The Surrogates

[megladon8]

This one's been in production for a while, but we finally get to see a picture from the film.

Here is a smaller version:

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6709/surrogates1smalles9.jpg


And here is a link to the full size version. (http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4118/surrogates1sp6.jpg)

It stars Bruce Willis (obviously) as a detective in a futuristic society where everyone has a "surrogate" - a robotic version of themselves that goes out and does work, shopping, chores, etc. for them so they never have to leave the house.

A murderer is on the loose, and Willis' character is on the job.

The book was a mixed bag of cool philosophies presented without any subtlety, and some neat artwork.

I really like the picture. Willis looks great.

[megladon8]

A neat viral website (http://chooseyoursurrogate.com/) has opened up for the movie.

[megladon8]

Trailer. (http://movies.ign.com/dor/objects/893685/the-surrogates/videos/surrogates_trl_trailer2_051909 .html)


So, looks like it's a very loose adaptation of the book.

Well, more like it's inspired by the book's ideas, and tells its own story.

[monolith94]

An interesting conceit, but it looks like that trailer gives way too much of the story away...

[megladon8]

An interesting conceit, but it looks like that trailer gives way too much of the story away...


Yes, especially since it's not like it is a direct adaptation of the book and they could argue "people know/have access to the story anyways".

I also fear it'll end up being more of a dumb action movie than a mind-bending sci-fi with strong moral questions.

[Sxottlan]

This one's been in production for a while.

Yeah, I thought I remembered seeing the idea for the film posted on Dark Horizons and I haven't been to that website in something like five years.

Then a few years ago I remembered thinking it would be a cool movie someday if people never left their home and instead controlled these avatars.

So now I don't know if I had just mis-remembered the film's plot or it's just one of those creative coincidences.

Either way, looks like a fascinating premise. Alas, the trailer is reminding me too much of The Sixth Day.

[eternity]

That looks painfully awful.

[number8]

Yawn.

[D_Davis]

Saw the trailer for this today - looks fantastic.

Looks like a nice mix of a phildickian concept with some good action.

Although I have a feeling that it will be one of those films that makes a great trailer, and little else...

[Qrazy]

So they filmed some of this film across the street from the apartment of a friend of mine (in Boston). They asked/paid her for the use of her place as a staging ground for crew and sets, etc. So one morning she come downstairs and finds that her entryway has about forty dead bodies lying in it. Apparently they looked very life-like.

[[ETM]]

EDIT: Actually saw the trailer... what a mishmash...

Matrix - I,Robot - 6th Day - The Stepford Wives, and hand-picked scifi, you name it. Willis is miscast, and painfully so. And the title sucks.

[megladon8]

New trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/surrogates/hd/)


Is it just me, or does Bruce Willis look better bald and scruffy?

What an awful wig that is.

[Dukefrukem]

New trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/surrogates/hd/)


Is it just me, or does Bruce Willis look better bald and scruffy?

What an awful wig that is.

He looks 10 times better bald. He looked retarded in the Jackal even.

[number8]

So a publicist told me that Bruce Willis was so disappointed he walked out of his own screening.

[Dukefrukem]

So a publicist told me that Bruce Willis was so disappointed he walked out of his own screening.

I Don't buy it.

[Sxottlan]

Terrible execution of a great idea.

[number8]

I Don't buy it.

Because the people trying to market the movie would totally make up a story about how shitty the movie is.

[Dukefrukem]

Im seeing this tonight. I don't care.

[Derek]

Why would those same people even reveal that story in the first place if they were earnestly trying to market it? Either way, they're not exactly doing their job (i.e., promoting a film rather than denigrating it and/or lending credence to its poor reception).

Because publicists can be honest and cool with critics sometimes as opposed to the used-car-salesman approach their job title implies.

[number8]

That's ridiculous.

[number8]

Obviously, as ridiculous as your existence.

[Ezee E]

Amnesiac is the new Meg.

[Qrazy]

Amny your over thinking these dynamics too much. For instance the other day when Winston and Meg were on my case I could have either gotten into a lengthy belabored self-defense, or I could have posted a picture of a furry piece of vaginal wall art. I opted for the latter, and everyone is the better for it. The only reason I'm saying this is because I used to go down the former road and it's a fairly crap road full of potholes and snags of every sort.

[Derek]

Amny your over thinking these dynamics too much. For instance the other day when Winston and Meg were on my case I could have either gotten into a lengthy belabored self-defense, or I could have posted a picture of a furry piece of vaginal wall art. I opted for the latter, and everyone is the better for it. The only reason I'm saying this is because I used to go down the former road and it's a fairly crap road full of potholes and snags of every sort.

Plus, with vaginal wall art, we're all winners.

[megladon8]

Vaginas would make my list of "things I like".

[number8]

I had a vagina once. We were happy. Then I found out it was lying to me for 13 years.

[Dukefrukem]

this movie sucked so much ass

[Derek]

Im seeing this tonight. I don't care.


this movie sucked so much ass

Maybe you should start caring.

[Dukefrukem]

Maybe you should start caring.

Meh. I had a goal of seeing this, Gamer and Avatar to see how all three movies took on this 'controlling another entity' theme. Gamer and Surrogates are very similar.

I find it funny that James Cromwell's character is essentially the same in Surrogates and in iRobot.

The action is pretty pathetic. I don't know why, maybe it was Burce Willis's look,in the trailer, but I was half expecting a badass Bruce Willis, but instead you get someone who's afraid to walk around outside.

The movie is boring. So boring.

[number8]

this movie sucked so much ass

Does it suck enough ass for Bruce Willis to walk out on? :P

[Sxottlan]

It cracks me up that the commercials for the DVD release of this makes absolutely zero mention of the whole avatar part of the film.

[Rowland]

I thought this was pretty good, certainly underrated by the consensus. The action sequences are orchestrated with clean, old-school flair, the direction is imagined with some wonderful wide-angle lens cinematography, it's judiciously edited, and best of all, it renders Bruce Willis its most striking special effect by populating the first act of the film entirely with a digitally cleaned up cast that is almost oppressive in its artificiality before his avatar is ditched for the real, weathered thing. It's all a bit predictable and weightless, but Willis is in fine form, and a late scene wherein he confronts his tragedy-striken wife is almost poetic.