Mixing the vigilant sci-fi noir ideas of Blade Runner with the urban paranoia and violence of Do The Right Thing - Strange Days is an underrated classic that calls forth visions of a future looking more and more likely every day. Great performances from Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett. Some scenes are genuinely intense and disturbing, even for this viewer.
Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days is a minute-in-the-future cyberpunk (Dec.31 1999, but 4-5 years in the production's future) where, sort of as a sequel to Brainstorm, experience-recording technology exists, and you can get the tapes on the black market. Ralph Fiennes plays a tape dealer and ex-cop who gets embroiled in a web of murder and snuff "films", but it's a nice surprise that Angela Bassett is actually the one to get all the great badass action. Bigelow knows how to do kinetic and visually-appealing action, so when the movie rocks, it really does, but it is somewhat hampered by James Cameron's script's structure. There's too much world-building up front (and really, how much does the time gap require?), so our protagonists get involved in the thriller later than the audience does, and then there are too many villains to defeat, requiring a tiring second climax.
Was a favorite of mine, upon re-watch, didn't hold up, great direction, but thought the acting was over the top despite a cast with such talent, and was tooo long
Great concept, great execution. It feels like a William Gibson novel grounded in the real world, and holds up very well in 2023. Did it have to be so rapey?
The plot lines never really mix well together-- an issue that the script itself acknowledges when the "surprise" big bad gives his speech admitting that they have nothing to do with each other. I think the story could've been more focused. The first hour or so is awesome-- and Ralph Fiennes is extremely charming. The POV sequences are unnerving and challenge the viewer... but on the other hand... some of the action scenes feel more than a bit dated. Mildly recommended cyber-punk techno-nightmare.
[9/10] Strange Days paints a picture of a dystopian Los Angeles and the story centralizes on an ex-cop who makes a living by selling VR to the most saddest, richest, happiest and depressed of people. This is the premise that Strange Days portrays along with the sense of moral ambiguity that follows.
If one had the choice or power to change the world for the greater good at the expense for a million lives lost in terms of war, will that be a right decision? Does one person really have the right to take up such a responsibility? Or is it wiser to hide the truth and let the world live in a realm of lies just to save the same millions of lives and avoid any conflicts of war? Humans, most of the time don't even have firm control over their own will and anger, how can one even imagine the burden? Personally, this deus ex style of film making has left an everlasting impact on me.
We can see the depression, hopelessness, mystery, the good and bad but, nothing ever seems heavy handed at any moment during the film's run. In my book, Strange Days is an instant sci-fi classic from start to finish. But, I would have to add that the acting throughout the movie could have been better along with an extended run time to furthermore explore the world of addiction to technology. [9/10]
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Scratch47
Mixing the vigilant sci-fi noir ideas of Blade Runner with the urban paranoia and violence of Do The Right Thing - Strange Days is an underrated classic that calls forth visions of a future looking more and more likely every day. Great performances from Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett. Some scenes are genuinely intense and disturbing, even for this viewer.mcmakattack
Could have used a bit less cringey dialog and a bit more Phillip K. DickSiskoid
Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days is a minute-in-the-future cyberpunk (Dec.31 1999, but 4-5 years in the production's future) where, sort of as a sequel to Brainstorm, experience-recording technology exists, and you can get the tapes on the black market. Ralph Fiennes plays a tape dealer and ex-cop who gets embroiled in a web of murder and snuff "films", but it's a nice surprise that Angela Bassett is actually the one to get all the great badass action. Bigelow knows how to do kinetic and visually-appealing action, so when the movie rocks, it really does, but it is somewhat hampered by James Cameron's script's structure. There's too much world-building up front (and really, how much does the time gap require?), so our protagonists get involved in the thriller later than the audience does, and then there are too many villains to defeat, requiring a tiring second climax.mi-16evil
A stone cold masterpiece.secretballer83
Was a favorite of mine, upon re-watch, didn't hold up, great direction, but thought the acting was over the top despite a cast with such talent, and was tooo longSpacedJ
Great concept, great execution. It feels like a William Gibson novel grounded in the real world, and holds up very well in 2023. Did it have to be so rapey?ucuruju
The plot lines never really mix well together-- an issue that the script itself acknowledges when the "surprise" big bad gives his speech admitting that they have nothing to do with each other. I think the story could've been more focused. The first hour or so is awesome-- and Ralph Fiennes is extremely charming. The POV sequences are unnerving and challenge the viewer... but on the other hand... some of the action scenes feel more than a bit dated. Mildly recommended cyber-punk techno-nightmare.Jok3r
[9/10] Strange Days paints a picture of a dystopian Los Angeles and the story centralizes on an ex-cop who makes a living by selling VR to the most saddest, richest, happiest and depressed of people. This is the premise that Strange Days portrays along with the sense of moral ambiguity that follows.If one had the choice or power to change the world for the greater good at the expense for a million lives lost in terms of war, will that be a right decision? Does one person really have the right to take up such a responsibility? Or is it wiser to hide the truth and let the world live in a realm of lies just to save the same millions of lives and avoid any conflicts of war? Humans, most of the time don't even have firm control over their own will and anger, how can one even imagine the burden? Personally, this deus ex style of film making has left an everlasting impact on me.
We can see the depression, hopelessness, mystery, the good and bad but, nothing ever seems heavy handed at any moment during the film's run. In my book, Strange Days is an instant sci-fi classic from start to finish. But, I would have to add that the acting throughout the movie could have been better along with an extended run time to furthermore explore the world of addiction to technology. [9/10]
BullwinkleB
It was okay. The twist was waaaay too predictable.nicolaskrizan
Well handledhttps://beyond1001movies.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/601/