Gattaca
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.09 You Save: $10.85 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.54 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Gattaca
Movie Review: Not so fictional sci-fi
Summary: 5 Stars
The world of Gattaca is one where people are stratified in society by their genetic composition. Racism and classism are things of the past. Those who are bred to be genetically superior are dominant in society compared to those conceived naturally and tethered with the possibilities of a plethora of medical problems. In this world, Vincent (Hawke) is a person trying to overcome his own DNA by impersonating a genetic superior. In this reality, impersonation isn't just looks... The movie takes great pains to show how appearance has become secondary in identification.
This movie is not the best execution. It has an excellent cast, and the supporting cast tends to run away with the film. Hawke and Thurman give somewhat cold performances, along the lines of the film itself. I think this film's strongest points are an excellent premise (one that is very relevant today with health care becoming increasingly oriented towards risk stratification)and a wealth of supporting cast talent (especially Jude Law, whose performance is stellar, and it's always nice to see Ernest Borgnine in a movie).
This movie is true science fiction, not aliens and space ships and the like. It's sci-fi like Bradbury is sci-fi. It's thinking sci-fi.
As a note, the title Gattaca is derived from the letters GTAC, which stand for the letters used to represent the nucleic acids which make up DNA (Guanine, Thymine, Adenine, and Cytosine).
Movie Review: A SciFi Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Gattaca is destined to be one of the all time great science fiction movies and can be placed in the same class that 2001: A Space Odyssey is in. When I first saw this movie, I had no preconceived notions of what I was about to witness and was not even expecting to enjoy myself, but I received a ver pleasant surprise. This is a well conceived, evenly paced, and brilliantly acted movie portraying a not too distant future. While the sets and characters are obviously very stylized, I could not help but think about how much of this movie's depiction of the future could be possible.While a science fiction movie with vision of the future powerful enough to make one think - at it's core, the movie is a story about determination, heart, and mankinds overwhelming urge to succeed regardless of the odds. In some ways, I was reminded of the movie Rocky, as both films depict individuals who overcome insurmountable odds and their lack of advantages in order to obtain a goal that is viewed as impossible.
As for the DVD - it is terrific also. The video and sound quality is excellent being presented in anamorphic 2.35:1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 respectively. There isn't an overwhelming collection of extras provided but the featurette and the deleted scenes are nice and provide insight into the making of the film.
All in all - Well done! I would recommend this movie to anyone, and do so frequently.
Movie Review: THE NOT - TOO - DISTANT FUTURE
Summary: 5 Stars
Gattacca tells the story of an "invalid"; a person in the distant future who was born without the perfect genetic profile that is required for certain jobs (in this case he wants to be an astronaut). In spite of his physical shortcomings, and the impossible finality of his station in life, he refuses to accept this as his destiny and embarks on a mission to beat the system that discriminates against him (because of his genetic potential. Ultimately, through creativity, impossible will and sheer guts he realizes his singular dream.
Accompanied by a sometimes haunting score and a kind of twilight cinematography that gives it a sometimes surreal atmosphere; Gattacca provides a nostalgio-atmospheric experience that gives a viscereal tug. By twilight cinematograpy, I mean that the lighting and photography, gives the appearance that the entire film is shot during twilight; even the scences that take place during the day.
There is also a strong element of want and longing within the film; Vincent wants Irene; Jerome wants to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in spite of his disability; Vincent longs to become the astronaut that he has dreamed of;Anton longs to catch the murderer; Irene longs for companionship. Coupled with the mood of the film; these intersecting emotions provide a charismatic energy that will grab you umtil the very last scene.
--Ciao
Movie Review: Litmus Test Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
One can tell a lot about a person by their reaction to Gattaca. (1) It was a commercial dud, so few will know what you're talking about, and (2) Most people don't see it for what it is. There's just not enough life here - at least not at the surface. For that 4% of us who do enjoy this movie, we belong to a distinct tribe, and we recognize in this flick a certain kind of intellectual philosophical adventure which is rare and powerful. I liked this film. It's one of the very few successful deep sci-fi films ever, and it's more impressive to me because they did it with no budget and without distracting toys. This film is an adult thought-experiment, making a statement about a number of related issues regarding genetics, social engineering and the nature of the self.
Personally, I think a variation of Gattaca's future-dystopia will be realized someday - maybe not in our lifetimes, but still - the Darwinian forces that would cause Gattaca are real, and they will effect the real future in one way or another. Passing laws against this 'progress' would be like outlawing the motions of the planets. They don't respond to judicial sanction.
So this film has a ring of premonition in my mind. Maybe in a hundred years after the world has changed, someone will watch Gattaca and will see that at least we had our eyes wide open as we walked off that genetic cliff. C'est la vie.
Movie Review: and we dare to consider cloning atop genetic engineering?
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps too conceptualized for some tastes, but it is that cold conceptual feel that is the emotion that the film attempts and i feel succeeds at making you feel. This is the film that earns Ethan Hawke my respects as an actor, and casts Uma Thurman in a role that so very subtly fits her natural style and appearance. Jude Law is fast becoming a personal favorite actor of mine as well (as he & 'teddy' are the only 2 memorable characters in the oddly boring "A.I." released this summer). This movie wants you to think about genetics and humans infecting the genepool with supposed persons with higher potential. While it does suggest that a system fully reliant on genetics is a poor choice for the future, it doesn't tell you specifically that it is something we should stop--or morever, that we can stop at all. to me, there are two classic scenes, one that is a finishing metaphor for the natural born brother vs. the genetically engineered brother, where Ethan says while swimming "i never saved anything for the swim back," as he again shows he can outswim genetics. Also, i love the scene of Ethan & Uma walking between the solar panals, for this love scene is backdropped by Ethan's inability to see even her face clearly, let alone the sunrise. Very accessable plot for all--something occasionally refreshing. You will certainly enjoy the film!