The Hamster Factor

Rating: Null/10 (9 May 2004)

The Concept: 'Cuckoo' meets 'Terminator' meets Kubrick
This movie is incredibly frustrating. Terry Gilliam is somewhat intelligent in his constructions--and his work is at least technically competent--but this just makes me want to pull my hair out. Why?
This is your only spoiler warning...
The MPAA never understands work like this and their rating is apt proof.
First of all, the good. Pitt, Stowe, and Willis are all interesting. The production design is above 'Grinch' yet still below 'Brazil.' Gilliam--like Kubrick in 'Strangelove' and 'Glory'--has a good mind for his environments, he and Lynch are everything that Burton wants to be. He frequently uses frames of architecture, films, and art to bookmark his points. He even makes the notion that games imprison the mind. So what's wrong?
The problem is that the plot is explained too well despite a script from the writer of 'Blade Runner'. That's my one black eye for this project, but it's a black eye that grows into an infected skull fracture. 'The Matrix' suffers from this problem, so does 'Fight Club' though 'Fight' had the advantage of not falling into a loop .
So, despite this killer flaw, it is still interesting material.
Final Analysis = = Midrange Material