I personally Enjoy movies that leave you wondering until the very end, the kind of movie in which everything that is happening seems impossible, and none of the characters seem to notice. This is that type of movie completely, though it could have been a good movie if they had tried just a bit harder. You have the great Rutger Hauer playing a dying rich man who has paid to play in the game with the other 9 rich, and famous people. None of the characters can remember anything past the age of 23 that the bodies they are dropped into, though they must figure out who each of their fellow players are, then kill them, and return to a room in which they have to pick from a line-up: who it was that they just killed. From the beginning you can tell that something is not right with the entire system. This is supposed to be a possible near future, and somehow physics do not apply, as each player has been dropped into the mind of a 23 year old in a virtual 2013 that is devastated by war. You have to put all of this aside, and really not put any stock into that part of the story or you will never get to the actual point of the movie. All of this is just a life lesson for one man, in fact it is possible that no other people were actually playing, and this was all just a way to clean out this man just before he passes. Where did the 10 hours go? The initial promise of living life for 10 hours as a younger man is just a carrot on a stick, and you will see why, though it just takes such a long time to get to there. The young actors are all good, and the main story really could have been a lot better. I am not really recommending this movie to anyone, if you like strange sci-fi, and Rutger Hauer then you may just want to see it to see it, but if you are an average person this movie will just leave you feeling empty, and ripped off. This could have been more, but The first special effects with the plane, and car should be enough to make most people stop watching right there as it looks awful, and more like a cinematic from an old 90's video game.
10 Reviews
It could have been so good
bowmanblue26 December 2014
Okay, so the whole 'Hunger Games' scenario is very popular right now – the one where a group of people are stuck in some sort of situation that involves them having to kill each other so that one ultimately survives. Here, with 'RPG' Portugal throws its hat into the ring.
In a not too distant future (where everyone drives slightly more space-age cars than now), a handful of rich people want to live forever, so they go to a place which makes them go into a 'virtual reality' world (think 'The Matrix')where they're portrayed as younger versions of themselves (to get a feel for what it's like to be young again). However, once there, they have to kill each other – only one can apparently be reincarnated. Why? I don't know. I don't think I picked up on that.
So, there you have it. Oh, and this is probably a good time to point out that, if you saw Rutger Hauer's name on the poster, you may need to know that he's not in it that much. He's one of the oldies who quickly gets replaced by a younger version of himself (and hence actor).
I can take the lack of originality in the plot and the slightly 'made-for-TV' feel of it all. It was the acting that got me. I've sat through countless badly-acted horror films and never let the acting annoy me. However, here, everyone seemed to be reading their lines. At first I thought it was because many of the cast didn't speak English as their first language. However, when I saw they had a British girl among the cast who also seemed to have trouble speaking English, I realised they had just had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for acting talent.
The Hunger Games may be popular, but this is copying it in 'scenario only.' It's nothing like it. Therefore, if you're a fan of the Hunger Games, don't watch this expecting anything similar. Also, if you're generally a fan of people having to kill each other for sport (think Battle Royale or the Running Man), RPG isn't half as good as either of them.
Just forget this film all together. I'm sure Portugal can do better.
In a not too distant future (where everyone drives slightly more space-age cars than now), a handful of rich people want to live forever, so they go to a place which makes them go into a 'virtual reality' world (think 'The Matrix')where they're portrayed as younger versions of themselves (to get a feel for what it's like to be young again). However, once there, they have to kill each other – only one can apparently be reincarnated. Why? I don't know. I don't think I picked up on that.
So, there you have it. Oh, and this is probably a good time to point out that, if you saw Rutger Hauer's name on the poster, you may need to know that he's not in it that much. He's one of the oldies who quickly gets replaced by a younger version of himself (and hence actor).
I can take the lack of originality in the plot and the slightly 'made-for-TV' feel of it all. It was the acting that got me. I've sat through countless badly-acted horror films and never let the acting annoy me. However, here, everyone seemed to be reading their lines. At first I thought it was because many of the cast didn't speak English as their first language. However, when I saw they had a British girl among the cast who also seemed to have trouble speaking English, I realised they had just had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for acting talent.
The Hunger Games may be popular, but this is copying it in 'scenario only.' It's nothing like it. Therefore, if you're a fan of the Hunger Games, don't watch this expecting anything similar. Also, if you're generally a fan of people having to kill each other for sport (think Battle Royale or the Running Man), RPG isn't half as good as either of them.
Just forget this film all together. I'm sure Portugal can do better.
A perfect example of a 'could have been' movie
Boristhemoggy17 September 2023
10 wealthy old people play a virtual reality game where they inhabit the bodies of young people. They have to kill one another leaving 1 person at the end who gets to keep the young body even in real life.
The idea is great and makes for great SciFi and some good ethical and moral questions. However, aside from Rutger Hauer's first 5 minutes, you quickly realise that the dialogue is awful, as if put together by some student writers who don't have a clue. It's like something from a 1950's melodrama.
The acting is pitiful mostly throughout the film. Not just bad, but embarrassingly bad. I felt for the actors, if they watched themselves on screen they may well be embarrassed at themselves for their poor performances.
Was it the Director that had no idea how to direct them? I don't know but the videographer was poor too. Obviously the camera was hand held throughout, but not even steady cam. So watching it was almost like having vertigo.
I gave it a 3 because I loved the idea of it and the overall storyline, I just think how it was brought to film was poor, amateurish and sloppy.
The idea is great and makes for great SciFi and some good ethical and moral questions. However, aside from Rutger Hauer's first 5 minutes, you quickly realise that the dialogue is awful, as if put together by some student writers who don't have a clue. It's like something from a 1950's melodrama.
The acting is pitiful mostly throughout the film. Not just bad, but embarrassingly bad. I felt for the actors, if they watched themselves on screen they may well be embarrassed at themselves for their poor performances.
Was it the Director that had no idea how to direct them? I don't know but the videographer was poor too. Obviously the camera was hand held throughout, but not even steady cam. So watching it was almost like having vertigo.
I gave it a 3 because I loved the idea of it and the overall storyline, I just think how it was brought to film was poor, amateurish and sloppy.
A failed attempt to make a Portuguese sci-fi movie. Portugal has to keep trying but not with this quality.
miguel_aleluia_199710 September 2013
This attempt by Tino Navarro and David Rebordão to make a Portuguese sci-fi movie didn't go well.
The acting is bad. I've seen worse but in general it is bad. Some actors did well but not enough to save the movie.
The plot is simple. 10 old people pay to have their minds transfered to a new body to play a 10 hour game in which they fight for the chance to be young as long as they can. At each hour one of them has to die. This could be a good movie, but it missed the "good" part.
I didn't care for the characters! At all! I hate movies where I don't feel anything. I felt nothing in this movie. The camera was always shaking! You get used to it but it's annoying. And the whole movie was too predictable. The end wasn't, but I didn't like it anyway. And the movie had some flaws. But I'm not gonna point them. Don't wanna spoil anything (not that there's anything to spoil but yeah)
My opinion: Bad movie. Don't waste your money. Watch it at home if you're curious but don't expect much.
2/10. Not 1/10 because I liked the movie idea but unfortunately I hated everything else.
The acting is bad. I've seen worse but in general it is bad. Some actors did well but not enough to save the movie.
The plot is simple. 10 old people pay to have their minds transfered to a new body to play a 10 hour game in which they fight for the chance to be young as long as they can. At each hour one of them has to die. This could be a good movie, but it missed the "good" part.
I didn't care for the characters! At all! I hate movies where I don't feel anything. I felt nothing in this movie. The camera was always shaking! You get used to it but it's annoying. And the whole movie was too predictable. The end wasn't, but I didn't like it anyway. And the movie had some flaws. But I'm not gonna point them. Don't wanna spoil anything (not that there's anything to spoil but yeah)
My opinion: Bad movie. Don't waste your money. Watch it at home if you're curious but don't expect much.
2/10. Not 1/10 because I liked the movie idea but unfortunately I hated everything else.
Wasted opportunity
Zen-2-Zen18 July 2014
I was willing to get past the thought that it's one more "Survivor"/"Hunger Games" concept ripoff and was curious to see if they managed to do something different. The beginning was promising but then it quickly descended into cardboard cutout characters and not much action either.
I understand that this was a low budget production so they couldn't have much in terms of the SFX and action scenes but they could have made a great ensemble piece if they spent a lot more times thinking while writing, coming up with character developments and then treating it almost like a theatrical play with a lot of rehearsals. That's how a low budget production can compensate for the lack of expensive effects and fight choreographies - by taking the time to write much better script and rehearse actors to perfection.
Instead they pinched bits and pieces from different aspects available to this kind of movie and ended up with nothing. Even "romance & sex" scenes were unconvincing.
I understand that this was a low budget production so they couldn't have much in terms of the SFX and action scenes but they could have made a great ensemble piece if they spent a lot more times thinking while writing, coming up with character developments and then treating it almost like a theatrical play with a lot of rehearsals. That's how a low budget production can compensate for the lack of expensive effects and fight choreographies - by taking the time to write much better script and rehearse actors to perfection.
Instead they pinched bits and pieces from different aspects available to this kind of movie and ended up with nothing. Even "romance & sex" scenes were unconvincing.
disappointing
renemaia11 September 2013
I was very interested to see this movie after learning that it had been "made in Portugal" and especially after watching the trailer. However I was hugely disappointed. In fact,I left during the interval, something I have not done in a very long time. The acting was very stilted, I could not get into or enjoy the film. In my opinion, if this movie had been made in Portuguese, that is, actors speaking Portuguese, then the actors and the movie would have come across as more natural. I think they were concentrating so hard on speaking English they forgot how to act. This is a great disappointment as Portugal has produced great films and it is just a pity this is not one of them. The trailer appears to be the best part of the film.
Bad. . .
voulga1 May 2016
The movie started promising that it would be something different. I was fed up with the Hollywood versions of the story (hunger games) and was interested in watching how a low budget production would show something interesting through acting.
Unfortunately, the acting was rather bad, the scenario was a copy of what we have seen. The actors simply couldn't do something more. They acted the way they could.
As if the above wasn't enough, the ending is a little bit blurred.
My proposal: it's better to see hunger games, which are more complete movies.
Unfortunately, the acting was rather bad, the scenario was a copy of what we have seen. The actors simply couldn't do something more. They acted the way they could.
As if the above wasn't enough, the ending is a little bit blurred.
My proposal: it's better to see hunger games, which are more complete movies.
Fantastic!
kirstiwest13 September 2014
I absolutely loved this film! It was thrilling, especially trying to figure out who was who before the characters did. I was not at all bothered by lack of special effects, and the plot concept was so deep that I doubt any movie maker could possibly satisfy the full exploration of the concept in just one movie length, even with a big budget. Well done and I loved the accents, it really helped to believe that these people indeed were from all over the world. I am going to google similar movies to watch right now, as this film has inspired me to find others like it. I really did not want it to end. I believe people these days expect way too much and I think the ratings users are giving this film are way too low for the credit deserved.
Different
ghemailme-stuff21 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Joined to just review this. After seeing poor reviews I had to say that this is worth watching. Nice to see something different, you have to watch it all. The actors English accents I thought were a treat and would enjoy seeing more of these stars.
The story might need more padding out for some, but I found there was enough to get you to think about the plot.
It did feel more like a short story than a full film but I liked how easy it was to watch. Rather than rubbishing the film those involved deserve praise for taking a risk on something different in my mind.
Maybe with a bigger budget it could be more whiz bang with the characters and plot more fleshed out. But then it would not be what it is.
The story might need more padding out for some, but I found there was enough to get you to think about the plot.
It did feel more like a short story than a full film but I liked how easy it was to watch. Rather than rubbishing the film those involved deserve praise for taking a risk on something different in my mind.
Maybe with a bigger budget it could be more whiz bang with the characters and plot more fleshed out. But then it would not be what it is.
Hell is Other People
sharonkathleenjohnson7 October 2018
What is the matter with you people? This cerebral thinking person's gem of a metaphysical film has lofty themes and piquant dialog--quoting Sartre at one point and speculating on what Hitler knew at twenty years of age for heaven's sake. Shades of Bergman or Bunuel! The entire premise is deeply personal as well as universal--what does anyone really know at twenty of the inherent treachery of human interaction and aren't we all trapped in some prison or another--whether it be old age or the naivete of youth? This film makes good use of low budget sci fi sets, as well as carries on the European auteur tradition of tackling the grand themes of philosophy. The fragile balance between trust and suspicion, cooperation and competition, love and hate are so explicitly explored here, how could anyone miss it?
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