Surrogates
by Jonathan Mostow
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DVD details
Actor: Bruce Willis, James Cromwell, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving RhamesDirector: Jonathan Mostow
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.40:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
Published: 2010-01-01
DVD Release Date: 2010-01-26
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Product features:
- SURROGATES (DVD MOVIE)
DVD Reviews of Surrogates
DVD Review: FLESH AND BOLTS
Summary: 3 Stars
Remember many years ago when people didn't have the use of cell phones and now it seems like we can't get by without having one? Well, the comic book adapted sci-fi action thriller "SURROGATES" does take a little stab at that idea; but in this case, it is the use of artificial beings engineered to make our lives easier. Directed by Jonathan Mostow (U-571), the film based on a screenplay by Michael Ferris and John Broncato, the film feels a little of a mixed bag in my book. The film captures the backdrop of the comic book by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele but misses its message. There have been major alterations to the graphic novel's story that gave it a more crowd-pleasing atmosphere.
Several years ago, a scientist named Dr. Lionel Canter (James Francis Ginty/ later played by James Cromwell) has invented a "Surrogates" robotic technology that can allow injured people independent mobility, soldiers go to the battlefield without risking their lives, among other applications. Since then, for the sake of profit, VSI has adapted the technology for commercial use where regular people can use the robots as avatars to do their daily routine. The look of the life-like robot would depend on the preferences of the user, as well as certain on-board enhancements and features that can make one's job a little more easier to do while the `operator` is safe in one`s own home (example: a police surrogate would be faster, stronger and more maneuverable than the average model). When an important surrogate is destroyed and its operator killed with it with a special military weapon, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) and his partner agent Peters (Radha Mitchell) is sent in to investigate. Following its clues and his surrogate destroyed by firearms, agent Greer enters the community where humans have opted out of the `surrogate' use under the leadership of a charismatic prophet (Ving Rhames) and must now face the everyday perils without his "buffer"; that includes his own wife (played by Rosamund Pike)...
Being adapted from the graphic novel, the movie "Surrogates" looks very sharp and I am pretty sure director Mostow intended the film to capture the tone of the comic. The work in photography and the visual effects are pretty good (but some looked better than others) and the film is nicely shot. Mostow uses some visual enhancements so that "surrogates" can be distinguished from the actual human being; they have near silky like skin, somewhat emotionless eyes, and very nice features. The film's screenplay revolves around this network of `surrogates', the tension and mystery slowly unraveling as the film makes the viewer ponder just what is ethical and which is not in the use of the artificial beings? What is the balance between technological advancements and emotional detachments? Is life worth living through the electronic eyes of a robot or should life be experienced first hand?
The film does manage to touch upon the lost of identity when in the use of such technology. People use them to stay safe, be successful and sometimes to feed their own vanity without risks to themselves. I liked the way "Surrogates" manages to bring the doubts brought about without actual human contact, much like today's internet age that would make one wonder if the face behind the picture is the same. How do you know if a sexy female surrogate is controlled by an actual woman? Well, agent Greer and his wife, Maggie have models that looked very similar to their actual features. Maggie (played by Rosamund Pike) has gone into emotional seclusion after the loss of their son and has allowed her surrogate to take over all their daily routine. John Greer is longing to feel his own wife's attention and love. Their relationship is made almost immaterial, after all, would a wife be cheating if her surrogate is the one who sleeps with another surrogate?
Director Mostow does have the right ideas in mind, but certain themes are only touched upon but abandoned in favor for the `whodunit' mystery and conspiracy theories at its core. It was obvious that the film was adapted to please the audiences of the multiplexes; while this isn't exactly a bad thing, it does present a lot of missed opportunities in the screenplay. I liked certain parts of the mystery and the film's ideas about `atonement', but deep down the film feels more like an action film than an actual sci-fi thriller whose story revolves around the concept of the losing `touch' and its emotional repercussions. There is a compelling tale around here, sadly its powerful social commentary gets lost amid the action and the mystery behind this `weapon'. This mystery while interesting at first, gets a little too clichéd. The potential for the `surrogate' feels more like fragmented story pieces and used only as a backdrop than a real integral part of the film. I sure wished that the relationship between Greer and his wife, and their son's loss be more fleshed out; as well as how other people are coping with this technology. It really bothered me that the movie changed several things from the graphic novel. Also, the film doesn't make a compelling argument as to why such a technology be so accepted and can go so mainstream around the world. I guess director Mostow is trying to tell his audience not to be lazy or afraid; he gets the point across but not as convincing or as dramatic as I would've wished.
"Surrogates" does have some decent action sequences. I guess to compensate, Mostow tries to overload the screen with enough PG-13 violence as he could possibly fit into the film. I liked the scenes with chase with the "Peters" surrogate and the Greer "surrogate" was definitely cool while on pursuit mode. When it comes to rehearsed visual effects, explosions and style, the film doesn't disappoint. However, the film's resolution was never in doubt, and the film does fall into the usual trappings of sci-fi action thrillers. Bruce Willis does feel a little out of his element at times but he had enough charisma to pull off his role. I guess the supporting cast wasn't so bad, although most of them were acting like emotionless `surrogates'.
"Surrogates" has enough things going for it that the film manages to take off. I guess while I tempered my expectations, I still couldn't ignore the fact that it missed its potential for raw emotions, and for a film that is supposed to be humanity's detachment from life, it felt a little too mechanical and hollow. The film is decent, if you look at it from a popcorn film standpoint, but "Surrogates" should be a lot more than that. The film should have been strong in pitching several issues about our reliance to technology, and on this, the film falters. Changing several key elements (especially the climax) from the graphic novel made the film pretty mechanical and never realizes the humanity behind the story.
RENT IT [2 ½ Stars]
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Description of Surrogates
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