Rating: Summary: Claustrophobic, spooky, delicious Review: Is there anyone in attendance who has not seen, or does not know, the plot that has been done about a hundred times, most popularly in a truly chilling Twilight Zone episode entitled "Five Characters in Search of an Exit?" A number of people (varying between two and five-- two is the minimum you need for dialogue, and five is about the most an existantialist can handle without getting gummed up in the works himself) wake up in a situation they don't understand and which, in most cases, is never explained. The focus is on the ways in which the characters interact, although obstacles can be thrown in their way to push that interaction, but most of the time that device is used when the author has run out of good ideas. Let's take that idea and turn it on its head-- the characters wake up in a situation, but instead of the focus being on the characters, the focus is on the space in which they wake up, and much of their interaction is based on figuring out what, exactly, their space consists of, and how to survive moving around in it. This is the basis-- I can't really call it, or anything else in it, a plot-- of Cube, a Sci-Fi Channel original (interesting that some of the language is still cut out of this). We open with a scene completely unrelated to the rest of the film that gives us, in no uncertain terms, the idea that being in the Cube is deadly. (Strike one, since this could easily be done by Rennes in the next scene-- in fact, it is.) Then we meet the five original characters-- a policeman, a doctor, an escape artist, a mathematician, and an office worker (whose function, which is found out later on, constitutes a spoiler)-- who find themselves in the Cube. True to form, they don't know how they got there, where they are, etc. They spend a little time theorizing, but not much. Both the cop and the escape artist have had brushes with the many deadly traps to be found in the Cube. The five are forced to band together, despite mostly hating one another, in order to find a way out, assuming one exists. While the interaction between the characters is interesting, and takes a number of twists Sartre might never have considered (and one, in pariticular, that comes out of nowhere, but shows the inventiveness of both one of the characters and the scriptwriter), we spend as much time as the characters do attempting to figure out the mechanics of the Cube itself. And if you like mathematical puzzles (have any Jim Fixx books?), you'll have a ball with this movie. There are enough clues for you to figure out what's going on, although I certainly didn't. And the characters are passably (some even well-) acted, and they act their parts the way their parts are written-- as second-stage to the scenery. There are few films where this kind of thing works, but it does in here.
Rating: Summary: They're out to get you, but there's no conspiracy Review: Extremely well done. It's unusual to see a film where the characters have to use intelligence (mathematics in this case) to survive. It's quite plausible that some black-box government project could take on a life of its own. I work in a government agency and see things going on that have long since ceased to have any point and never made any sense in the first place. There was a small plant turning out rope for General U.S. Grant into the 1980's.
Rating: Summary: For science-fiction fans and non science-fiction fans alike Review: I'm not an adamant science-fiction fan, but this still made my top-10 favorite movie list. Riviting from the get go, this film had me on the edge of my seat (quite literally) from beginning to end. It is wildly creative, intelligent, and disturbing. I'm not impressed by the reasoning behind the people's being trapped in the Cube, but the story line is thrilling enough for me to be able to completely ignore that. It's sick and twisted... but wonderful.
Rating: Summary: Cube Review: The Cube is about five people who wake up, trapped in a large cube structure, full of booby traps and tricky doorways. The film is based on a theory of human stupidity, and what was scary about this, is I believe the story could actually happen in our future. I gave this three stars because of the special affects, and the creative set. Also this one will keep you at the edge of your set throughout the entire film. The acting could have been better, but wasn't bad and I highly recommend this one for all of you who enjoy sci-fi/horror, or anyone who would just love a good movie that never seems to get boring.
Rating: Summary: The plot is interesting, but the acting? HORRIBLE. Review: I came across this flick here at Amazon after checking on what people had to say about "Pi" (fantastic movie, I might add). "Cube" was recommended. The only comparison I can give these two films is that one is very good and the other is, well, not! I don't care how good the story is, a film has to have decent acting to be watchable. Some of the lines could have been memorable, but the actors definately shot that to hell. The worst of the lot has got to be the wannabe-math-geek teenage girl. She will make you groan, with displeasure. As to the supposed "psychological undertones," it all seemed pretty apparent. "Psychological overtones," I'd say. Really, the only character that broke down/flipped out was the cop. So he's basically the villian of the story, it's him against them. I won't rake this flick over any more coals, I think you get the picture... Rent "Cube" before you buy. If you still want to buy it, well hey, there's no accounting for taste, right? ;-)
Rating: Summary: Unpredictable study of human behaviour Review: Every now and then a movie comes along that isn't infected by hollywood so much that it needs to be totally clear or end predictably well. Cube is one of those movies. Like the characters in the movie you really have no idea what the movie is all about when it starts. Which is what makes this movie so damn interesting. If you have, like me, grown sick and tired of predictable movies watch this one, it won't let you down. The first few minutes of the movie are utterly confusing, which brings you in the right mood for the rest of the picture. In short, a group of "subjects" somehow ended up in a strange cube like construction and they are, instinctively, trying to find their way out. Their whole journey is as much a study into human behaviour in stressfull circumstances as it is a quest for the outside. You never really get to know the why and how of everything which leaves ample material for discussion after the movie has ended. One cannot help but wonder what the force behind it all was...
Rating: Summary: Interesting, but irritating Review: I like the premise of the whole movie, but the fact you never find out what the whole movie is about tells me that the writer/director wasn't creative enough to make that part up. The woman are good actos, but the black guy totally overacts
Rating: Summary: Excellent! A thinking woman's horror/suspense movie. Review: The characters do not know each other. They do not know where they are and why. They do not know how to escape. Each person wakes up in cube-like rooms and meets up with the others. As the movie progresses, they reveal special talents that may help or hinder them to escape the smaller cubes inside the larger cube. Claustrophobia and fear increase the tension and in response, their personalities change and evolve as they move together through the maze. They work together, and support each other. But they also turn on each other from frustration. One character starts off as a leader, then perishes. Another picks up the leadership role and then goes mental. One person doesn't help at all. This type of interaction reminds me of The Blair Witch Project in that the viewer has a voyeur's position of watching people start to psychologically unravel from fear. One things really bothers me. Towards the end, a certain someone manages to sneak up on the other someones without a sound being heard to warn them. No fair! Also, the interaction between Quinton and the other characters was a little too bizarre at times. I liked the concept of this movie. I've watched it three times, each time hoping that things turn out differently. But they never do!
Rating: Summary: CUBE Review: This movie is really wonderful. I totally recommend you watch this, but make sure to have something to keep your mind off it afterwards! Try Blade, or any movie that is kickin'! Cube is about a group of people of all ages and background who are mysteriously sent into an enormous cube/maze. The characters are all different and all react differently to being locked in there and not being sure how to get out. After this, everytime someone says 'astronomical' you'll remember this and think about it. Watch it! I also recommend Blade and the Matrix, though maybe not on the same time!=)
Rating: Summary: psych drama keeps you thinking long after tv is off Review: The thing that really got me about this movie (besides the ending) was that the person who seems the strongest ends up being the weakest. It is so enthralling to watch this character slowly lose it. I also thought, as I saw it, that while each character may have had a talent or knowledge or ability to help them get out, they each also seemed to have a deep, hidden flaw that ultimately dooms them. Best human psychology film of 1998-99 year!
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