In my film review of the movie “The Hollow Child“, I started again with a plea about trailers and I summed up the reasons why I avoid them. I saw the trailer from “Upgrade” by chance at the beginning of this year. Believe me, I was ecstatic and enthusiastic. “I HAVE to see this movie“, I thought. There are trailers that look inviting and afterward, the film looks very disappointing. But “Upgrade” certainly doesn’t belong in this category. On the contrary. This is one of the best films of the year for me. An excellent SF provided with a wonderful concept and which gradually switches to a tough revenge film. For me, it was an exciting mix of “Robocop“, “John Wick” and “Demon Seed“. “Robocop” because of the cybernetic aspect. “John Wick” because of the extravagant violent part. And “Demon Seed” because of the overall moral of the whole story. A successful cocktail that results in a titillating film.
“Upgrade” tells the story of Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), an old-skool-styled guy who is restoring old-fashioned Pontiacs and who’s horrified by everything that’s related to high-tech stuff. The evening Asha’s (Melanie Vallejo), his wife, fully automated design car malfunctions and crashes, they are being attacked by some violent gang. The result is a lifeless girlfriend and Gray having a shattered spine. And that’s when the millionaire Eron (Harrison Gilbertson) appears and presents his latest revolutionary chip STEM. An artificially intelligent microchip that functions as a superior brain so the paralyzed Grey can lead a normal life again. And even more.
When you’re able to watch this movie with the necessary skepticism and you don’t take it too seriously, then this B-movie styled, action-packed SF is a welcome change and a way to de-stress after a hard day’s work. The story itself can’t be called groundbreaking or original. It all seemed a bit too predictable even to me. There’s only one thing I hadn’t seen coming. And that’s the final twist. What a pleasant surprise that was.
And when you like neatly-filmed action scenes, then you’ll enjoy this flick as well. The confrontations in “Upgrade” are such that I gladly re-watched the same scene over and over again. Not because I enjoy seeing bloody, horrible scenes. But because the choreography looks extraordinarily good and in a certain way, they managed to provide it with the necessary humor. The tilting camera. Grey’s surprised face. And the way the bad guys are killed. It all looks damn perfect.
I can’t think of anything bad about the acting. Logan Marshal-Green knows amazingly well how to show different emotions. From helplessness to bewilderment and purely evil. The entire pallet of emotions is shown. And the opponents all look fearless and ruthless. Equipped with ingenious cyber-like assault weapons and futuristic deadly gadgets (even an innocent sneeze is deadly). The only thing I was annoyed about is Gray’s way of moving. Although he was told at the beginning that he wasn’t really a robot, his body moves like a purebred Robocop. But that’s the only remark I can think of. My advice is to go and see this highly entertaining cyberpunk SF as soon as you can. Just do it!
Just another revenge porn movie with techno mumbo jumbo gizmos added for a 21st century feel to an old old genre.
Not even worth the 10 mn it took to write.
Great world building and use of CG. Didn't constantly feel fake. However, the writing, and logic of the tech, required a bit too much suspension of disbelief and the plotline was quite predictable. Wasn't big on the ending and not sure how to put it, but it felt less fresh as it went, but still worth the watch.
A 1980s soundtrack coupled with a Black Mirror episode thrust into a Total Recall-esque plot (but for the physical body, rather than the mind) and schlocky bloody fights.
Upgrade is on the face of it a cyberpunk techno-thiller, but gets into vigilante territory fast enough that I might call it an oddball superhero movie instead. Whatever its DNA, it stars Tom Hardy lookalike Logan Marshall-Green as a man who must deal with a confrontation with criminals that leaves his wife dead and himself a quadriplegic. This is the future, so he's offered a cure, a chip that will restore his mobility so he can hunt down the perpetrators. Of course, the chip may have ideas of its own. I wouldn't say Upgrade was predictable, because it has several twists beyond those I easily guessed at, but that doesn't really mitigate the feeling that it feels predictable. That said, its take on violence is gory, but also interestingly shot to fit the situation. It doesn't look or feel like what we've seen before. Most reviewers I've read have compared it to a Black Mirror episode, and I can't argue with that. That's totally what this is. And there are better Black Mirrors, but also some that are not as good. Let that be your guide if it helps.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
ikkegoemikke
You’re the one doing it all.
You’re not a robot.
In my film review of the movie “The Hollow Child“, I started again with a plea about trailers and I summed up the reasons why I avoid them. I saw the trailer from “Upgrade” by chance at the beginning of this year. Believe me, I was ecstatic and enthusiastic. “I HAVE to see this movie“, I thought. There are trailers that look inviting and afterward, the film looks very disappointing. But “Upgrade” certainly doesn’t belong in this category. On the contrary. This is one of the best films of the year for me. An excellent SF provided with a wonderful concept and which gradually switches to a tough revenge film. For me, it was an exciting mix of “Robocop“, “John Wick” and “Demon Seed“. “Robocop” because of the cybernetic aspect. “John Wick” because of the extravagant violent part. And “Demon Seed” because of the overall moral of the whole story. A successful cocktail that results in a titillating film.
“Upgrade” tells the story of Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), an old-skool-styled guy who is restoring old-fashioned Pontiacs and who’s horrified by everything that’s related to high-tech stuff. The evening Asha’s (Melanie Vallejo), his wife, fully automated design car malfunctions and crashes, they are being attacked by some violent gang. The result is a lifeless girlfriend and Gray having a shattered spine. And that’s when the millionaire Eron (Harrison Gilbertson) appears and presents his latest revolutionary chip STEM. An artificially intelligent microchip that functions as a superior brain so the paralyzed Grey can lead a normal life again. And even more.
When you’re able to watch this movie with the necessary skepticism and you don’t take it too seriously, then this B-movie styled, action-packed SF is a welcome change and a way to de-stress after a hard day’s work. The story itself can’t be called groundbreaking or original. It all seemed a bit too predictable even to me. There’s only one thing I hadn’t seen coming. And that’s the final twist. What a pleasant surprise that was.
And when you like neatly-filmed action scenes, then you’ll enjoy this flick as well. The confrontations in “Upgrade” are such that I gladly re-watched the same scene over and over again. Not because I enjoy seeing bloody, horrible scenes. But because the choreography looks extraordinarily good and in a certain way, they managed to provide it with the necessary humor. The tilting camera. Grey’s surprised face. And the way the bad guys are killed. It all looks damn perfect.
I can’t think of anything bad about the acting. Logan Marshal-Green knows amazingly well how to show different emotions. From helplessness to bewilderment and purely evil. The entire pallet of emotions is shown. And the opponents all look fearless and ruthless. Equipped with ingenious cyber-like assault weapons and futuristic deadly gadgets (even an innocent sneeze is deadly). The only thing I was annoyed about is Gray’s way of moving. Although he was told at the beginning that he wasn’t really a robot, his body moves like a purebred Robocop. But that’s the only remark I can think of. My advice is to go and see this highly entertaining cyberpunk SF as soon as you can. Just do it!
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conita_
Good one, with a good finale [spoiler] it's nice to see that it doesn't ends well for the charachter and the bad guy wins [spoiler]BadFluffy
Just another revenge porn movie with techno mumbo jumbo gizmos added for a 21st century feel to an old old genre.Not even worth the 10 mn it took to write.
Cynicus Rex
I wish the majority of movies were of this quality so I could justify going to the cinema again. Looking forward to the series.nowhereman136
easily the best Sci/fi film ive seen in 2018xianjiro
Great world building and use of CG. Didn't constantly feel fake. However, the writing, and logic of the tech, required a bit too much suspension of disbelief and the plotline was quite predictable. Wasn't big on the ending and not sure how to put it, but it felt less fresh as it went, but still worth the watch.Pief
Pretty ok movie. Good shots, sounds and ok story. Acting is fucking horrible though.heat_
Much much better than expected. Mediocre start, nice ending!selcukgucer
good one!Lilu Milcalova
I just love it the camera work was awesome, the story was fresh at least the end was, just one of the best this year.frankqb
A 1980s soundtrack coupled with a Black Mirror episode thrust into a Total Recall-esque plot (but for the physical body, rather than the mind) and schlocky bloody fights.Damn. Where did this come from?
Great fun.
4 stars out of 5
lachyas
Now that's how it's done.Siskoid
Upgrade is on the face of it a cyberpunk techno-thiller, but gets into vigilante territory fast enough that I might call it an oddball superhero movie instead. Whatever its DNA, it stars Tom Hardy lookalike Logan Marshall-Green as a man who must deal with a confrontation with criminals that leaves his wife dead and himself a quadriplegic. This is the future, so he's offered a cure, a chip that will restore his mobility so he can hunt down the perpetrators. Of course, the chip may have ideas of its own. I wouldn't say Upgrade was predictable, because it has several twists beyond those I easily guessed at, but that doesn't really mitigate the feeling that it feels predictable. That said, its take on violence is gory, but also interestingly shot to fit the situation. It doesn't look or feel like what we've seen before. Most reviewers I've read have compared it to a Black Mirror episode, and I can't argue with that. That's totally what this is. And there are better Black Mirrors, but also some that are not as good. Let that be your guide if it helps.252
Oh man, what a trip! Great acting, great choreo, great direction. Upgrayyedd!Flops
Neat-o movie. Great camera work and fight choreography.Showing items 1 – 15 of 17