Game First Screening Reviews

Posted on October 24th, 2008 - Filed in 'Gamer' - 3 Comments / Leave one

It has been a long time since we have heard anything about Michael’s upcoming film Game. Well, the future trapped-in-a-video-game thriller had its first test screenings, and the results were not great.

According to an Ain’t It Cool News source that was in one of the screenings, the Gerard Butler-starring Game is a terrible fail and in need of a complete overhaul from start to finish. Even more disappointingly, Michael C. Hall and Butler’s incredible acting abilities are buried under a mass of poor action scenes and bad dialogue. It’s not surprising that the producers of Crank would unleash a fast paced movie that may be a bit confusing at times, but it’s a dreadful shame to think that Hall and Butler aren’t being fully utilized. Some minor spoilers below the cut.

In Game, convicts take part in a kind of video game, being controlled remotely via brain chips by viewers. The game is a brutal online fight where many will perish. Michael C. Hall, of Dexter fame, plays the villain and Gerard Butler plays the action-figure man controlled from a far.

Sexy Whisk (the AICN spy) insists that the movie is, “beyond boring and the action was completely unexciting.”

Simply said:

“I’m sure most of you remember Children of Men – whether you loved it or hated it – you must agree how amazingly chaotic and action packed it was without ever having to cut the camera! Now that is talent. Game however is the complete opposite – it’s trying sooo hard to be exciting and fresh and appeal to “gamers” – its cuts from dark to computer screens to action to more computer screens to close-ups…”

The informant insists that the movie tries way too hard and delivers nothing. The action scenes are apparently so confusing they become boring, and not even Gerard Butler can save the terrible work. Also they claim that Hall isn’t used at all and got a meager few minutes on screen — and he has a weird accent.

Still this is a very early screening, and they’ve pushed the release date way back, hopefully to deal with many of these issues. Game won’t be released until the summer of 2009.

Source: Io9 & AICN

kilakila • Oct. 24, 2008

Last I heard this movie’s not even being released until next Spring, so it seems odd that they are showing anything right now. But if the movie is that bad then they still have time to recut – as long as what they have is useable! Maybe this is going to end up straight-to-DVD.

Too bad for Michael – I don’t think he ever thought it was going to be a blockbuster hit – just something to fill in some free time during hiatus. But with such a high profile from Dexter, it won’t help to be linked with such a disaster, if that is what it ends up being.

Mycah • Oct. 24, 2008

Yes but it does seem test screenings are happening pretty early now days, like the new Harry Potter film was test screened recently. But I do hope they will re-tool it and at least make it watch-able. I’ll admit I was always very skeptical when I first read about the film… but seeing that Michael does little films and that he is playing a villain I am definitely still intrigued. But yes, I agree, now that Michael is really getting the respect he deserves with Dex‘s success, Emmy noms etc. It will be very upsetting if this doesn’t do well :/

Cynthia • Oct. 25, 2008

I am also surprised that there would be any screening of GAME this early. I just recently watched a webcast with Taylor and Nevaldine and they said that they had used a new camera and that there is so much technology in the movie that it was going to take a very long time to edit and that is why they are releasing CRANK 2 (which was filmed after GAME) first. Having said that, though, I found them to be two of the most obnoxious individuals I have ever seen in the film business. I remember thinking how difficult it must have been for a professional like MCH to have to work with them. I haven’t held out much hope for the movie as I am not a fan of their other work, but I had hoped that it would be decent at least and would bring more widespread attention to MCH’s talent as they do have a big following. Let’s all hope that re-editing can fix the problems!