eXistenZ (1999)

eXinstenZ

[Existenz [IMPORT]Forget "The Matrix". Now, really forget it. It's a different movie. "eXistenZ" lives in a world, or really nested realities, all its own. Cronenberg is a master of mixing up reality with non-reality and physical with non-physical. I think one of the beauties of "eXistenZ" is the ugliness of the Virtual Reality world created by Geller's (Jennifer Jason-Leigh) half-mutant amphibian/half plastic game pod. The icky porting into it with an umbilical cord into the spinal column is so Cronenberg. I liked the way he had the characters (and us) believing they were out of the game when they were still in it... those pesky nested realities. It does harken back to some of Philip K. Dick's visionary short stories, as well as Cronenberg's own "Videodrome" (especially with the "Death to..." sequence). I also liked the use of some of Canada's best actors who have since become more well known, such as Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie (by way of Sutherland, England), and Sarah Polley. In fact, Cronenberg played a character in Don McKellar's 2000 film, "Last Night", which also starred McKellar, Rennie, and Polley, not to mention Sandra Oh. I liked the way some of the characters in the Virtual Reality did not respond unless they were fed the correct line. That was brilliant, and I have not seen that done anywhere before or since. I also liked the gun made out of a jawbone that fired teeth for bullets. Cronenberg is brilliant. Take a pop over the Amazon's sister site, IMDb.com, and look at Cronenberg's filmography. There isn't a bad apple in the bunch, and you would do well to watch them all. "Naked Lunch" and "Dead Ringers" are just two out of many that would stand out if you liked "eXistenZ". November 8, 2008

Existenz - Imaginative, Spooky, Thought Provoking

eXistenZ is a very interesting movie that follows the heroes as they try to succeed in the ultimate game of virtual reality. Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh must go through a series of challenges to unlock the game and it's secrets. The thing that is most allusive about winning the game, is that it's not clear what winning means. In fact, it's not even clear what is part of the game and what is not. As they learn more and more about the inside and outside of the game, they come closer to solving the mystery of Existenz.

This is not a new concept. The idea of a thriller wrapped around a virtual reality game has been done many times, starting with Videodrome and continuing through movies like Strange Days. But what really sets this movie apart is the interesting way it's done; the overtones of attraction, the sexual nature of the apparatus, the philosophical struggle between reality and fantasy. All of the concepts that make such an existential dilemma meaningful are here.

The ambient filming and dark mood lighting of the film lend to a kind of overall *horror mystery* sort of vibe. All along, we are trying to determine what is real and what is fantasy. Are we in the game or out of the game? The way the camera work is done is a big part of that.

Similarly, the cast is top notch. While one cannot always expect a good cast to yield good results, when it's combined with good writing the results are positive. And that is what we have here. Jude Law is consistent as ever, as is his co-star and the supporting cast. All the portrayals are under-stated. But the strong writing makes them impactful despite the methodical pace of much of the movie.

The special effects are also nicely done. All of the effects have a role in the story. The technology used in the game is given a weird appearance, as if it was a strange body part that was removed at birth. All the little details such as these really made it clear to me what the message behind the movie was. You will have to decide for yourself what your interpretation is.

Because of the philosophical nature of the story, the movie can be somewhat preachy. Not everybody is into that. The ending also left me feeling like they took the easy way out so to speak. Once again, you will have to make up your own mind. No spoilers here!

Conclusion

If you are attracted to weird, thought provoking, horror mysteries, this movie is basically in its own category. If you are looking for the simple scare and don't want a lot of preaching, this may move too slowly for you. As for me, this is one the movies I turn to often. As long as you are in for something far out, I highly recommend it.

Enjoy.
October 10, 2008

Strange. Dream Like. Not for everyone.

Ever wake up from a vivid dream and wished that you could make it into a movie? If you're David Cronenberg, you don't have to wish, and the result is Existenz, an ethereal, strangely sensual odyssey into a world only the subconscious mind could conjure.

A weird little movie with a befittingly weird title, Existenz flew under the radar during the 'Summer of the Matrix'. On the surface, Existenz is little more than a vague narrative of two unlikely companions, played by Law and Leigh, who alternate between reality and a virtual reality game called Existenz.

On a deeper level, this film is an an exploration of the meaning of consciousness and reality and revisits Cronenberg's fascination with the power technology has over its creators. It features Cronenberg's trademark gooey special effects and organic weirdness, but the most striking element is the conspicuous eroticism of existenz's virtual world.

Existenz is an unusual but entertaining and worthwhile film, and though it fails to fully hit home with some of its philosophical arguments, it connects well enough on others. A host of familiar names and faces round out the cast. The DVD offers little in the way of extras (just the theatrical trailer, which I didn't bother to watch). Dolby 4.0 is available, picture quality is great (only widescreen is offered on this disc).
September 29, 2008

eXistenZ

At first sight, the pod looks horrible and squeashy. At the end of the show, I am left baffled by the character asking whether they are still in the game or not. That's the general feeling of this movie. One just doesn't know whether the game is still on or off, and if still on, on which dimension and how far advanced the players are in the game. It is an eerie thought that someday, maybe, those gamers out there might just slip into the gaming world and never ever return to the real world. Splendid performances from Jennifer and Jude. I find the movie a little too gory and violent, without a clear sense of direction or purpose. Plugging the pod to the spine is both horrifying and scary. September 7, 2008

Confusing title

Please note that this movie has nothing to do with those pills you see advertised on late night TV. :(


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