"Gamer" Movie Shows Early Promise
See Full ImageThere's a long-running history of terrible movies based on video games, but perhaps things will turn out better if Hollywood simply focuses on the concept of the gamer itself.
The movie "Gamer" is a "high-concept action thriller set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken society by storm." In this warped time, humans actually have the capability to control other humans in a "mass-scale, multiplayer online game." Basically, we no longer control animations, but living, breathing people. In the movie, billionaire Ken Castle, played by Michael C. Hall, has created a futuristic first-person shooter of sorts; a piece of controversial entertainment called "Slayers." It "allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies - online - in front of a global audience." And yet, on the outside, there is still another human..."playing" a human, which is why the movie poster you see here asks, "Who's Playing You?"
Gerard Butler ("300") is the star of "Slayer," and is controlled by Simon, a "young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week." Of course, Kable is a human after all and isn't too keen on the concept of someone else controlling his actions, and he's basically a prisoner. His goal is to escape the game, free his family, reclaim his identity, and "save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology." The film also includes the likes of Amber Valletta, Logan Lerman, John Leguizamo, and Kyra Sedgwick. You can watch the trailer and gain a bit more information on this Lionshead picture by visiting the official site. ...the gamer has suffered many long years of obscurity in the realm of "geekdom;" let's hope "Gamer" adds to the continued "normalizing" of the hobby and those who participate in it.
After watching the trailer, we have to admit: it shows promise. We say this about movies based on games occassionally, but that's just us being ever-optimistic. In this case, it might...actually...work... We anxiously await its release in theaters on September 4.
5/12/2009 Ben Dutka
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