Rating: 
Summary: Intrigues but Ultimately Disappoints
Review: Michael Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton, a not very likeable, rather unscrupulous bigshot investment banker (with echoes of the character he played in 'Wall Street'). His troubled brother Conrad (Sean Penn) offers him as birthday present, a chance to play the 'Game' on offer from an outfit calling itself 'Consumer Recreation Services'. Intrigued but so far not very impressed, Van Orton visits the CRS offices and is subjected to several hours of psychometric testing. Then odd stuff starts to happen. A toy clown turns up in front of his house with a key in its mouth. A newsreader on TV breaks off reading the news and engages him in conversation. A man collapes in the street and when Van Orton helps he is taken along in the ambulance to..., well, somewhere quite frightening that is certainly not a hospital. This is the movie David Fincher made in between 'Seven' and 'Fight Club'. Like 'Fight Club' it's a very interesting movie that fails to live up to the promise suggested by 'Seven'. In fact it is like 'Fight Club' in other ways too. Like 'Fight Club' it starts out well, with a really interesting first half. Here we are set up with a delightfully intriguing mystery: here is Van Orton caught up in this utterly baffling nightmare; what on earth is going on? Are these guys out to destroy him? If so why? And why go about it in such a perversely elaborate way? And if not, what on earth are they doing? But, exactly as with 'Fight Club' a really satisfying first half is followed by a really silly second half. The movie just tries to be too clever, and slowly starts to disappear up its own backside. Then, having got us all excited with a lovely intriguing mystery, it cops out with the most feeble and unconvincing of denouements. So after one hour, you are sat there thinking, "Hey, what an interesting, fresh, original movie"; but after two and a bit, as the credits roll, you are sat there thinking: "How disappointing, all a bit silly, hopelessly unbelievable and a serious letdown after first hour."
Rating: 
Summary: Simple plot but still a good damn view!
Review: To be honest I like this film because of all the films i nthe thriller genre where you can almost predict the ending and the upcoming twists and turns in some parts than this is one of those films but with it's great cast, state of the art cinematography, the movie is made as complex as can be for this simple plot. Michael Douglas' character is a total hardass that is pure and simple...business day and night. His brother played by Sean Penn gives him a gift which is a game in which they get involved in Douglas' character's life and play games on his mind. That can only happen if he (Douglas) visits the office in which they have to get information on him and do some health examinations. The people in the building start even playing mind games on him after hours of testing by just letting him stay in a room and leave him there forgotten to the world. Well after that you just have to watch for yourself but I love how the movie makes his life twist and disappear like nothing... a good film!
Rating: 
Summary: Crazy movie, no rules
Review: The movie keeps you guessing, right up until the end. The end reveals just how baseless the movie is. Think about it....the movie is based on something that simply put, would never happen, not even a chance. Again, what are the odds that a guy trapped in a taxi cab that goes over a seawall, survives?....same guy falling many stories......survives? Happy birthday??? Awful, insulting. Sick.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful Message....
Review: "The Game" is Michael Douglas at his finest in his portrayal as a Type A workaholic at the top of his game. His somewhat underachieving brother, portrayed by Sean Penn, gives Douglas a birthday gift in the form of a "game" where reality takes a dive and Douglas' life goes into a spin. Although there were a few areas that were a little hard to follow - the premise of this reality game is so imaginative and real. It is only when Douglas hits rock bottom that he realizes how isolated from the real world he has become and what is truly important in life. I thought this movie was insightful and masterful. I watch it frequently and it always delivers a powerful message.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent Thriller
Review: What happens when you are a powerful multi-millionaire and have everything you ever wanted? While you and I might think this situation is highly desirable, for Nicholas Van Orton, played by Michael Douglas, it is very boring. In fact, you might say that Nicholas is miserable. However, Nicholas' brother Conrad Van Orton, played by Sean Penn, has bought Nicholas a gift for his 48th birthday, an invitation to play "The Game". From this point forward the movie drags for what seems forever. I was beginning to regret watching this movie. Looking back, though, I now know that this beginning helps us to more fully understand how boring and awful Nicholas' life is, and further provides an excellent contrast with what happens later in the movie. Nicholas is in a very upscale restaurant when a waitress (Deborah Unger as Christine) spills wine on his shirt. Christine is fired by the restaurant manager and leaves, very upset. Before you can say white rabbit, a waiter rushes by Nicholas' table and drops off a note that tells Nicholas' to follow the girl. Prepare for the roller coaster ride. Within moments Nicholas finds himself involved with an apparently dying man, then just as quickly he finds he is being chased by the police, and police dogs, and things just get worse and worse. The list of things to which Nicholas is subjected is too long and would leave you with no surprises. Nicholas tries to figure out how to make all the action and events to which he is being subjected stop. Nicholas can't handle the loss of control. Further, the chaos of his experiences seems to follow no pattern or order. Eventually Nicholas gets back to where he thinks it all began for a showdown with the characters that he has discovered are actors. The ending had me stunned and amazed. You'll have to watch for yourself. There are several lapses in credibility, but unless you are an obsessive control freak (sort of like Nicholas Van Orton, for instance) you'll likely consider the lapses minor. This movie ultimately is an intelligent thriller that relies on action only when necessary to heighten Nicholas' fears and to pull him deeper into what begins to seem like a deeply nefarious conspiracy. After watching, this movie became one of my favorites, and I've now seen it several times. The most difficult part of this movie is the relatively slow first part. However, have patience; what you learn in the first part helps you to understand Nicholas and to be drawn more fully into his situation. Sympathy with Nicholas and his situation is highly desirable to fully appreciate the end of the movie. I was sympathetic, and enjoyed this movie. 5 stars for an intelligent thriller that relies on intelligent plot versus guns, fast cars and special effects.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging thriller
Review: Plagued by memories of his father's suicide, wealthy banker Nicholas Van Orten (Michael Douglas) lives in a gilded cage. His roguish kid brother Conrad (Sean Penn) promises a fabulous 48th birthday present which might just bust him out: an invitation to play a mysterious game offered by Consumer Recreation Services, a company dedicated to entertaining the top end of town. Nicholas's life promptly disintegrates. Is it all part of the elaborate game, or has he become embroiled in something far more sinister? "The Game" not only plays with contemporary paranoia about upper-class, white-collar vulnerability to scams - it also neatly subverts audience expectations. By putting us in precisely the same position as Nicholas, the film doesn't let us solve the mystery before he does. Though Act 2 of the screenplay wanders, it's easily the best work yet from John Brancato and Michael Ferris (the team who also penned the hideous "The Net"), and David Fincher elevates it enormously with his slick shooting style and trademark noirish unease. Douglas is great as the tormented conservative, harried into reclaiming his life, and Penn does wonders with his small but crucial role. This is a great idea that could have been awful in the wrong hands. Thankfully, it's good.
Rating:
Summary: Where's The Director's Cut????
Review: This was a great movie with an excellent story to go with it. It's too bad the dvd shares the same fate of others with weak features and no behind the scenes or commentary. This is one dvd that deserves an overhaul like the one that panic room received.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Different
Review: This is a fascinating movie; of course, it's necessary to accept the extremely unreal premise of a wealthy and privileged multi-millionaire going along with a "game?that takes everything away form him, but once that is accepted, it's very entertaining. In fact, I would say that the movie follows the "hero's journey?of mythology. An individual has his life completely transformed as he is stripped of everything and forced to confront a world where nothing is certain and everything is turned upside down. Nicholas Van Orton is a successful investment banker whose life is perfectly ordered. Then his brother gives him a "gift??a game that will throw him into a nightmare world. Small things become symbolic: at one point, the impeccably dressed executive loses his thousand dollar shoes, which are pulled from his feet. The man who wears $3,000 suits and $200 ties is now barefoot. He is symbolically stripped of his staus and freedom as well: In the ancient world, only slaves went barefoot, as a symbol of their status. The banker, once arrogant and well-dressed, is now the barefoot slave of the Game. I was suspicious of the theme of theme of the humiliation of the "cold-hearted white male businessman? which is endlessly repeated in films, but this movie was different, and I did enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Message....
Review: "The Game" is Michael Douglas at his finest in his portrayal as a Type A workaholic at the top of his game. His somewhat underachieving brother, portrayed by Sean Penn, gives Douglas a birthday gift in the form of a "game" where reality takes a dive and Douglas' life goes into a spin. Although there were a few areas that were a little hard to follow - the premise of this reality game is so imaginative and real. It is only when Douglas hits rock bottom that he realizes how isolated from the real world he has become and what is truly important in life. I thought this movie was insightful and masterful. I watch it frequently and it always delivers a powerful message.
Rating:
Summary: A Hollywood Insult
Review: Put your imagination on hold, place your intellect on the shelf, and maybe, just maybe, you might enjoy this movie. lt is perhaps the most contrived shlock film with the most ludicrous plot and the most impossible events and occurrences of any film l've ever seen in the past 60 years. lf you don't shake your head in despair by the middle of this muddle, you are probably not a film buff. And if you don't burst out laughing at the incredulous conclusion, you qualify for the "Edd Wood Award For Puerility". Shame on the writer, producer, director & studio!
| 
