Hackers

Rating:
Summary: It's the _context_ that's important
Review: The first time I saw this show I hated it. Absolutely hated it. I just saw another hollywood bastardization of the genre, complete with outlandish hollywood effects that are so far from reality that they are insulting--especially where they tried to tie the film to the Real World. A while later, I thought I may have judged the film too harshly the first time, so I watched it again. It wasn't any better. Then I read William Gibson's "Neuromancer", which was (and still is) a masterpiece of sci-fi and defined the new genre of cyberpunk. While I may cringe at the name of the genre, the book is amazing. Instead of an ivory-towered utopia, Gibson presents a dystopia thoroughly immersed in street technology, where the characters are hustlers, corporate gansters, and cybernetically enhanced assassins. Gibson's main character is a console jockey that accesses rich streams of data and sells his secrets in smoke-filled back rooms, beneath a neon sky. In our world, such a character would be a "cracker" (at least, to those learned enough to know), but in Gibson's world this is likely the place all real "hackers" would end up. When I watched the movie "Hackers" again, I finally got what they were trying to do, which was pay tribute to William Gibson. The biggest, baddest computer in the realm is the "Gibson". The completely unrealistic effects shown when they accessed this beast have strong parallels to the rich streams of data that Gibson describes. There was still the unholy matrimony of Real World and Movie World, but I could now forgive it. As far as rating this show goes, it really depends which camp you fall into as to how you rate this film. Here goes nothing: 5+ stars - if you're a script kiddie, wanna-be, hopeless tech-head, cult fan of this genre, or head-over-heels for Angelina Jolie. 4 stars - if you are one of those strange breed of hollywood that thinks all you need for a killer movie is to add over-the-top effects and a serious babe to a cheesy script. (Pay attention Mr. Woo.) 3 stars - if you don't know the difference between "risk" and "RISC" and frankly don't care. The soundtrack alone merits this rating. (And it is good, BTW.) 2 stars - if you ho-hummed through "The Matrix", you won't be thrilled about this one. 1 star - if you are a serious film critic, a foreign film enthusiast, a stooge for the MPAA/RIAA, or a barely simian president of a major democracy just looking for a good baseball game. -999 stars - if you really are a "hacker" and are tired seeing Hollywood's lame handling of technology and it's lamer attempts to cash in. and finally... 5 stars - if you always loved the music, recently read William Gibson, and are willing to forgive the ham-fisted depiction of h4x0rz showing off their sk1llz. It also helps if you think Angelina Jolie is a major-league babe (even if she is married to someone weirder than you).

Rating:
Summary: Just remember this is science fiction, and you'll be fine
Review: At fist, like many other reviewers, I found myself appalled at so many inaccuracies in this movie. Then, about halfway through, I told myself to think of this just like any other science fiction book, and that made a world of difference.

This movie is not a documentary, nor does it try to play itself off as one. As a matter of fact, the gross inaccuracy of many references is used to cue the viewer in that it is a work of fiction. Unfortunately, too many people probably missed this, which is why it has been relegated to a b-grade movie that gets little attention.

The acting is very good (I wouldn't say great, but definite above average) and the story (take with the above described grain of salt) is fun and humorous.

Rating:
Summary: Angelina Jolie is captivating
Review: So shes one one my favorite actresses. Well, a great movie with a simple plot. I love this movie. Completely entertaining. The feelings are truthful, as for the actuality of it all go ask a Hacker. Just an awesome movie, no need to analize it. MOre people outta watch it.

Rating:
Summary: Hackers is science fiction, plain and simple.
Review: I totally loved this movie! It was so much fun! It makes me laugh. If you want a fun movie about computers that doesn't really mean much then this is the movie for you, but if you are a purist who thinks that everything should be "true to life", then move on. the events in Hackers can't happen, and doesn't happen. It seems as though the writers of this film picked up a copy of Bruce Sterling's book The Hacker Crackdown and decided to turn it into a sicence fiction movie. I thought it was fun, and it's an hour and a half spent looking at Angelina Jolie, how much better can it get? So for all of you who hate it, lighten up. You don't see Archaeologists getting bent out of shape because the Indiana Jones films are so far from the truth do you?

Rating:
Summary: Garbage...Pathetic...Trash...
Review: Terrible acting, a horrible, horrible plot, this movie comes across worse than a really bad after-school-special.... An insult to real hackers everywhere. The only person that I could think of who might enjoy this would be a very naive and sheltered ten year old child. This movie is worse than space camp. And thats sad...

Rating:
Summary: AWSOME!!!!
Review: this movie is one of my favorites! i have owned this on tape and watched it at least 100 times!!!! i definatly recomend it to anyone who likes a fun thrilling movie that deals with the gov't and computers!!!!!! you will enjoy it i'm positive!!!!! if you dont already own it you should get it!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderfully Great Movie!
Review: I dare say that Hackers is one of the best movies I have ever seen or ever been made. The acting in the movie is very typical of what you would actually see a teen hacker do in real life and how they would act and speak. I know several hackers who absolutely swear by this movie and being a small time one myself I believe this is just an incredible movie. The actors all seem to gel together too. All the characters are played by perfect actors for their roles, especially evident with the two main stars Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller. They have such a perfect chemistry, its no wonder they got together in real life. There is only one scene in the movie I don*t get. That would have to be my one complaint about the movie. When Kate (Angelina Jolie) goes into Dade*s room and tries to do her thing, which by the way is the best scene in the movie, what*s that all about? Is that part of his dreams or what? I have to say that when I first saw the movie about 5 weeks ago on video I was completely stunned by it, but when I bought it on DVD a week ago, I was happily surprised. It just makes it even more awesome. The audio and video quality are just breathtaking. Just one small confusion about the trailer added to the disc however. I seem to see scenes in there that aren*t in the movie. That*s a bummer because the trailer makes the movie look even better than it could be and its already the best movie I*ve ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: It's too much movie for you...
Review: Probably what the movie writers were thinking.

Completely inaccurate description of how hackers operate and how computers work, this movie wants to make you bash your head into the wall. It takes the open-ended view that credit card companies, etc., are completely stupid and have security systems that my 16-year old cousin could bypass by STUMBLING through it. How outlandish!

"It's too much machine for you," claims our "heroine" as she is speaking to her "rival," played by Jonny Lee Miller. "What" is too much machine?!? Is it using a beta-version of Windows 98?!? Man, that's gotta floor you if you're uninitiated!! Oh, geez!

And Jonny Lee Miller's comment on the refresh rate of the display is almost comical...who can REALLY tell? I haven't found anybody who can and--if so--who cares?!?

Here's my favorite aspect of the movie as clearly illustrated in the scene where they're trying to find out "what the bad guy is doing." They find out what he's doing, and "oooo, that's not really nice...we gotta stop this guy." And then they find out that Jonny Lee Miller is indeed a killer hacker who did some "bad" things himself and they ADMIRE him for it. Where's the consistency? Either you like the "evil" or you "hate" it...there's no consistent character background here. I'm sorry, did I mention that there ISN'T ANY consistency here?

When will Hollywood make a decent computer film where a computer isn't treated as some mystical, mysterious entity surrounded by "ooo, look it's a computer" music, mindless tapping on a keyboard, actor(s) staring at the screen with rapt attention, and with surreal displays only found on celluloid?

If you're looking for mindless plot, inaccurate technology displays, bland characterization emphasized by oft-times overly-annoying geekish behavior mixed with techno-music, then this movie could not have been any "better." I weep for you.

Rating:
Summary: A cyberpunk thriller
Review: The first time I saw Hackers was on the Sci-Fi channel in '97. The "teens" who play the main roles, Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller and Matthew Lillard, were surprisingly good. Be warned, though, that the script gets really cheesy (which can get a few laughs from me at certain parts). Another flaw is that the director made the hacking sequences look like light shows--they are completely unrealistic and laughable to anyone that knows a thing about actual hacking, but I suppose the sequences look cool to the ones that don't know a thing about hacking. To sum it up, the movie Wargames is more realistic to what hacking is like today and was made nearly 20 years ago! What I personally like most about the movie is its setting in New York City, close to where I grew up, and its original direction by Iain Softley. The movie soundtrack, full of techno rave, is remarkable and I recommend it just as highly as the movie. The cool thing about this movie is that it draws you in from the beginning and you become absorbed in the upbeat atmosphere of NYC.

I couldn't find Hackers on VHS way back when and DVD wasn't around yet, so I just taped the edited for TV version. I must've watched the video about a hundred times. I eventually rented the unedited version on VHS at Blockbuster when it finally showed up and I just recently got ahold of the DVD. The quality of sound is worlds better on DVD and the picture is preserved in its original widescreen format, but I was disappointed to find that the opening sequence of the movie was completely cut out--a brilliantly directed sequence that gave the background information about Miller's character. It by no means spoils the movie, however, and I still give the DVD a high recommendation. I've said about all there is to say, so if you're interested in a great adventure set in the new age technical world see Hackers.

Rating:
Summary: Great.. Why? Its terrible terrible falsity.
Review: Hackers was a terrible, terrible, terrible movie and for that reason I have watched it time and time again. It is grossly inaccurate and, like many have said, makes hacking look like a game. How can you not see the comedic value in floating through a gibson and pushing the garbage button? They're trying to portray them as "noble hackers".. or white hats. However, before trying to stop the terrible crime they are busy harrassing everyone and making life hell for a guy doing his job. Makes you proud to be a part of the "hacker-underground," no? I love this movie so much for these reasons. I've noticed several other hackers have written angry reviews. Lighten up and find the humor in the incredible inaccuracies and take advantage of the impression that all hackers are sexy. If you want to see a real movie about hacking go to 2600 and check out the movies section for "Freedom Downtime" that ought to be true. If you want to watch a poorly scripted, often badly acted, inaccurate portrayal of hacker culture (which makes this movie a million times more amusing) then take a look.