Surrogates

On October 2, 2009, I went to the local movie theatre to view the recently released movie called Surrogates starring Bruce Willis. The story takes place in 2017, in a world where humans can control their own remotely controlled robotic bodies, or ‘surrogates.’ Humans live in isolation, rarely leaving the safety and comfort of their homes as themselves, and interact with each other solely through their surrogates. Since people are safe all the time, and any damage taken by their surrogate does not affect the owner, the world is free from crime, pain, and discrimination.
However, an unknown weapon is discovered when the first murder occurs in years. The victim is killed by this weapon called the ‘overload device,’ through the use of his surrogate. FBI agent Greer, played by Bruce Willis, must investigate this murder and delves into a case much deeper than a simple crime. Greer discovers a plot to kill not only all surrogates, but all of the users as well, leaving behind only those who do not believe in using them. The movie ends with Greer having to ultimately save humankind while destroying the surrogates.
Although the movie was highly unrealistic and fictional, that is besides the purpose of the film. Surrogates presents a unique idea of a new world, free from hatred or discrimination. All humans are better-looking versions of themselves, creating a sort of paradise of equal and beautiful people. Since humans never leave the home as themselves, but only as their surrogate, they lose connection with each other. Agent Greer and his wife grow apart because they only interact through their surrogates and never as their real bodies. Greer eventually resents this once his surrogate is destroyed, and misses the flaws and imperfections that made his wife so beautiful and natural to him. This ultimately leads to his decision to destroy all surrogates, while saving all users when a virus is uploaded to the whole system. The movie presents themes that show the eventual lack of connection between humans that parallels the advancement of technology.
Surrogates is a basic and entertaining movie that has an interesting plot and simple themes. I would recommend seeing this movie if you enjoy science-fiction and action movies that entertain rather than contain depth. The acting and directing in the movie are par, but lack anything special. The effects used to display the surrogates and their world or paradise are average at best, and are definitely unique, but not necessarily in a good way. I would give this movie a C+ solely for its entertainment factor.