knowand love him, Palmer Eldritch!Read the novel, it's a fantastic horror tome.eXistenZ = Chew-Z

Peter Simons 2012-05-11 01:13:10

I'd rather watch The Matrix again.

If there is a benefit to having seen this motion picture, it is that I nowhave a good word for the feeling of having utterly wasted two hours of myprecious life. I was lured into the movie theater by the statement that"eXistenZ" was similar to "The Matrix". Having seen both movies, though, Iwonder why anybody would compare "eXistenZ" to "The Matrix", because theonly sane conclusion one might arrive at is that "The Matrix" is by anorderof magnitude better than "eXistenz". In fact, I can not think of manymoviesthat are not by an order of magnitude better than "eXistenZ".The idea "eXistenZ" is trying to convey is that if you had a virtualcomputer reality that would be indistinguishable from reality, then youcould not distinguish between reality and virtual reality.While this is without a doubt an idea of inherent truth and beauty, it isnot very much to fill ninety minutes -- at least if you're trying to getalong without any good actors and any recognizable storyline.If the two main characters do not slaughter any bizarre life forms, petrolstation employees, or each other, they stumble around so pathetically thatyou immediately realize why Jennifer Jason Leigh never became much morethana B-movie actress. Her display of acting skills in this film is limited tobeing shy and just being there.Similarly, her partner Jude Law restricts himself to expressing confusionand not knowing what is going on, which is at least consistent with hisroleas a marketing trainee being confronted with a new technology withoutsecondlevel support staff available.Together, they experience a set of surprising twists and turns in the plot,which surprise the audience not because the plot is clever and unexpected,but because the events are totally incoherent and without the slightestrelation to each other or anything else.The most memorable scene is when the two protagonists go down on each otherfor no apparent reason. As it turns out, there is no reason why they do it."The game" just wants them to "warm up emotionally for the next scene".Incredible.The problem with this movie is not that it is "bad". The problem is thatthemovie is just totally irrelevant. Weren't it for the time and money Iwastedto see it, I would simply have forgotten it existed at all. If you're inthemood for having your concept of "reality" shaken, I recommend you watch"The13th Floor" (which is not a very good movie either, but still much betterthan "eXistenZ") or even better: go and watch "The Matrix" (which is,without a doubt, one of the most amazing motion pictures of theyear).

2012-05-10 06:09:17

eXistenZ

I thought eXistenZ was a great movie. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and although the ending was a little predictable, I felt it was overall a good movie.

2012-05-07 02:06:32

Absolutely amazing!

I enjoyed this movie so very much. The script was very intelligent and thought provoking, the cast was excellent (and mostly Canadian!), and the movie had an incredible atmosphere. Too bad it was lost in the shuffle, up against the likes of "The Matrix" and "The Mummy", but this movie was better than both. Incredible!

Rich Meyer 2012-05-06 06:24:54

Making a film confusing does not make it the Matrix...

Nor does it make it good. I really do not think that the cover boxes foreXistenZ should have compared it to The Matrix, since it doesn't come closeto that. The confusion level is high...the confusion made the filmenjoyable at first, but there were just too many twists or non-twists toreally care about it at the end, and there was no framework laid upon whichto base the situations. And if this film depicted this actual, advancedvideo game, I'm probably going to stick with Battlezone for my fun, sincethe game in the movie (or the movie in the game) was just plainboring.

Adrian Gonzales 2012-05-05 06:45:26

eXistenZ executed its plot soundly and remarkably

Remember one of the Star Trek: Next Generation episodes where the premisewas being trapped in a holodeck within a holodeck? The concept is almost thesame. eXistenZ involves gamers that dig deeper and deeper into layers ofnon-reality and the game's eventual goal is to find out what exactly is realand what isn't real. This "question reality" plot is certainly no longeroriginal since Star Trek and a few films have already explored it (i.eMatrix), but when this plot is executed well, it can bring a lot ofenjoyment through this boggling of the mind. eXistenZ executed its plotsoundly and remarkably. I was disappointed by the lack of visual effects;it's not the most beautiful film you will see. However the plot, greatacting, and suspense all make up for it. This is definitely a film to checkout!Grade: A-

scurvy42 2012-05-04 14:31:34

not for cronenberg virgins

if you are going to see existenz, rent videodrome, and a fewother cronenberg videos before seeing it. basically, this is a"best of" directing job. i think that existenz is the firstcronenberg where he actually knows where he wants the movies togo (don't be scared, fellow cronenberg fans, it's plenty goddamnweird) the plot is still filled with oddities that onlycronenberg could think of, and a damn good plot.some might say that it's an update of videodrome, videodromebeing about television taking on a vital role in society, andthis being the same type of thing (with video games). this issemi-correct, but they are TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MOVIES! bythese standards, steven spielberg has made about 1 billion ofthe same movie! (wait a sec...he has! can you say overrated? eh?huh?)this is a brilliant movie with all the "what the hell?.." twistsand turns you've come to expect from mr.c. i personallyconsider this movie a real "brainf**k", something that messeswith your head enough, that thinking about it afterwards causeslapses in your memory and sense of time. i don't remember how igot home after the movie. weird, eh

achim seidel 2012-05-02 00:57:42

That´s what movies all about!!

Leaving the movie theatre and not being able to get back into the realworldtoo soon. That´s whats it all about. isn´t it!!

2012-05-01 16:16:56

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent

This movie was very spell binding to me and to everyone that watched it with me. I just loved this movie and it was this movie that turned me on to David Cronenberg films. I love the way he directs his films in a way that you don't know what is going to come next. They all have you on your edge of your seat right up until the end. Unique plot, great acting and wonderful story with this one. I hightly recommend it to everyone that loves supense and thrill rides in a film.

jimbo-40 2012-04-28 12:43:23

Weird but great

eXistenZ is a return to the paranoia about technology that appears in lotsof other Cronenburg, only from a bizarre new angle. At first the woodendialogue and the terrible acting are immensely distracting, but 10 minutesin you realise it's deliberate - he's not taking his subject seriously atall. It's his comment on the immaturity of most computer games thesedays.In fact there were a lot of great comments on the state of society, gamesand film (especially the computer game shop - I look forward to being ableto buy 'Hit By Car - you're in the driver seat'!). The massive over useofviolence was also a dig at every computer games body count these days.Butthe cleverest thing was the way that the movie referred to itself aswell -at one point somebody says 'it's so complex - it's going to be a nightmareto market'.In short it's brilliant - biting social satire, a few moments of bizarrecomedy and the gore you'd expect from Cronenburg.

2012-04-28 00:06:23

Great movie!

I thought the movie eXistenZ rocked! I had read several other people's revies, and I did not think that the dialogue was as horrible as everyone was saying. The few "cheesy" lines in the movie made sense because they were in a game. Anyway, the movie was good and worth the money I spent to rent it and the actors were great.

Lucien Lessard 2012-04-26 23:08:13

One of the most entertaining films from Cronenberg.

In the near future, there is a new game called eXistenZ. The gamedepicts a society which game designers are worshiped as superstars. Thegame players can organically enter inside the game. At the center ofthis story is Allegia Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who created thegame and it been having problems with people playing because it blursboundaries between fear, desires, reality and escapism.When she forced to flee after a failed assassination attempt, Allegrateams with a mysterious security guard Ted Pikel (Jude Law). Allegta isseducing Ted into playing the game. Once they do, both are into aphantasmagoria world where existence ends and eXistenZ begins.Written & Directed by David Cronenberg (Crash, The Dead Zone, Spider)made a entertaining Sci-Fi Thriller that gets sillier by the minute butit works thanks to a superb cast like the two leads and also Ian Holm,Don McKeller, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley, Robert A. Silverman,Kris Lemeche, Christopher Eccleston & Willem Dafoe. This Big BudgetCanadian/British Production was a Box Office Disappointment by the wakeof the release of The Matrix. Which The Matrix has a familiar story toeXistenZ to some degree.DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and anstrong-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD has three separatecommentary tracks by filmmakers-David Cronenberg, Cinematographer:PeterSuschitzky (Dead Ringers) and Visual/Digital Effects Supervisor:JimIssac (Jason X). DVD has an hour documentary by the ProductionDesigner:Carol Spier and the Original Theatrical Trailer. eXistenZ is aunderrated film, while The Matrix is a popular pop culture phenomenon.This film has less logic that most of Cronenberg films but it is fun towatch. (****/*****).

Lt_Coffey_182 2012-04-26 15:16:04

Entertaining and thought provoking. A great Sci-Fi with a twist

I always believed that a film that's plot is centred around a virtualreality video game never sounds as though it's going to be anythingspecial but eXistenZ proved I couldn't have been more wrong. This filmis unbelievable and, whilst highly entertaining, offers so much morethan that. From start to finish, this film has you conceptualising tothe point where you can have so many ideas, you can not make a finalconclusion. David Cronenberg has a talent for this as he does so manythings.eXistenZ is pure Cronenberg; the way it's written and the way it'sdirected is very unique to his style and that can only be a good thing.Cronenberg set himself a clear target with this film and that was tokeep the audience guessing which he did with apparent ease. Hisfondness for the grotesque is not as predominant in this film as it isin The Fly or Naked Lunch but there are still some elements such as thegame pods and how they are made that can make the audience wince. Withregards to his earlier work, eXistenZ is more a combination ofVideodrome and a less violent Scanners, a pretty awesome combination.Setting the film in the not too distant future was a really gooddecision as it allowed Cronenberg to be extremely imaginative with thefilms surroundings and also enabled him to visualise more concepts,allowing for less inhibited writing. It was important that the filmdidn't become over confusing and Cronenberg avoided this very well bykeeping things relatively simple. Besides, if he wanted to make anunwatchable film, he'd know how to do it a lot better than this.eXistenZ boasts an extremely talented cast of character actors and allperform very well. Jennifer Jason Leigh gives the standout performanceas the game designer who spends more time out of reality than in to it.Leigh is sexy and commanding in her role as Allegra and she really getsher teeth in to the role. The emotional range she shows in the film isparticularly impressive, making her completely believable (if you canbelieve anything). Jude Law is also good and is very convincing in hischaracter's fear of implantation. The chemistry between these two isvery electric and gives the film an extra bit of flavour. Ian Holm andWillem Dafoe are just two of the great actors in support who addfurther depth to the film with very colourful performances. The cast ofthe film isn't huge but eXistenZ definitely has the 'quality is betterthan quantity' ethic which works very well.As well as being entertaining and thought provoking, eXistenZ touchessocial issues such as control and loss of self. This furtherdemonstrates the film as an intellectual vessel and could also explainwhy it wasn't a huge Hollywood hit. eXistenZ has so much to offer andalthough it isn't to everyone's taste, those who like Cronenberg's workor who like science fiction will almost be certain to like this film.It is one of those films that needs to be watched with an open mind butit really is something special.

Roland E. Zwick 2012-04-22 13:50:09

uneven thriller with an almost redemptive ending

David Cronenberg's "eXistenZ" is one of those films that falters badlyduring much of its running time, but which redeems itself with a cleverlyrevelatory ending that explains and justifies some of the seeming nonsensethat has come before it.Joining an increasingly long list of thrillers dealing with the concept ofvirtual reality, this latest Cronenberg effort raises an increasinglydisturbing question: will cyber "reality" ever advance to the stage whereit becomes indistinguishable from "true" reality? In an earlier time, thistheme usually developed along the lines of dream vs. conscious reality,wherein characters would become caught in dreams within dreams with thehapless victim ultimately left in a state of perpetual confusion anddesperation. Now, this theme has moved into the realm of cyber reality(i.e. "The Matrix") but the essential question still remains - only now theissue is a more complex one because, unlike dreams which exist beyond thecontrol of the dreamer, cyber reality is a conscious outgrowth of mankind'squest for ever increasing technology, employed in the purpose of achievingmore leisure time gratification. Soon, novels and movies will become passeas ordinary citizens take on the virtual reality roles of daredeviladventurers or irresistable romantic heroes. In many ways, this theme wastouched upon as long ago as 1983 in the film "Brainstorm", which, inretrospect, seems to become more and more prescient in its view of a worldlaying just a few decades down the road.Unfortunately, "eXistenZ" works mostly in retrospect itself. Too much ofthe film borders on the ludicrous and incomprehensible and Cronenberg needsto begin to shed his junior high level obsession with goop and gore.However, when the "reality" of the film is finally revealled, much of whathas occured previously begins to seem justified and the audience does leavethe film with some food for thought. Also, Cronenberg continues to explorethe motif of bizarre sexuality he exploited to the full in his last film,"Crash". Here, sex is as simulated as all other virtual realityactivities,with the computer game "plug-ins" and receptors functioning as substitutesfor the more traditional sexual organs."eXistenZ" may provoke more giggles than gasps during much of its runningtime, but it is a film worth sticking with to its rewardingconclusion.

George Braden 2012-04-22 08:08:04

Don't like Cronenberg? Stay away.

Nobody does Cronenberg like Cronenberg, and he's working at the top of hisform. A talented cast works from a challenging, underrated (if the otherreviews and Ebert's criticism are any indication) script, all framed withthe obligatory organic grossouts we demand from Mr. C. I have read inseveral places (including the column of the usually infallible Ebert) thatthe dialogue was stilted. Yes, it is, but pay close attention, because it's_intentionally_ so. The fact that the performances sometimes slip intoMametish woodenness is a key plot point. Writing his own script for thefirst time in 15 years, Cronenberg also manages to transcend the shaggy-dog"it was all a dream" corniness to which "Jacob's Ladder" fell prey, stayingfresh through the last frame of the movie.Jude Law and Christopher Eccleston continue to prove themselves to be two ofthe most talented young actors working today.

Auryn-2 2012-04-15 12:27:49

Great, but with some flaws.

I really liked this film. The bio-tech was fascinating and innovative, and Iagree with most the positive stuff people have said about this film.But it had some flaws, too. I didn't mind the plot changing again and again. It was cool, and it wentwith the style of the film. But I had some problems with the bio-tech. Itjust was not credible. If we, in the future, invent these bio-gadjets, itwill not be tomorrow or next week. It will not be within the next 100 year.In this movie, everything feels exactly like today (clothing, cars, overallfeel etc) except that there's a lot of really wierd bio-tech-stuff. Nope. Ididn't buy it. Also, the characters popped in and out of the film so fast I didn'trecognize most of them in the final scenes. oops, a new person in, he's init for 2 minutes, he's out again, and I'm supposed to recognize him an hourlater?!? Nope... too many characters for such a short film.But I liked it, and I thought this monvie was cool. Thumbs up!

big-red 2012-04-14 21:59:24

hyper-reality shocks!

David Cronenberg's `eXistenZ' is a well designed reflection of thephilosophy of existentialism. It addresses the problems of a culture thatisplugged into technology that it can no longer distinguish between fantasyand reality or between the organic and the mechanical. The movie shockstheaudience with its replacement of mechanical technology with organic,metabolismic one. In this context the technology is able to be part ofhumanbody. After playing the virtual reality game of `eXistenZ', the real worldfeels like a game and as a result, human behavior change in order to applyviolent game-urges even when the game is over.In eXistenZ, technology has evolved from machinery to biological organismsthat plug directly into the human nervous system; an idea that reflectsMarshall McLuhan's belief who is a well known media theorist, thatcomputersare extensions of human consciousness. Like telephone is an extention oftheear, television is an extention of the eye, telegram is an extention ofthecentral nervous system high-tech virtual reality is an extention of humanconsciousness. In eXistenZ, technology is biological and thus more humanthan it is in our world. But as technology becomes organic, humans becomemore mechanical and therefore less free, unable to resist theirgame-urges.eXistenZ is a virtual realty simulation of man's existence. JeanBaudrillarddescribes a mediated society in his book of Simulacra and Simulation,whichall power to act has been transformed to appear. The world has passed intoapure simulation of itself. In eXistenZ it is obvious to see Baudrillard'smediated society with the themes of the invasion of the body, the loss ofcontrol and the transformation of the self into other.While you are in the eXistenZ, consciousness slowly replaces with anotheridentity, your role in the game, which is a reflection each individual'sreal life subconscious. While you gain the control of your hyperreal lifestep by step, the aura of your real life disappers. For Baudrillard,`.simulations or simulacra, have become hyperreal, more than real.' Ourhyperreality, like Cronenberg's world of computer simulation, `.now feels,and, for all intents and purposes is, more real than what we call the realworld.' (Baudrillard)The purpose of the game which can basically be called 'experience' isquitemetaphorical. Because you can not even know what is experience unless youexperience it. As existentialists say that, life without an exactexplanation is absurd, the game of eXistenZ is absurd too. Cronenberg,ironically reflects the absurdity of our lives. For instance, in the game,the other roles just stand still unless you ask them a pre-programmedquestion. And when you put their aimless funny looking state of being intothe representation of our lifes, the exposed absurdity really shocks.The theme of the game is to understand what it is for? This hiddenmetaphorical question creates anguish over the people who play eXistenZ.They have no doubt about their existence, however they do not know theunderlying reason of their existence. The essence.Existentialists have held that human beings do not have a fixed nature, oressence, as other animals and plants do; each human being makes choicesthatcreate his or her own nature. In the formulation of the 20th-centuryFrenchphilosopher Jean Paul Sartre, existence precedes essence. `Choice istherefore central to human existence, and it is inescapable; even therefusal to choose is a choice. Freedom of choice entails commitment andresponsibility. Because individuals are free to choose their own path,existentialists have argued, they must accept the risk and responsibilityoffollowing their commitment wherever it leads.'Perhaps I should mention, `eXistenZ' deals with the concept of freedom ofchoice too. You achieve your final role in the game by taking rightdecisions. If you don't than the game becomes irrevelant and boring. So,youbegin to interrogate the game, your existence rather than your essence.Yousuddenly become schzopfrenically alianated from the game and realize yourposition outside the game. Well as a last word, eXistenZ is a welldesignedreverse simulation of life thus existentialism.

Agent10 2012-04-13 03:55:54

An eerie message about virtual reality

While David Cronenberg is more known for his strange and creepy variety of film, he presents an interesting dilemma of the future: What will be considered real? All throughout the movie, this is a constantly asked question, which isn't even answered at the end. The differentiation of texture and reality couldn't help the characters determine their reality, much less the viewer. While a lot of people I know did not like this film, it proves to be a jarring film, simply because Cronenberg chooses to use more horror aesthetics to establish the story (lighting, the weird creatures, the music, etc.) Jude Law is very good in his role as Ted Pikul, and Willem Dafoe's role was short, but sweet.

Tobiecat 2012-04-12 16:02:19

strange movie

I thought as a science fiction movie it could have been a lot better.Theresome really bad acting and the movie could have spent a little more moneyonthe car scene. The car wasn't moving, the back screen was! I wish I couldget my money back for the movie because it was wasted on thismovie.