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Shayesha Holcomb
Professor Bolton
English 101
22 September 2014

Gamer: The Action Film Without Much Action

Gamers plot centers around a death row inmate named John Tillman. He is a
participant in a battle TV show called Slayer where inmates have to survive thirty rounds
in a battle arena in exchange for their freedom. An arrogant wealthy man named Hen
Castle acts as the puppet master and villain in this action film. The idea of a movie
where people can be remotely controlled by another person is interesting but the way it
was delivered did not hold my attention or make me want to see it again. Based on the
storyline, action, and characters Gamer turned out to be just a below average movie.
I can understand where the writer was trying to go with the whole consequences
of technical angle but some scenes left the movie seeming incomplete. In the movie,
only the people that could afford to play the game did, while others sacrificed selfcontrol and dignity for a paycheck. The billionaire creator of interactive games Society
and Slayer (Hen Castle) revealed to the main character (John Tillman) that he could
control everyone through the Nanex program. He also stated that millions of people will
eventually be controlled by a few hundred people, leaving the power over many in the
hands of a few. Much like other scene in the movie, the ending of the film felt like things
just suddenly ended and felt a bit incomplete. The music that is playing during the final
scene is the type of music that is saying to be continued. Another scene I felt could

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have been a little more polished or expanded is the murders of an anti-Hen Castle
group members called the Humanz. Their dead bodies were briefly flashed on the
screen. I felt like this down played their roles in the movie especially since they are the
ones that discovers the dark secret that Hen Castle is trying to keep hidden and is
willing to murder John Tillman over. There is a part of the film that seems like it was just
taking up space and created filler characters. The inmate that is in the midst of the
battle sweeping with a broom and was killed. The movie could have done without that
moment because there is already a moment similar to this where a prisoner tears a chip
from his skull after going crazy from being in the prison. In theory, the movie could have
been better if it would have flowed a little better.
For Gamer to be an action movie it falls short and misses the mark for its genre.
With the opening scene being filled with running and shooting seems like it would have
been a little more interesting than it was. The fight scenes did not leave an impression
like I thought it might have and this is where the choreography failed to deliver. After
watching the hand to hand combat, there was nothing that was memorable; not one
punch or kick. During the battle scenes, explosion after explosion felt repetitive and did
not keep my interest for very long. A little more detail with the fight choreography and
more interesting battles would have made Gamer a better action movie.
How the characters fulfil their roles is the best part of the movie. The lead
character, John Tillman, was believable as the desperate father and husband. He was
determined to survive the thirty rounds to gain his freedom. I do not know what says
determination more than vomiting alcohol into a gas tank to possibly get back to your
wife and child. Though she had a small role, Angie Tillman still left a good impression.

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While working as a controlled player in the interactive game Society the viewer could
still see her emotion and compassion for humanity. While being touched by another
controlled player, the viewer could sense that she was uncomfortable but had to be
there to make a living. During another scene where two people were murdered in cold
blood right in front of her, she displayed a look of pain and sorrow. The character of
Simon was spot on for a spoiled teenage boy. He was the typical seventeen year old
who was good at video games and definitely enjoyed the perks of his talent. In one
scene, he was bribed by two young girls for control of his slayer Kable, played by John
Tillman. In order to get his attention they offered to flash him theyre breast and of
course he accepted. In another scene while being interrogated for letting John Tillman
control himself he was asked if he needed anything, he asked for pistachio nut
sandwich, showing his level of maturity and lack of seriousness in the situation. Last
but not least, there is the character of Hen Castle. He has the demeanor of an arrogant
wealthy man who has the world eating out of the palm of his hands. While watching a
news broadcast of John Tillmans escape, he seems not to be phased by the situation.
The fact that he created two shows that exposed the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of
people for money and entertainment gives the character a cold and heartless nature.
The portrayal of the characters in Gamer is what saved the movie and without them the
movie would have been much worse.
All in all, Gamer is an average action film. The concept of the film is good, but as
the movie plays out it is lost because of boredom. Although, the characters are well
written the film failed to provide memorable action scenes and a thorough storyline.
What this film did leave me with is what would happen if in the future to make a living

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means giving up control of your body and mind? If it meant being someones plaything
to only survive instead of living.

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Works Cited
Gamer. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Perf. Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Ludacris, and
Amber Valletta. Lionsgate, 2009. Film.