4/5 Good Movie Worth the Price
  by John M. Doggett (Plaistow, NH United States)
I Purchased this movie after reading the two star review by a previous poster and after seeing some previews.

I enjoyed it and the documentary that came with it. I recognized a couple of Stargate Alums while watching. Anyway, my wife and I both think its a good show and worth the money.


5/5 Surprisingly Good
  by Erol Esen (Webster, NY United States)
I can't think of a movie Cuba Gooding Jr. disappointed me. This movie is no exception. I hadn't seen any advertisement or commercial for it, but this movie is really good. It's as good as, if not better than, Bruce Willis's latest "The Surrogates".

The movie is about a dark future in which some human brains are implanted with an experimental microchip that streams into one's consciousness commercial ridden virtual experiences: in the middle of an interesting thought out pops a watch commercial, for example. An evil character, well suitably played by Val Kilmer, abuses this brain implant.

It is a well made techno-thriller with a good dose of action and good acting by Gooding.

2/5 Am being as fair as I can, but not worth it
  by Steve Kuehl (Ben Lomond, CA)
For once, the unanimous slander and dislike for this film is adequately placed and accurate. I watched the whole film and the included documentary, and when it was all done - I wholeheartedly recommend skipping the film and to watch the supplement.

Cuba fills his role of the hero in a not-so-distant future where corporations control "everything". He is given a second chance at living after suffering a brain deadening accident. This new chance is having a chip implanted into his neck that allows him to live again, but with consequences. The bad guys, hilariously led by Val Kilmer (worst hair, worst lines, worst everything for him in years) and the good guys led by Michael Ironside (the only good point here) battle for control of Cuba's brain, coupled with his own fight for his memories. Bad effects and loopy writing make for a weak execution, but I have to give props for them doing the exploding head routine in minute one. All kidding aside, there was really nothing to hold your interest and the sound gets over-saturated in each brain sequence (almost a mix of the Johnny Neumonic and Matrix sounds - but painfully done). The inside-his-head effects are 80s-ish and have a TV look. The picture is decent clarity though and the 5.1 gets utilized often to the outer channels.

The supplement is a 17-minute making of that features interviews and adequate behind the scenes for what the film was. Interesting points included the usage of the now defunct Watchmen street set, Cuba being "moved" by the script, and the enjoyment by everyone in getting to work with Ironside. The documentary does feel like a fluff piece, but in a better way of making a point than the film was in trying to entertain. One star for the film and one for the supplement. Skipper otherwise.

EDIT: Speaking of bad hair...just realized the cover art is not a pic of Val from this film (no trust in what his do looked like in this film to promote sales), best I could tell it looks like it came from Conspiracy, or one of the other 20 films from last year...oh well.