Surrogates

Jonathan Mostow directed “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and he utilizes a similar form of execution in his latest science fiction, action-thriller “Surrogates”. What’s surprising? It’s that he film actually delivers. Walk in expecting an all out action-flick and you’re bound to be disappointed. Instead, writers Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato spend a large portion of their story capturing the futuristic world showcased in the film. Most of the time, this is a bad thing, but here, it’s surprisingly engrossing and even unsettling at times.

Bruce Willis leads the cast and though his wig is more than obvious in his surrogate form, it makes this portion of his character all the more strange. Long story short, he ventures through a world where no human being has dared to in quite sometime. In fact, the inhabitants of the planet now perform their daily routines through the eyes of their very own robot in which they have entire control of. Willis’ character is trying to uncover the mystery behind the death of a couple of humans who were killed at the exact moment as their surrogates.

Don’t get confused by the story. While it’s pushes realism severely, there’s still those moments where viewers are faced with the question of “What if?” The more intriguing aspect of this picture is the spectacle. The surrounding is captured tremendously and this is what makes “Surrogates” almost buyable. Of course, the film’s primary message is that technology is bad and getting way out of control and when you think about it, it’s a moral that’s not to difficult to absorb.

Overall, “Surrogates” is surprisingly entertaining. The impression movie-goers have gotten from the film’s preview is that it’s a recycled version of flicks like “I, Robot” or “Minority Report”. If you go into the theater with that thought, you’ll come out with an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. Expect too much, however, and there’s a chance you’ll find yourself a little disappointed.