Very well executed

Truly Dreadful Film

Dreadfully Boring

Blistering performances.

From the brilliantly twisted mind of director David Cronenberg comes "eXistenZ." What is "eXistenZ," exactly? A new male enhancement product? No, rather, it's a reality enhancement product; a new type of video-game/virtual reality experience, to be even more specific. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays the programmer of said video game, while Jude Law plays her hapless protector and our surrogate as the audience. The further down the rabbit-hole Law's character goes, so too do we, until we are left dizzy and without words to describe what we just saw.Early in the film, our characters are on the run from somebody who wants to do away with this ground-breaking technology. They'll have to deal with a creepy Willem DeFoe character and deadly spores along the way, while still finding time to explore their new reality and test their limitations. Cronenberg's film pretty much hits the ground running and doesn't allow us the chance to catch our breath as it levels up. Because this is vintage Cronenberg, of course there is plenty of gooey grossness to go around, the least of which are the "portholes" that allow would-be gamers to plug in. Those crushing on the lovely Leigh may find themselves feeling somewhat conflicted about whether the "porthole" exploring is sensual or nausea inducing. Plot-wise, the film draws comparisons to other late '90s tech- thrillers like "Dark City" and "The Matrix." Heck, even the DVD box- art states that "eXistenZ" "makes 'The Matrix' look like 'Child's Play.'" Well, I don't know about all that, seeing as how I personally don't ever recall seeing a killer doll dodging bullets in that movie, but no matter. What sets "eXistenZ" apart is that it is less focused on its dystopian future and more focused on our present quandary in balancing technological advances with good old down-to- earth human experience. Like the best Cronenberg films, "eXistenZ" has a lot to say about that subject, but doesn't bludgeon or bore his audience with it. Trade the giant placenta-like sacks of skin in this film for the latest iPhone, and it's safe to say that "eXistenZ" was ahead of its time, to say the least.

This is possibly one of the best movies I've seen. Ever. It is incredibly clever how everything is set out in terms of storyline that keeps you always guessing about what's going to happen next and you are so unsuspecting of the final outcome. Great cast. Great appearance, and most importantly, great storyline. Jude Law, for me stands out the most. This being one of his earlier roles, he still shines through, even sporting an American accent. Great supporting roles from Willem Dafoe and Christopher Eccleston who play minor but equally entertaining parts. The creativity that went into this movie is nothing short of spectacular. Overall great movie that should be seen by all.

Existenz (1999): Dir: David Cronenberg / Cast: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Don McKellar: Stylish thriller with intriguing imagery about a video game where its occupants can plug themselves in via bio-port and enter a fantasy world using a game pod. Full of surprise and shock associated with its director David Cronenberg. Very similar to one of his earlier films, Videodrome, which also dealt with reality and fantasy within technology. Detailed storytelling leaving questions in its conclusion. Jennifer Jason Leigh is excellent as the game creator with a price on her life after a public demonstration concludes with a shootout. Jude Law serves as her protector who goes through the painstaking operation of bio-pod in order to play the game. Willem Dafoe plays Gas the mechanic who can perform bio-pod operations yet he also has a sinister side that is costly. Ian Holm operates on Leigh's pod when it is damaged. He factors in and out leaving viewers guessing as to whether he is friend or foe. Don McKellar plays another strange contact within the game who provides information. In the end it really doesn't matter because the destructive nature of the game seems to rule out. While it doesn't always make sense, it does succeed as superb effects driven entertainment. It is a mind-blowing visual thriller about video games and marketing that is worth plugging into. Score: 8 / 10

The idea of this movie is a great one, examining the nature of reality, asking questions about how we accept what we see, and how do we really know what is real and what is not? It is interesting that the movie does not really comment on the rights or wrongs of the obsessive gaming being portrayed, which I believe was a wise choice, as otherwise the movie may have become disjointed by splitting its attention between two themes.The cast were very good. I felt that all actors did an excellent job, especially portraying the changeable personalities necessary to the plot, including the ambiguities that make the audience question whether they are observing a character or a player.I do think the script and plot were flawed. There were holes in the plot that could not always be taken as hints to what is real and what is not.In conclusion, this is an entertaining movie. I would class it as pretty good, but not great.