Entertaining if convoluted thriller
A. R. Hinton | Scottsdale, AZ USA | 06/29/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"In the tradition of The Crimson Rivers and Druids, this French language film loses something in the translation. But the idea is novel, even if it has been used before. It's not a great Lambert film, but's it worth it for die-hard fans.
The film follows Jimi Dini (Lambert) - a computer game programer, who's latest game is infected with a virus. The result - the game's main character get's a mind of his own and realizes that nothing's real, even him. He begs Lambert to destroy the game, so Lambert sets out on a journey through a futuristic Europe to do so. Also, Lambert is looking for his long lost love, and he also wants to shut down the big computer corporation that runs everything.
As I said the film is hurt in translation - and you don't always have a clear idea of what is going on. But the visuals are often stunning thanks to director Gabriele Salvatores and cinematographer Italo Petriccione, so that helps you through the story."
The Best Cyberpunk film ever.
Manuel H. Porras Ortega | Mexico City. | 07/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I know this is quite a claim, but I think this film gets Cyberpunk by the book. If you have read and enjoyed "Neuromancer" by Gibson, or "La última calle de la soledad" by Porcayo, you will know what cyberpunk is, and this film gets the essence very well.
The corporation, the sentient program, the hacker, the lost love, the friend, the cyber-prothesis, the well-known brands; everything is where it should. And the soundtrack is just great on its own.
And Matrix owns a lot to this film. I just would've wanted it to be in it's original language."
Beats the Matrix
isala | Fairbanks, Alaska,, US | 04/10/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a more low-key SF thriller in cyberpunk mode. Jimi has created a brilliant computer game, called Nirvana. However, one of his characters have developed sentinence, and wants to get out.
In a way, the world of Nirvana is grimmer than that of the Matrix, since it so much more believable, with megacorporations with their own laws and those outside of the corporations, and, hence, outside of the system, live in squalid but vibrant undercity complexes or travel around with portable cyberconnections.
The acting is superb with Christoph Lambert as a very credible burnt out hacker that just wants to be reunited with his dead wife.
This realesa of this minor masterpiece is long overdue. It takes a little while for the film to get started, but when it does - it does it with a vengeance."