Rating: 
Summary: Superb and deserves more attention
Review: Wow! is the only word i can think of to tell you how i feel about this terrific sci-fic mystery. In fact, I almost missed it due to poor reviews flooding on the net and newspapers. after watching the thirteenth floor, i realize that you have to watch and anaylze the movie by yourself in order to determine if it is good or not instead of trusting everything that is said by the reviews. people have different thinkings and a movie may appeal to one while others may find it disgusting. well, i think the thirteenth floor is one of that kind of movies that one may love it or be confused and thus hate it.
i am not going to give out much about the story 'cause that's exactly what is fascinating about this movie. but i can tell you what makes it such a unique experience for me. there are two important (or weird for some of you) questions that are confusing me all the time, which are why are we born in this world and what will happen after our lives when this world come to an end. the thirteenth floor provides probable answers to both questions. may be our world is just a simulation program manipulated by some higher intelligent beings from another planet or by a computer tech from the future so that everything we see in the world are only someone's fantasy or thoughts. no matter you believe or not, the thirteenth floor may make you think and reevaluate your current beliefs.
even if you do not find the story interesting, you cannot deny that the cinematography and production design are superb. the elegant re-creation of los angeles in the thirties will definitely shine in your eyes in contrast to the coarse and vulgar tone of the present. in fact, i could not find any flaw in the photography work, every shot is just done fantastically! and finally for acting, the four protagonists all gave powerful performance to their roles (all of them have to act at least two roles 'cause they got different identities in the past, present or the future). armin mueller-stahl (shine) gave another strong performance as the old scientist and the creator of the simulated world. gretchen mol, starring as his daughter, is one of the most beautiful actresses i have ever seen on the screen and she proves to be a very versatile actress in this movie.
for people who have watched the matrix, try also to watch this one which i think is much better and deserves more attention.
Rating: 
Summary: more than just the floor
Review: Despite the fair ratings that the people think of this movie, I would have to say that it actually wasn't all that bad. I think that the concept of a virtual reality within a virtual reality is great and sometimes more frightening than the world of the Matrix. Personally, I think that the acting held up better in this movie than Keanu Reeves' neo. Everytime I see Keanu I expect "dude" to come out of his mouth. In this movie, there is actually a more intelligent dialogue that allows the audience to actually think (Imagine that!). Gretchen Mol was perfectly cast in this movie and I think that the darkness of the film really enhances her beauty. All in all, I enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good low key, high-tech, noir thriller
Review: Director Rusnak has constructed for patient viewers a "Police Procedural" of The Future...NOW. THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR is a murder mystery with ambience of noir thriller. Comparisons with DARK CITY and BLADE RUNNER are helpful only in terms of art direction and fine retro-sets staged to jar sensibilities. Here warp-factor 13 (the floor that doesn't exist) prods one to question the metapyhsical grounding (Logos) of Reality itself. (Maybe.) Hence, the film begins citing DESCARTES' "I think... therefore, I am" (Maybe). History of philosophy credits (blames) Descartes for dualism (subject/object divide) that ushered radical skepticism, and logically solipsism (a polite term for insanity)...THE THRITEENTH FLOOR explores radical themes that Dostoyevsky himself might have ventured: START with a CRIME that is really an experiment in experience...see what happens! What is the nature of "personhood"; "The cogito"; THE LOGOS? Is "pulling the plug" ultimate crime; punishment; or Cyber-Garden-of-Eden Gate keeping for Election to salvation/damnation...and by Whom? This stuff is all there in a film that had the misfortune to be released circa THE MATRIX. The films have little in common other than Virtual Reality as an essential aspect of Setting. Acting is good. The FX, sparingly used, are also effective. Armin Muller-Stahl is particularly engaging as Dr. Fuller whose comput-ontological JEKYLL & HYDE project is focus of THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR. Predictably more questions are posed than answered and the final, "pull-the-plug" clip implied, is neither surprising nor necessary. For philosophically inclined this movie is well above average. For the sci-fi or all-bases movie fan, THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR is a good, low key, high-tech thriller.
Rating:
Summary: ORIGNAL Idea -few computer graphics -Not a Matrix rip-off
Review: In addition to what I said earlier, this movie is based off a novel written before even BLADE RUNNER was a movie, much less THE MATRIX was an idea. Also, the movie ran out of time to make any more character development, just like it ran out of time to explain the rest of the plot (how did Fuller find out --missing actions by the characters). This was a very novel idea that had more plot and promise than THE MATRIX, which delightfully used all available plot and action resources it had and also made an excellent film. The PROMISE of 13th Floor was what remained in the book and was left out of the movie, which was obviously cut to save time (see SUPERNOVA and L.A. CONFIDENTIAL to know what I mean as far as editing). I, on behalf of the Producer, take offense at the notion of this movie relying on special effects. The 1937 was obviously recreated on a soundstage, and the only MAJOR computer graphics used were on the film strip itself (giving it a red hue), the electricity effect used between scenes (lasting only 3 seconds each) and at the end (the 2024 city). The effects at the end also lasted only a few seconds. The acting was not lacking in my opinion. The main actors were given several roles to play, and played them convincingly WITHOUT help from the computers. Donofrio did the best acting job in the film, switching between a flaming bartender Ashton and the nevous programmer Whitney.
Rating:
Summary: Not INTENDED to be Comparable to The Matrix -SUSPENSE FLICK
Review: I am tired of hearing people compare this movie to "THE MATRIX". They were completely original ideas, and were even released around the same time. IF they stole "THE MATRIX", then it was when the idea was still being developed. That's how slow filmmaking takes. People are losing sight of the fact that THIS WAS A SUSPENSE FILM even more so than it was Sci-Fi. With suspense, you need to be patient and aware. Some of the greatest suspense films of all time (L.A. Confidential; Sorry, Wrong Number; Double Indemnity) were dreadfully predictable. It's a matter of how it is presented. For the SUSPENSE! Film that it was, the acting was great. Each actor was even given several different roles that they had to perform to a T. While Matrix was action, this movie made a direct point about playing God. They didn't even go overboard with special effects, but stayed with the mystery plot. This movie could have been longer (which, in this case, would have made it better --more room for development instead of mystery and suspense all of the time), but for a first draft of this genre this was an excellent movie.--Being, I stress again, ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM THE MATRIX IN ACTING, THEME, MORAL, AND PLOT- ***** (5 stars)
Rating:
Summary: A cult film fave
Review: This is a stunning movie, simply overshadowed by the realease of "Matrix" about the same time. Not that "Matrix" wasn't great, but "Thirteenth Floor" deserved a lot more attention. Maybe just too cerebral for some--this is thought provoking and requires astute attention. While others have mentioned "Dark City" and "eXistenz," this is my favorite of the three. The photography is stunning, the production values make "eXistenz" look like a student film, and 1930's Los Angeles is beautifully realized. The use of color palette to distinguish the different realities is more effective on DVD than VHS tape. Craig Bierko, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Vincent D'Onofrio (who is unrecognizable from his stint in "Men in Black")are all riveting. I found the ending to be clever, staying true to the theme of the movie while playing out the love affair. This warranted a satisfying second viewing to assure that all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Give it a try.
Rating:
Summary: Quantum Leap meets The Matrix, quite accurately
Review: This movie was nothing spectacular, simply looking at it as a movie. But from another perspective it was very appreciable. Only if you look at the theme philosophically can it really be a clever idea. If you can relate the data structures that are the simulated characters, and relate it to our situation and biological reductionism, i.e. if vitalism is false, then you will see what I mean. It also reminded me that The Matrix is not as unique as thought by the general public. Since the general public is the unphilosophical majority of men, I can see why this movie was not nearly as successful.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, wish I had seen this at the theater...
Review: A unique and certainly compelling sci-fi film that blends an element of the film noir within the atmosphere of sci-fi. The only films I can compare this to slightly are "Dark City" or "Existenz," but this film is no more like them other than in tone, mode, and lighting. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Sci-Fi
Review: What makes this movie special: 1. Amazing scenes of the 1930's. 2. Interesting plot that gets you sometimes lost in a maze of thoughts. 3. The main actor in this film was Craig Bierko. And he succeeded in his good performance. The only mistake in this movie was the last minute of it! Yes, the CGI of the year 2024 was POOR! I recommend watching it, and you might need to do so twice at least to gather all your thoughts together!
Rating:
Summary: quite entertaining
Review: Requires some thought to enjoy, good plot, great film noire - much better then the Matrix, though I enjoyed that also. Reminds me in parts (just the ambience) of my all time favorite Dark City. WAY better then eXistenz.
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