This movie was incredibly fun and a real thrill ride. I enjoyed the heck out of it. Unfortunately, it’s a film that isn’t clearly defined in it’s genre…come to think of it, this isn’t the first of it’s kind…there have been several gender-benders…the only one coming to mind at this moment though is the other science fiction-action picture about cloning…The Sixth Day. The ads were geared towards Michael Bay’s fan base…and he delivers a satisfying action picture, but also (in my opinion) earns his stripes as a director here. True science fiction and action combined is more about the philosophy and the special effects, but there are important/well-acted moments that I attribute not only to Ewan McGregor (anybody who pulls off a decent “acting with himself” scene deserves major props), Scarlett Johansson , Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean and the ensemble cast but to Michael Bay. The biggest problem is that everybody is set on hating it (based on it’s domestic box office) and that’s just so wrong! It’s a great thriller/science fiction/action picture! Go see it now!
The majority of the film is spent as one of those bizarre chase movies where the leads are constantly trying to escape and outwit The Great Machine…to be more than cogs in life…(again with the clichés…I know, I know!), but the tension of the film is pulled off in a rather splendiferous manner and makes for one hell of a ride. The futuristic technology is based on solid concepts of reality which makes this version of 2019 all the more palatable and all the more relatable. You know, it’s weird, but the more I think about it, the more I think the film is an improvement on the futuristic situation presented in The Sixth Day. It’s like this movie was the early period in the Sixth Day universe. Well, go see this’un first and then see Sixth Day and see if it makes any sense. But go see it! And hurry…it’s most likely going, going, gone due to box office receipts of under 20 million for the first week and a half!