ALL SCI-FI

[Bogmeister]

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The 2nd 'virtual reality' thriller of the year (following The Matrix), this did not enjoy a fraction of the former's success, probably due to a lack of stars and poor marketing.

The main character, Douglas Hall, is played by Craig Bierko, who never became a big star, while Vincent D'Onofrio has a good supporting role.

The concept is great. What if we create an alternate reality through our use of computers and all the 'inhabitants' of this computer-reality, despite being just bits of data, consider themselves as real & valid as us?

It all goes back to that old saying: I think; therefore, I am.

This idea is then refurbished halfway through with a surprise revelation (though experienced film-goers will guess this about a third of the way in). But, somehow, the exciting ideas are not translated well through the story. There is a hum-drum monotonous tone throughout and most of the actors kind of sleepwalk through their roles (Gretchen Mol, especially, is completely lacking in any screen presence). Armin Mueller-Stahl appears as the originator of the technology.

The filmmakers also fail to fully develop the repercussions of these tantalizing, even mind-blowing concepts. After all, this all seems to point to some very dangerous aspects, philosophically, of our ever-growing technology. The dangerous potential is glossed over in the end, as if prepping for a sequel, which looks doubtful now.

BoG's Score: 6 out of 10


BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus

[Bud Brewster]

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I just struggled through the detailed summary for this movie on Wikipedia and I've never heard a more muddled and illogical premise in my life! I don't have the slightest urge to watch this wacky movie. What The Matrix does beautifully, this movie apparently screws up royally!

I guess that's why I've never seen this movie on TV, and Netflix doesn't carry it. This film is a prime example of the strange habit Hollywood has of sinking millions of dollars into a rotten story ($16 million in this case), and then wondering why they couldn't even cover the cost of the damn thing!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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IMDB has only one interesting trivia item for this production.
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~ One of two major motion pictures released in 1999 about a futuristic simulation whose inhabitants believe they're in the real world. The other was The Matrix, which hit theatres a month earlier and made a slightly larger impression on audiences.

Note from me: I think the gentlemen demonstrating sarcasm. A slightly larger impression? Yeah, right.

Here's what Bogmeister had to say about it in his post above.

[Bud Brewster]

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I still haven't seen this move.

I wish someone one All Sci-Fi would either recommend it or warn me to avoid it.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)