Gamer – Review

Video games have quickly infused themselves tightly into the fabric of modern human existence. Some people spend more time playing video games than actually interacting with real people. They form relationships “in game,” and find the day to day grind of reality difficult to deal with. So it came as no surprise to me when I heard that the fuel injected directing team of Neveldine and Taylor were tackling the gaming industry for their newest feature.

Gamer takes place in a world where advertisements grace anything with a semi-flat surface. Nothing is sacred, not even the pyramids. Every building is a billboard and business is good for video game mogul Ken Castle, whose games “Society” and “Slayers” are the hottest tickets in town. Kable (Gerard Butler) is the most popular character in the pay-per-view gaming phenomenon “Slayers,” where everyday people get to control death row inmates in a war-like environment that gives said inmates a chance to fight for their freedom. Only, the inmates are controlled by the players and if they die in the game they die for real, but if they make it through 30 sessions they go free.

A modern day Running Man, Gamer doesn’t waste time preaching or force feeding its audience an ani-gaming agenda. Instead it takes the high road and just kicks ass! I don’t know when movie makers decided that they had to make serious movies that make sense in the real world, but I’m glad Neveldine and Taylor throw reality out the window in favor of good old fashioned entertainment. Gamer was a blast to watch. So much so that I found myself talking about it for the next few days. Something I don’t do very often.

Butler was great as the hero Kable, in fact he reminded me a little of a young Mel Gibson. The filmmakers didn’t need to explain his awesome skills to the audience because Butler is a naturally believable bad-ass. The entire cast was enjoyable, especially Michael C. Hall, who was amazing as the villainous Ken Castle.

If your looking for a good time at the movies, then I’d recommend Gamer, because it was positively a killer film.

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