I gave this a miss at the cinema as it looked like a cheap Matrix rip-off, and while that’s true to some extent, it’s a well-made (in parts) old-fashioned SF movie with modern fight sequences. The story is a blend of 1984, Brave New World, Blade Runner and any number of Repressive Future stories; here the repression is carried out by suppressing everyone’s emotions with drugs, as in theory this will prevent any possible conflict. It’s a ropey idea (as is the ‘gunkata’ martial art featured in the movie) but it makes for some interesting acting by a fine cast.

Christian Bale continues his rise to superstar as the hero and the rest of the cast do well despite playing some odd roles: Sean Bean as the intellectual poetry-reading cop? Brian Conley as a librarian? Sean Pertwee as the ruler of the world? The movie would be brilliant if it hadn’t borrowed every single idea from elsewhere.

Although any movie where the hero massacres loads of bad guys to save a cuddly dog has to be admired.

Mild Peril Rating:

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