Gattaca

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Summary: Gattaca: How passion overcomes genetic "destiny"
Review: Gattaca is an extraordinarily touching and visually poetic film that, among its many qualities, affirms the view that a passion for life is more important than the physical limitations with which we may be born.

Its protagonist is born a "love baby," formed from the random union of his parents sperm and eggs, without the aid of the unspecified but obviously sophisticated genetic skills of his era. His younger brother, the second child, bred by his parents by means of those genetic techniques, is theoretically superior in physical prowess, intelligence and anticipated health. The brothers experience a deep and painful rivalry.

Condemned to mediocrity by a judgmental, genetically-obsessed society, the hero strikes a faustian bargain: a fraction of his future earnings (and fear of discovery of his true identity at each turn) in exchange for access to the blood, urine and persona of a genetically perfect, but wheelchair-bound "invisible" man. The two men become profoundly linked, the first dependent upon the other's body, the second dependent upon the first's spirit, his unquenchable desire to reach the stars as an astronaut.

Uma Thurman appears spectacularly as an impassioned, but also genetically insufficient, aspirant to the stars.

There is hope for humanity, despite the fascistic, hateful regieme of genetic purity dominating the time of this film.

This may be one of the most literary and hopeful films ever to address seriously mankind's flawed quest for physical purity and unfair revulsion towards the handicapped.

See the video, play the DVD if you can -- this is a film for all time. Its writers, director, producers, actors and crew deserve great credit. END

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Summary: Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman revitalize classic space opera.
Review: Set to a harrowing classic score, "Gattaca" explores the future of genetic discrimination. Trapped in an imperfect body, Vincent (Ethan Hawke) searches for a way to hide minor imperfections to be able to become an astronaut. Along his deceitful journey to out-perform his genetic superiors, he encounters love, betrayal, and murder. Uma Thurman stuns and delights as a sophisticated, but vulnerable, sex goddess. "Gattaca", cleverly made from letters of DNA strands, has well thought-out scenes. Acting, a bit cheesy at times, is perfect. Go see this movie now..... END

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Summary: Gattaca is an unforgettable warning
Review: The best exploration of the possibility of genetically modified people becoming a separate social and economic class leaving behind and opressing those who are not genetically modified.

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Summary: "There Is No Gene for the Human Spirit"
Review: 1997's science-fiction drama GATTACA offers an intelligent look into the possible future of applied DNA science, a future where potential parents are given the ability to determine the genetic characteristics and thereby create a society of near-perfect super-humans. As one might deduce, this means that individuals born the "natural way"--such folk are referred to as "In-Valids"--are deemed inferior and prejudicially relegated to the lower rungs of the social ladder. In other words, In-Valids are considered mere mortals in this high-tech, genetically engineered world, and as such, education and opportunity are socially beyond their reach.

The film's plot revolves around Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), an In-Valid who works as a janitor at an aerospace firm named Gattaca Corporation. But in spite of society's view of him, Vincent has dreams of someday going into space himself, and his intelligence and all-consuming drive to find a way to transcend societally imposed barriers leads him into an alliance with a black-marketeer (Tony Shalhoub) and a genetically "superior" young man (Jude Law) who wants to sell his own identity. Soon Vincent is engaged in a scheme to secure employment as an engineer at Gattaca and thereby realize his goals and dreams. But once he's finally on the other side of the fence, how long can he sustain such subterfuge in a society where an individual's genetic identity is constantly monitored and even a lost eyelash can provide authorities with enough genetic material to expose a fraud?

GATTACA examines the nature of personal identity, personal destiny, and the idea that an individual can become more than the sum of his parts. Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD already thoroughly covers these same themes, but GATTACA approaches them in a more earnest and less satirical manner than does Huxley's magnum opus. GATTACA is therefore a very literate piece of speculative SF that should appeal to those who desire more than the standard STAR WARS (1977) or bug-eyed alien fare. Unfortunately, the film is a bit too cerebral for the average filmgoer, and probably explains why GATTACA was a bit of a bomb at the box office.

The film is excellently scripted and directed by Andrew Niccol, who later penned the script for the acclaimed THE TRUMAN SHOW (1998). The all-star cast does a fantastic job of acting, too, even those in minor roles (watch for Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal, Xander Berkeley, and others). Slawomir Idziak's cinematography is gorgeous but never overwhelms the story, and the special FX, though minimal, are subtle and quite effective. GATTACA is a great example of what thoughtful, intelligent SF cinema should be.

The standard DVD version of GATTACA from Columbia/Tristar offers a very good digital transfer of the film (there are a few filmic artifacts) in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It also has bonus material that includes a short featurette, trailers, and some deleted scenes. The SuperBit DVD version--also in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen--offers a crisper, less grainy digital transfer, but it was apparently made from the same source and therefore contains the same filmic artifacts. (Audiophiles note: the SuperBit does have superior sound.) Keep in mind that, as with other SuperBit offerings from Columbia/Tristar, the increased bit rate comes at the cost of bonus material--you get the film only. And the higher cost of the SuperBit is justifiable only if you have a high-definition TV and can therefore appreciate the extra visual info. Regardless of which DVD version is purchased, however, a GATTACA DVD is a must-own for any true fan of intelligent speculative science fiction.

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Summary: Biology Lovers Unite and watch Gattaca
Review: If you love Biology, especially genetics and DNA, this movie is for you. Gattaca combines a love story, with high-paced action, that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Gattaca will at first be confusing, but it will all make sense in the end, and it will be sure to make a place on the front of your DVD/VHS shelf.

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Summary: Intelligent Post-Modern Fantasy
Review: This superb near-future science fiction piece offers the perfect antidote to the tired, "cyberpunk", post-apocalyptic view usually taken by writers when predicting future society. Set in "the not-too-distant future" - a technologically advanced yet stylistically fifties world - the film portrays the social consequences of today's genetic research carried forward to extremes. Society has become divided; a new underclass created not according to race, sex, or financial means but "bad" genetic material - those born "on faith" rather than being genetically engineered to their parents' specifications. Gattaca tells the story of Vincent, one of the so-called "In-valids" who has the willpower to succeed in life but is oppressed because he is genetically inferior. To achieve his goal of joining the Gattaca space corporation and travelling into space he assumes the identity of a "Valid" - Eugene - by fooling the all-pervading genetic testing machines with samples of his blood, urine, skin and hair. Eugene - who seems to have every advantage in life - is bitter because he lacks the drive to use his gifts to the full, and is now crippled after a failed attempt at suicide. The film's overriding feature is the palpable tension created as Vincent must hide every trace of his being from those investigating a crime committed in his workplace - the attention to detail is superb. Overall, a thoughtful - if a little extreme - treatment of genetic research and the importance of the intangible aspects of the being as opposed to quantifiable features.

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Summary: The real essence of being a human
Review: I'm a big movie fan & this is one of the movies that can be watched anytime because it's got quite a universal theme.
It's a science fiction movie set in the not-so-distant future on earth. Everything will be determined by science, even your genetic make-up, and that would be what matters ... nothing else.
Ethan Hawke plays as a "God's child," someone who was conceived naturally, without the intervention of science in order to determine his genetic make-up. His whole future could already be 'read' when he was born with a single drop of his blood sample, e.g. his approximate years of life span, any future health complications, etc.
His dream was to fly into space and although he has the intelligence for the job, his genetic make-up hinders his dream.
This movie is about what science cannot intervene: fate. Ethan Hawke wants to achieve his dream and nothing could stop him. He wanted to create his own fate, not the fate that was determined by the doctors on the first day he was born.
The human body is so great and so adaptable, that even science cannot read the future of our bodies, biologically.

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Summary: Think hard work can overcome your genetic deficiencies?
Review: Then there's a good chance, you'll really like this movie. Vincent is a God-child (not genetically enhanced), in a time when many parents choose to give their offspring as many possible advantages in life. Fortunately for Vincent "there is no gene for the human spirit". I'm sure you get where this is going by now.

Well acted, great soundtrack that fits perfectly with the movie, and great story. Want to be inspired, watch this movie.

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Summary: about the movie Gattaca
Review: I think it's a interesting actual subject, which makes you think about man and his nature. When the science is badly used, it could be wrong for humanity and also dangerous for the future. This movie talks about discrimination and it shows the world could be better without the differents between "valid"(is a perfect person) and "invalid"(is a person who has got a problem) human beings. My moral for this movie is "If you want, you can do it" because Gattaca talks about Willpower.

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Summary: Welcome to Gattaca
Review: The actors play their role well, act well. The decors are too modern, not enough diversified. The colors are often dark but hot too. We feel that the ambiance is "cold" when characters look into one another's eyes and the ubiforms are the same, they are black.
The music is sweet, lively, and gives more action and life in the film. The story is not bad, it represents well the differences between the people in some countries in the world. The beginning is a little long but the end is fascinating. The scenes where the two brothers do a stupid game in the ocean is beautiful. Gattaca is maybe the future of the world and it is scary