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Keanu Reeves shoulders another futuristic role in director Richard Linklater's sci-fi thriller based on Philip K. Dick's novel. Working as an undercover cop in a world where almost everyone is addicted to Substance D -- which produces split personalities in its users -- Fred Arctor (Reeves) sets up an elaborate sting to nab a notorious drug runner named Bob. But little does Fred know that "Bob" is … his alter ego.
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Q this if your in the mood for something totally unique and sophisticated. You will, absolutely love this movie and it will leave you mesmerized, or you'll hate it with every fiber in your body.- alton_blair
a.k.a. "Waking Life 2: This Time We Pretend to Have a Plot - Drugs are Bad, Mmm'kay?"
- CC 533120
Here is one where you definitely had to read the book first. And without critiquing the book in detail (mediocre and long-winded IMHO), I must say that 90% of all the interesting and/or important information that made the story readable was missing from this movie. I feel I would have been bored with it if I hadn't read the book before this. I went into it knowing it was a "cartoon" and actually looked forward to the novelty of it, but before it was half over I found myself wishing it was just a "normal" film. The way the scene layers shifted and other intended effects only served to distract my eye from the rest of the movie. Nice try at an artistic endeavor, but let's not do that again. Shall we?
- BL in Springfield, MO
Absolutely not this piece of tripe. While the animation effects were well done by a lot of hard working individuals, that is where the talent ends. Being a lifetime fan of all things sci-fi, fantasy and anime, there was not a single element of this movie that was fresh. It was the same tired old plot, served cold, as it took a long time to grasp my interest. Then only the last 5 minutes of the film were exciting, only to be be let down by the actual ending. If you are looking to drown yourself in escapism, pass on this movie.
- 2McAbre
Okay first off I WILL tell you that this movie has a slow beginning and is a little hard to follow/get into...Once it gets going however things start to fall into place. I think this is a GREAT movie. The animation is soooooooooooo incredible...sooooo real!!! Seriously throughout the movie you will find your self saying...is that really animation? I recommend this movie to anyone looking for something unique, different, and just plain fun to watch.
- *~*Sullivans*~*
Huh. Who would have thought that Keanu Reeves is so truly bad an actor that not even animating his facial expressions for him could get him to emote properly. Apparently this movie is about addiciont, or maybe it's about corrupt cops, or something. I couldn't tell you. The visual setup of the overlaid illustrations might really get some people excited, but it was too distracting. Add to that the worst dialogue written (with the exception of the back and forth between Harrelson and Downey), and I was unable to care enough to wonder why I lost track of the plot.
- Luscious Dick
Live-action solarized rotoscoping animation is the perfect technique to carry off this psychedelic tale by Phillip K. Dick about a future where drugs are the new terrorism. Keanu Reaves does his Mr. Anderson thing as a narcotics officer who doesn't yet know he has a dual personality in the squirmy, psychotic "Bob" and Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as his Jeff Goldblum-like sidekick; was Woody Harrelson acting to portray a whacked-out goop or was he just being himself? Several twists at the end add fresh layers to the story. It's no Memento but you'll probably want to watch it twice to pin the whole plot down. 4.5 stars.
- robowriter
This movie is flawed in some ways. But for those willing to look closer, its also artistic, original and clever. Shot in an animation style Im only now beginning to see done elsewhere (in which shifting colors and heavy inking are computer imposed upon a live actor), ASD doesnt look like any other movie made. That look is used to borrow very heavily from drug culture. On one hand, I felt that culture provided a sense of misery and hopelessness that was disturbing. On the other, I enjoyed the sci-fi story being told. To that end, the story can be dry. There are long stretches where not a lot happens. But the characters are interesting enough (Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr. were quite
colorful.) and Keanu Reeves was good in his typically understated, slightly confused, overly down-trodden way. It was an interesting mix. The story only really picks up near the end when a couple of unforeseen twists come to fruition. The ending was especially interesting.
- Creeper
ireviewnetflix.com rating: * The animation is just weird and only hurts an already weird and stupid story. This couldn't have just been done as a regular film. It still would have been as bad, but at least not as annoying to watch. I don't get it. Plus, I just didn't like the drug plot line. I should have known better when I was turned off by the trailer, but I thought I would give it a shot anyway. It was filmed and then animated. Each minute of animation required 500 hours of work. What a waste of time and money. I certainly hope this isn't something that catches on and if it is I hope it's with better stories. I had to stop the movie after the first 30 minutes. I just couldn't stand it anymore.
- ireviewnetflix.com
Apparently I am the only person who didn't like this movie - no, I'm wrong; it's not that I didn't like it - I HATED IT! My son made me watch it and I am beginning to think that any movie he likes means that I will be at best bored. This movie does look at the interplay between police, politicians and drug addicts. Do I believe it exists? Undoubtedly. Did they do a good job of explaining it? No. The movie does a parody on tweaking (using meth or sometimes coke - but in this case, I believe it was meth) but they went too far and made it unrealistic. I have to admit that there are moments where it is humorous or sardonic and where it works but they are too few and far between. I like the concept of the animation - I know it's an attempt to show how a person on meth feels, but obviously, the writer or animator has never gotten high. I think the concept could have been ingenious and incredible except that they went over the edge too far. I wonder what drugs they were on when they wrote this? The actors did a good job, but in my opinion, I believe they were limited by a bad script. This movie plays on people's fears, especially those that are involved in drugs, and I don't think it does any type of public service either. So if it fails to entertain and it fails to enlighten, what does it do? Nothing. But at least it does nothing well. NOTE: IF you decide to watch this movie and IF you make it all the way through, the best part of the movie is at the beginning of the credits AFTER the movie ends. Don't cheat yourself out of the best part! (5/24/08)
- VIP Club