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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Surrogates (2009) in Movies

Aug 9, 2019

Surrogates (2009)

2009 | Action, Comedy, Mystery

6.4

(7 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Imagine if “IRobot”, “Die Hard”, and Joss Whedon’s television show “Dollhouse” had a child, the result would be akin to “Surrogates”. In the not to distant future technology is developed which gives us the ability to control customizable robots, called surrogates, with our minds. As a result, people rarely leave the house and interact directly with each other as surrogates. This robot filled thriller tells the story of FBI agent, Tom Greer (Bruce Willis), sent to investigate sudden deaths occurring when people are operating their surrogates.

In addition to Willis’s captivating acting, the film shines in part due to well-executed details, from the surrogate’s not quite human enough demeanor, to the underlying bias against people who don’t use the technology. “Surrogates” is a film that will make you reconsider the issue of advancing technology from both sides.

The least impressive aspect of this scifi/thriller based on a popular graphic novel is the fundamentally preposterous premise. One of the film’s main assumptions is that the use of surrogates has eliminated violence and racism. Believing that people, who are in essence operating a real world version of Second Life, would spend no time committing crimes, seems more than a little irrational.

Still, the film is engaging and much more thought provoking than I had expected. “Surrogates” fulfills both sci-fi and Bruce Willis fan requirements and is a visually enticing film. You will see a variety of locations common to a robot filled world, from a surrogate beauty salon complete with drills to the inner sanctum of the robot production line.

Touching on human, technological, and futuristic themes “Surrogates” is a fun film filled with visual effects and a truly engaging plot that is if you can overcome the plot holes that fracture the initial premise.

Kudos

Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Chimera Vector (The Fifth Column #1) in Books

Nov 11, 2019

The Chimera Vector is a fast, brutal and engaging techno thriller. Sophia is an operative for the secretive Fifth Column, a network not related to any government that seeks to eliminate terrorists and corrupt governments.

When the extraction from a mission goes wrong, Sonia questions their real motives. Just whose side are they one? And which side is she on?

The questions of motives and who is working for who runs through the book with many double and even triple (and more) crosses happening. This really does keep the reader on their toes. Because everything is filtered through Sophia's perception it's never clear who can really be trusted - if anyone - it is only clear who Sophia trusts as the story moves on.

This moves at some pace too, with some terrific set pieces across the world. The momentum only increases as once the stakes are revealed the second half of the book is essentially one long action sequence which puts any Hollywood blockbuster to shame. The only other author I can really compare this too is Matthew Reilly, it is just as fast and fun.

Obviously there is a fair amount of suspension of disbelief expected on the part of the reader but the idea of a shadowy organisation carefully orchestrating what happens in the world is a compelling one. It also tends to sound like an arms catalogue at times - every gun and piece of combat equipment is described in detail. And I did get quite overwhelmed with the word 'flashbang' at points.

If you are looking for something that's fast paced, engaging without being too involving, clever without being smug about it and a plot that will keep you guessing, you can't go far wrong with this.