Movie Review: Gamer

So I just saw the movie Gamer, and I have to admit it was fun. I'm no film critic, and I have pretty low entertainment standards when it comes to movies (I own and enjoy Into the Blue), but I feel obligated to throw my thoughts up on the blog due to the related theme. First of all I'd like to note that although it is indeed titled 'Gamer' this movie was not made by gamers, anyone who actually knows a gamer, or anyone who cares about what gamers would like to see in a movie. There was a dissapointing lack of inside jokes, exclusive lingo, jackass comaradarie, or anything else that the gamer community thrives on. They did try a couple times - there was useage of the words 'teabag' and 'frag' - but it was pretty desperate. Which leads me to what the movie really was: a political statement on society and it's perverted pursuit of entertainment.

I don't think they were trying to attack video games in particular with the movie (or at least I prefer not to think so), but rather the general trend in popular entertainment toward 'reality' media, and the pleasure society seems to take in watching other people be glorified, challenged, humiliated or degraded. The argument was that people will go to any lengths to control others or give up control. We should all stand up for 'humanity', preserve our morality and sensibility as upstanding citizens, blah blah blah. I get it. Don't find joy in seeing real people demoralized or killed. (But by the way the government IS ok with it.)

As dramatic and political as they made it, there's definitely plenty to think about in their story. After all, millions of people (myself included) who play CoD4 and Halo play against other people, real people, slaughtering them by the dozens and then humping their dead bodies. Represented with polygons or no, isn't that wrong? Shouldn't our morals say that it is bad? Honestly I had to contemplate my answer  for a long time, and I'm not even sure what I have to say is a solid retort, but here it is.

I am not a gamer because I want to see the death of others. I am a gamer because I enjoy victory, and glory, and that feeling of pure mutual awesome when my Dad gets 23 wingman medals for every one of my kills with the Puma (lol). It really is just a game, and at least personally I do not associate it with murder or death. Maybe a little domination and superiority, but what's a little ego boost now and again? I can't speak for the entire world of gamers when I say this. And I can't argue that playing Halo is morally defensible. But art life, life art. Games, like movies, books, and paintings, no matter what their subject, are defined and created from existing ideas. Given power by their audience, they may gain influence, but it all must stem from people and their ideas. As a game designer, I will have to accept that my games may eventually influence the way some people think. Following my beliefs, I will avoid gameplay involving violence or subversion of other people. But I'm still gonna play Halo.

Regardless of all this deep psychological contemplation, I really did enjoy the movie. I like explosions, awesome music in surround sound, firefights, futuristic gaming platforms, and Gerard Butler kicking ass as much as the next girl. The acting was sweet, the visual effects were intense and actually well tuned to the style of the games they portrayed. Did I mention that Gerard Butler kicks some serious ass? A little bit of Sparta made the movie totally worth it :)