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Gamer
Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 60 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Action | Sci-fi | Suspense/Thriller
Written by:
Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Directed by:
Mark Neveldine
Brian Taylor
Release Date:
Theatrical: September 4, 2009
Running Time: 95 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity and language
Starring Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Alison Lohman, Amber Valletta, Logan Lerman, Kyra Sedgwick, Ludacris, and John Leguizamo
Kable is the superstar and cult hero of the ultraviolent "Slayers." Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology. (Lionsgate)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
LA Weekly Vadim Rizov
Neveldine and Taylor’s spazzy (but coherent) action scenes rely mostly on blood spurts instead of feats of badassery, but their dystopia is inventive and their visual schemes diverse.
Read Full Review >Time Out New York Keith Uhlich
Crank’s Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor direct with their usual flashy brio, and basso profundo Keith David has a sublime cameo as a cop indignant at the thought of a pistachio peanut butter sandwich. It’s that kind of movie, folks.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Josh Modell
The trouble with Gamer is that it’s weird, but not weird enough for the long haul.
Read Full Review >Variety Rob Nelson
The audience gets played in Gamer. This latest eye-scraper from writer-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor is as hopped up as their "Crank" pics, but with dour Gerard Butler as a soldier commandeered by a teenage gamer, it's considerably less interactive.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
The technical barrage of visual and digital effects, quick cuts and strobe lighting does produce something akin to the sensation of playing a video game. So why, one wonders, don't potential viewers simply play one instead of watching this pale imitation?
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
I wonder if Gamer might make a good game; it certainly doesn't make a good movie.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Tom Russo
For long stretches of the PlayStation-minded Gamer, the action does drag.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Glenn Whipp
Rarely have the words "game over" come as such sweet relief.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Considerably less of a thrillgasm than playing "Frogger" blindfolded.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
As the brutish Kable, Gerard Butler must find out who's pulling his strings, but it's the audience whose chain gets yanked by this headache-inducing techno-violent mishmash.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Joe Neumaier
What the movie needs more than anything else is a fast-forward button.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Cliff Doerksen
Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor were responsible for the delirious "Crank" and "Crank 2" but left the magic behind when they threw together this tedious mash-up of "Tron," "Rollerball," "The Matrix," etc.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
A futuristic vomitorium of bosoms and bullets.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.8 (out of 10) based on 60 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Philip gave it a0:
Avoid! It's sad that a movie like this was even conceived, not to mention funded and actually produced.
Oliver W gave it a0:
As a teen gamer, you'd imagine that this movie would be perfect for me! Sadly, everybody seems to assume that every male teen is a horny sex maniac who will disregard an utter lack of story and terrible acting just to see some tits and guns. Reviewers, please don't try and speak for the audience that you think this is intended for when you obviously don't understand them.
Kenny gave it a1:
It was a matter of time before someone were to have this story which is not original, to be honest, but I have a little message to give to Butler: "Let it before you upload your career. Gerard Butler is a good actor, but making these films is auto catalloge collapses and the public began to mold himself into this kind of action movies and honestly I think this man can reach more. The story is stupid, his characters come and go will die, resurrect, they put them out, they bore me. The script is awful and the dialogues are to be tortured, because they intend to put a sentence at all times. "Gamer" is a waste of time.
Angela F gave it a10:
Amusing, and quite likely behaviour from bored, rich people in the future should such technology become available.
Derek T gave it a9:
Movie taste is just like ass, everyone has one ! it really surprised me this low score ! The movie really delivered what it intended to ! its MY kind of movie, and as i can see, it is the same for other ppl. if you don't like this kind of movie, your critic is as useful as a judge in a golf game. now, for those who enjoy this kind of movie and aren't just wasting their own time and ours... the movie is great, really worth watching !
Ken S gave it a7:
As usual, critics miss the point of a movie like this. Didn't get their payola, I guess. The movie works on at least 2 levels. On the adult level it's a satiric commentary on modern society with its fascination with games like Halo and The Sims. On the horny teen age boy level, it's a kickass action film with all the video game violence, good guys and bad guys, and boobs and bullets a kid could want. I'm amazed that critics bring no context to the film. Gamer is the love child of Rollerball and the Matrix. It explores the theme of the hero versus society. It also has a nice take on how to conquer the world if you're just one man. This movie was no worse and no better than The Dark Knight, but Batman got treated a lot better critically because he's more of a cultural icon. Gamer holds the mirror up to our insane, hedonistic society, and it's not a pretty picture. Having said all that, I kind of liked it anyway.
Greg T gave it a7:
This film is a solid 7 out of 10. Worst movie ever made? Come on people that is of no use to anyone. That is not a review and it is simply not true. Gamer is no master piece but it is a well put together piece of pop art with a gaming twist. I thought it handled the concept of a 'human Frag fest' really well. Which of us gamers out there worries about the frailities and persoanlity of the characters we frag in death matches in Halo or Timesplitters etc. The film feels just like that. The game for the gamers is literally just a game and the game for the participants is life or death. The Sims part i thought was a real insight into the human mind and the uses of the internet - what would we do if we could control people? The internet is full of sex and depravity and what Gamer does is show that given the chance to live out fantasies though someone else it would probably lead to people doing all of the sordid things they can't do in real life. Admittedly, the fat guy doing things to himself was a little bit too much to stomach and not a fully true reflection of people playing games. Overall i thought Gamer was a violent film with an interesting twist on the future of Gaming. It is exactly like Running Man and Death Race and all of these don't claim to be anything more than mindless violence and a comedic few one liners. Save it for a DVD release.
