At least there were no exploding cars
Added 11/3/2009
I picked this up at the rental place and was hopeful for an excellent film as this had won awards at several film festivals.
The plot and setting was interesting and kept our interest through the entire movie.
We did continue to watch it but were slightly disappointed given some of the good reviews. The acting of Luis Pena was a little flat emotionally given that his family is a victim of "corporate warfare" and he has to set out on a new life in Tijuana. He meets the gorgeous Luz (Leonora Varela) whom unknown to him is using him for a "cyber story sale". Their relationship lacks chemistry and the entire film despite it's clever sci-fi plot never produces the impact comparable to a film like Blade Runner, The Matrix or any number of better sci-fi movies.
Three stars for avoiding too many chase scenes and for the exotic location and plot.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Complex and thoughtful
Added 10/8/2009
This little sleeper of a movie winds together more different strands than any I've seen in ages. It variously explores American isolationism combined with a demand for immigrant labor, the rise of a commercial military, new kinds of sweat shops, armed escalation of the water wars, and the irony of social networking (in the electronic sense). As people interact more by wire, eventually, the wires become necessary for interacting even in person.
The major plot elements seem familiar - traditional society failing under pressure from the modern work, and the boy trying to support his family by working in the big city. A relatively recent stereotype appears, too: the soldier who we come to respect, even when he fights in a war that we don't.
This succeeds at many levels. It can be seen as an anti-American, anti-corporate diatribe, or as a grim extrapolation of today's headlines. Either way, it carries reminders that people will still reach out to each other, and that personal honor will continue to have meaning.
-- wiredweird
3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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The next Robert Rodriguez
Added 9/25/2009
I just saw this movie, not expecting much, honestly. But holy s#%#! This movie blowed me out of the ball park! This director came out of nowhere blasting his way throught the sci-fi genre en espanol, Not in a big hollywood production, but with a powerhouse crew of producers and visual artists, and I mean not-hollywood in a Universal, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures sense. Although I suppose some in the crew work for big studios.
You have to watch this movie.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Fascinating film, low quality BD
Added 9/16/2009
The premise of this film and storytelling vision are exceptional, but the first warning sign was the lowest cost BD I have seen in recent memory (my cost was lower than the DVD).
The story follows a man becoming part of a futuristic version of slave labor being used in America, but from south of the border via cyber links instead of physically being here. Workers are connected to their counterpart machines working both dangerous and agricultural jobs here in the United States. There are several subplots involving love, redemption and corporate treachery, but the main theme of sending the money home still rings true, even in this cyberfuture. The special effects are low grade, but they only get utilized a few times to showcase the military drones and robot workers (less than 5 minutes screen time).
The Blu quality is non-existent. There is an overwhelming orange/yellow tint that drowns out any clarity (tried to be like Traffic - Criterion Collection but didn't work). There was a different camera used in the overhead city shots so they turned out clear, but otherwise the scenery is overexposed, and the grain and artifact are prevalent throughout. The 5.1 is used minimally but sounds flat. The supplements include a decent 10 minute making of and a commentary. The making of is worth the watch and has a narrated track describing the origins and process of making a passion piece like this.
3.5 for the film and .5 for the supplements, but zero for the BD quality. But for this price, why not give it a try?
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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A futuristic look at outsourcing
Added 9/2/2009
An incredible story about a boy and his roots. A new look at cheap labor. A thought provoking chilling look at a near future.
1 out of 7 people found this helpful.
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At least there were no exploding cars
Added 11/3/2009
I picked this up at the rental place and was hopeful for an excellent film as this had won awards at several film festivals.
The plot and setting was interesting and kept our interest through the entire movie.
We did continue to watch it but were slightly disappointed given some of the good reviews. The acting of Luis Pena was a little flat emotionally given that his family is a victim of "corporate warfare" and he has to set out on a new life in Tijuana. He meets the gorgeous Luz (Leonora Varela) whom unknown to him is using him for a "cyber story sale". Their relationship lacks chemistry and the entire film despite it's clever sci-fi plot never produces the impact comparable to a film like Blade Runner, The Matrix or any number of better sci-fi movies.
Three stars for avoiding too many chase scenes and for the exotic location and plot.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Complex and thoughtful
Added 10/8/2009
This little sleeper of a movie winds together more different strands than any I've seen in ages. It variously explores American isolationism combined with a demand for immigrant labor, the rise of a commercial military, new kinds of sweat shops, armed escalation of the water wars, and the irony of social networking (in the electronic sense). As people interact more by wire, eventually, the wires become necessary for interacting even in person.
The major plot elements seem familiar - traditional society failing under pressure from the modern work, and the boy trying to support his family by working in the big city. A relatively recent stereotype appears, too: the soldier who we come to respect, even when he fights in a war that we don't.
This succeeds at many levels. It can be seen as an anti-American, anti-corporate diatribe, or as a grim extrapolation of today's headlines. Either way, it carries reminders that people will still reach out to each other, and that personal honor will continue to have meaning.
-- wiredweird
3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
|
The next Robert Rodriguez
Added 9/25/2009
I just saw this movie, not expecting much, honestly. But holy s#%#! This movie blowed me out of the ball park! This director came out of nowhere blasting his way throught the sci-fi genre en espanol, Not in a big hollywood production, but with a powerhouse crew of producers and visual artists, and I mean not-hollywood in a Universal, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures sense. Although I suppose some in the crew work for big studios.
You have to watch this movie.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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