Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:40 am
Remake of a 2006 movie called 13: Game of Death.
Why a remake so soon? Because the original film is a foreign film.
The premise here is awesome. A guy who is down on his luck gets recruited to play a game. The game has 13 challenges and if he completes them all, he'll win a life changing amount of money. He has no idea what the challenges are and he can't quit or he loses everything. The challenges, however, are increasing violent, disgusting, or illegal.
I really believe that this concept could have been A list Hollywood level. I would have loved to see this concept with a major studio behind it and A list talent.
The problem with this film, however, is that it suffers from its own story. This is the American version of a foreign film, and it's very obvious. Instead of just telling the story of the guy and his challenges, they seemed to want to examine some of the behind the scenes stuff with the game itself. Those parts of the film are boring, distracting, a tremendous waste of on screen talent, and ultimately made zero sense (think "Scream 2 ending"). They should have dumped this garbage and focused more on the actual challenges. After all, that's the draw of the film, and they definitely gloss over the challenges more in this version than the original. In fact, I was very disappointed by the lapse in logic displayed in Challenge 7 and a later non-challenge. Also, I don't know that Challenge 11 (or 12, I forget) was actually a challenge.
There's also an interesting discussion on IMDB about the differing morals in each version.
Side note: I think we should permanently call lies in movies told by the filmmakers to the audience to try and fool them the "Scream 2 Ending Tactic".
Anyway, the acting is really solid in the main story line. Mark Webber does a great job, and Devon Graye goes full retard successfully!
Overall, this is an entertaining film with a fantastic concept. Still, it doesn't live up to the original's flashy challenges. There's one, in particular, that the American version doesn't attempt. Cowards. You'll also need to get past the stupid side story in this version and the really stupid concept that someone can be wanted for making a child cry.
I'd recommend it, but I'd do so by saying you should also see the original.
Why a remake so soon? Because the original film is a foreign film.
The premise here is awesome. A guy who is down on his luck gets recruited to play a game. The game has 13 challenges and if he completes them all, he'll win a life changing amount of money. He has no idea what the challenges are and he can't quit or he loses everything. The challenges, however, are increasing violent, disgusting, or illegal.
I really believe that this concept could have been A list Hollywood level. I would have loved to see this concept with a major studio behind it and A list talent.
The problem with this film, however, is that it suffers from its own story. This is the American version of a foreign film, and it's very obvious. Instead of just telling the story of the guy and his challenges, they seemed to want to examine some of the behind the scenes stuff with the game itself. Those parts of the film are boring, distracting, a tremendous waste of on screen talent, and ultimately made zero sense (think "Scream 2 ending"). They should have dumped this garbage and focused more on the actual challenges. After all, that's the draw of the film, and they definitely gloss over the challenges more in this version than the original. In fact, I was very disappointed by the lapse in logic displayed in Challenge 7 and a later non-challenge. Also, I don't know that Challenge 11 (or 12, I forget) was actually a challenge.
There's also an interesting discussion on IMDB about the differing morals in each version.
Side note: I think we should permanently call lies in movies told by the filmmakers to the audience to try and fool them the "Scream 2 Ending Tactic".
Anyway, the acting is really solid in the main story line. Mark Webber does a great job, and Devon Graye goes full retard successfully!
Overall, this is an entertaining film with a fantastic concept. Still, it doesn't live up to the original's flashy challenges. There's one, in particular, that the American version doesn't attempt. Cowards. You'll also need to get past the stupid side story in this version and the really stupid concept that someone can be wanted for making a child cry.
I'd recommend it, but I'd do so by saying you should also see the original.