Visually stunning but undone by flaws in plot

Rating: 6/10 (17 January 2012)

There is something a little Twilight Zone-ish about the plot involving a drug which allows full access to memories, enhanced learning and seemingly impossibly powerful abilities to do anything humanly possible, but has a fixed life and potentially fatal side effects. This film uses special effects which are stunningly clever and often a little nauseating and the story line is full of clever twists and turns because it is concentrating on what really may happen if such an event occurred. From that perspective it is excellent.
But there are flaws in such a plot line which only partially developed the side effects themes, and, at points in the plot simply kicked them into touch as they got in the way of a good yarn. To taste the side effects is one thing but to suddenly ask us to believe they have been removed and not replaced by other side effects is simply spoiling what could have been a totally excellent film. Continuity is a little careless at times too.
As it is the film is still worth watching and enjoying although I believe it could have been even better in more subtle hands. The acting is pretty good all around and the script is better than average for the genre.
Six out of ten.