**Full Review: https://youtu.be/WF00HK4gptQ**

Gamer is a 2009 science fiction action film set in the near future where nanotechnology exists (Nanex) that allows people to submit to being controlled by other people. In essence people become the flesh and blood avatars for their remote masters; a next level take on what it means to be a gamer.

The movie stars Gerald Butler as Kable who plays as a military veteran and prisoner on death row who plays in a ‘real life Shooter’ called Slayers. If Kable’s master, Simon, can guide and control Kable through Slayers to survive 30 matches, Kable earns back his freedom. The film begins with him earning his 27th consecutive victory. Michael C. Hall plays as Ken Castle… the oligarch who invented Nanex who seems to have more sinister motives than just breaking new ground in game design.

Gamer was helmed by writer/director duo Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine whose previous works include the Crank series of films and ‘Pathology’. While I’ve never seen the Crank movies I have seen Pathology which, spoiler alert, is a fantastic movie. So from that alone I know this duo can produce some stellar cinema.

So how did ‘Gamer’ fare during its reviews?

Gamer is rated at 5.8 out of 10 on IMDB, 4.8 out of 10 on Metacritic, and 39% out of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. With a budget of $50m it has earned about $45m globally.

**Sources**

Gamer Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer_(2009_film)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034032/

Metacritic: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gamer

Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gamer

Ship of Theseus Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

Shaviro Blog: http://www.shaviro.com/Blog/?p=830

Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/movies/22360241/gamer-movie-gerard-butler-internet-predictions

**Running Man with a dash of Facebook**

Running Man with a dash of Facebook, and not much more. Maybe more the book Running Man, less the Schwarzenegger thing. But essentially, it's that story - bits of which have been filmed numerous times.

The logistics and the logic in this story don't add up. Unclear rules and chaotic action scenes permanently maxed-out on violence make it impossible to either feel the danger, or compassion with the protagonists during the battles.
And outside the battles, there is not much suspense either, nor acting possibilites, nor dialogue, let alone character development. Even the technobabble is off.

Oh, and the CGI at start is sub-par, even for its day. (Hint: If you can't afford to do it with good CGI, use physical effects instead.)



If you want your fix on "action without too much brains", watch something like Hardcore Henry; if you want something somewhat clever and entertaining on the topic, read the book "The Running Man".
This movie is a waste of time.