Upgrade (2018)

Probably "Upgrade" is not the best "Christmas movie", but I don't have a better subject. And, anyway, if we look a bit between the lines, I can say that it has a bit of "hope for a better tomorrow" coming from end-of-year blog entry ;)

If I'd have to classify this, "Upgrade" probably fits best in that category of SciFi that looks more or less indie, but is definitely outside the mainstream area, but you cannot label it as B-series either. I'm thinking here on stuff like "Dark City", "13th Floor", "Equilibrium", "Predestination". Having a very nice touch of cyberpunk. But let's cut short the lists and get into the story...

Somewhere in an augmented future, Grey is a former mechanic, nostalgic for the times when you actually needed to handle the car's wheel, who's now dealing with restoring cars for collectors while his wife, employee of a company dealing with electronic implants is the one who's actually bringing money in the house. One evening, following an accident in which their smart car strangely derails from pre-determined track reaching a not so safe area of the city, they get attacked by 4 thugs. The result, he's ending up on a bed, paralyzed from neck down, and she's not even making up to hospital. Which brings us to the moment of the offer. One of Grey's clients, owner of some "classic" cars, and also of another company specialized in implants, proposes Grey to become a lab rat for an ultra-advanced AI chip that could restore his movement capacity. There's a catch... we have to sign an NDA saying that the deal stays secret and with him still confined in the wheel chair for the public eye. The problem is that the guy is not really eager to move on with his life between his house walls, having as first item in his todo list: "avenge my wife". And another catch... the ultra-advanced AI has a voice of its own (literally and figuratively speaking). What's the perspective on a long happy life in this context - to check that in the movie.

The bad: Let's say that it could've been done better on the acting part, although that's not covering everybody. The main character, as well as the main villain are ok, but for the rest I think they could've used another take here and there. Besides that, there's a "cold feeling", which I can't define much better - something like not being able to empathize much with any character. It's something that I also felt in some of Nolan's movies, in particular in "Inception" (pretty much the sole negative aspect there). But anyway, it's a temporary feeling, which is somehow going away towards the end. Which brings us to...

The good: I didn't say by now that behind this movie is Leigh Whannell (script + directing), more known maybe for his collaboration with James Wan in "Saw" and "Insidious". Probably given the background/story style, that's where comes from the best part of the current movie - the ending. We have a twist coming there, but which you can see way in advance. And that leaves you a bit disappointed. For like 5-10 minute, until the real twist :) And as a cherry on top, we also have a (let's say) ultimate ending twist. That might leave you thinking on some existential questions like what's better - a fake life in comfort or a true life in pain - or, to get out of cliches, how could you end up somewhere in the middle? :). But since I don't have any answers and I don't want to give any spoilers, all I can say is: Happy Holidays! & and a better next year! ;)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Winter-Spring 2018-2019 Movie Preview (the brief version) - Part 2

Considering the amount of research I did last week, I'm currently more tempted to start a survey on treating tibiofibular diastasis without surgery than movie blogging. However, as much I would like to convince myself that a "Dr." near your name gives you super-powers to conveniently re-interpret a CT scan, that's probably not a valid assumption unless you also have a "M.D." written there, with all the help you might get from journal articles of Korean orthopedists. Besides that, I should probably move my focus anyway to cardio areas since there seem to be more urgent issues there (not mine... yet, not that it would make things simpler). To conclude, it's probably more recommended to take a break from re-qualification attempts and complete the entry of last time. Still in brief mode = one title/month...

In March we have "Captive State". Which I don't trust more than the worst episode of "Black Mirror" (whichever that might be), but considering the utter lack of SciFi movies, I'm willing to give a chance to pretty much anything.

The lack of SciFi movies doesn't include (unfortunately, I would say) also the super-hero area. But "Shazam!" seems to bring though a bit of a mix between "Kick-Ass" and "Defendor", which, if confirmed in April, outside the rest of re-heated soups in this movie genre.

We'll stick to the same stuff for the month of May too. Even if it makes me thinking on including super-hero movies in the list of Spring allergies, I won't ignore "Avengers: Endgame". Why? Because, surprisingly, I liked "Infinity War". Almost enough to give it a blog entry, but considering that I've watched that at more than half a year after its release I said that it might be a bit late. Besides, it's quite likely that it's just because my subconscious reacts favorably to anything involving "time travel", and wants to see a confirmation to the previous episode that this is the solution for all problems ;)

As I was saying to someone long ago that given my typical lack of communication, as long as I'm writing something on my blog it means that I'm "still alive", I'll try another entry by the end of the year. So, let's postpone the holiday wishes for next time ( hopefully... ;) )

Winter-Spring 2018-2019 Movie Preview (the brief version) - Part 1

Never say you're done until you're really done... or to put it differently, don't brag that you managed writing something weekly as long as you're not sure that you won't break a leg until the year ends. That being the reason why the traditional Winter start entry is in brief version for this time. Not that I'm writing with my legs (well, maybe only figuratively speaking), but this activity is not the most comfortable since half a month already. So, we have a strict selection of only one piece incoming title per month...

Since December is as typically filled with a density of blockbusters that makes it look like a Summer month, it's hard to find anything else. And from what we have here the best option seemed to be "Aquaman". Even though DC movies tend lately to copy too much the Marvel stuff, maybe we still have a chance. Or maybe's the fault of Amber Heard as a redhead that I stopped here...

In January "The Cube" meets "Saw" in "Escape Room". Or at least this is how it looks like in the trailer. With a "Weeds" "from a different movie". Little boxes...

In February I preferred to ignore the sequel to "How to Train Your Dragon" in favor of the sequel to "The Lego Movie". Despite that "Lego: Batman" wasn't as good as the original, the trend is still more optimistic there compared to the bottomless pit where the second episode with Toothless dived in from high skies.

That's all for today. Long breaks heal legs (they say... or at least remove swellings). So back to horizontal now. Spring months, next time (hopefully).