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From Amazon.co.uk
Confidently conceived and brilliantly executed, Gattaca had a somewhat low profile release in 1997, but audiences and critics hailed the film's originality. It's since been recognised as one of the most intelligent science fiction films of the 1990s. Writer-director Andrew Niccol, the talented New Zealander who also wrote the acclaimed Jim Carrey vehicle The Truman Show, depicts a near-future society in which one's personal and professional destiny is determined by one's genes. In this society, "Valids" (genetically engineered) qualify for positions at prestigious corporations, such as Gattaca, which grooms its most qualified employees for space exploration. "In-Valids" (naturally born), such as the film's protagonist, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), are deemed genetically flawed and subsequently fated to low-level occupations in a genetically caste society. With the help of a disabled "Valid" (Jude Law), Vincent subverts his society's social and biological barriers to pursue his dream of space travel; any random mistake--and an ongoing murder investigation at Gattaca--could reveal his plot. Part thriller, part futuristic drama and cautionary tale, Gattaca establishes its social structure so convincingly that the entire scenario is chillingly believable. With Uma Thurman as the woman who loves Vincent and identifies with his struggle, Gattaca is both stylish and smart, while Jude Law's performance lends the film a note of tragic and heartfelt humanity.--Jeff Shannon
Product Description
DVD Columbia, TriStar, Region 2 PAL 1997 106 mins
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Genetic defectives have been a staple of science fiction ever since the discovery of DNA. But until 'Gattaca', the powerful symbolism of future genetics for present day racism never made it onto the silver screen.
This is raised to an inspired level by writer/director Andrew Niccol's decision to film it as if all the flashbacks had taken place in our own past. In written SF, this could only have been achieved by a complicated alternate reality setting. But, in cinema, Niccol's careful choice of fifties clothing styles, haircuts, and black-and-white family snap-shots powerfully evokes a past for the protagonist, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), which mirrors our own past.
I had expected this film to be bleak and oppressive. The premise, and the first half-hour, create an air-tight world where Vincent is condemned to second-class servitude because his conception was natural rather than genetically screened.
But Niccol skilfully switches the 1984 style bleakness into an ultra-tech murder-thriller, with the murder of the mission-director, moments (in film time) after we learn of the meticulous plan by which Vincent will pass as genetically perfect and achieve his dream of space-travel.
Suspense builds from this point on. On the first time of watching I was convinced Vincent would be caught, right up to the final moment.
The core of this film is in Vincent's words: "There is no gene for fate", although the official tag-line was "There is no gene for the human spirit". It becomes an enormously positive affirmation that sheer guts and determination will take anyone to reach their dream.
This is an excellent film, but it will not please everyone. It is essentially a short-story created in perfect detail for cinema. SF fans will appreciate the purity of the vision. But the film lacks the epic scope which most people associate with modern science-fiction cinema. And anyone wanting a special-effects laden space-romp should look elsewhere.
But, in its own scale and its own terms, Gattaca is virtually flawless.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By L. Davidson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
"Gattaca" is one of the better science-fiction films that I have seen in recent years. It looks stylish ,it is filmed superbly and it is well acted. It is an atmospheric and thoughtful futuristic film ,not of the high octane, pumping soundtrack variety . The premise of the film is interesting and also quite credible , namely that in the future genetically engineered human beings will be given preferential treatment in the job market and "normal" humans will be allocated menial occupations. As in the films "1984" and "Brazil" ,for example , "Gattaca" is about one man's resistance to an oppressive , stratified social system which interferes intolerably with personal liberty. It is a cautionary tale and perhaps also a parable about life in today's transnational organisations. The Gattaca Corporation , with its robotic, dehumanised compulsive achievers lined up in front of their PC's like well groomed battery chickens, mirrors the typical modern day open plan corporate office. "There is no gene for the human spirit" indeed.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By DM Bunny
Format:Blu-ray
Just a quick note - 5 stars for the film and the image and sound quality on this intriguing sci-fi identity theft film.
It is not Region A locked as stated in the title - this is yet another in a long list of technical mistakes made by Amaazon on their blu-ray product pages.
The film is distributed by Sony Pictures and is Region A,B,C compatible - it plays fine on my stand alone blu-ray and PS3.
It is not Region A locked as stated in the title - this is yet another in a long list of technical mistakes made by Amaazon on their blu-ray product pages.
The film is distributed by Sony Pictures and is Region A,B,C compatible - it plays fine on my stand alone blu-ray and PS3.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gattaca DVD 1998
Great movie. It certainly raises many questions about the ethics of gene manipulation and discrimination. I am currently using this movie in my genetics classes.
Published 4 days ago by Lui
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
I am sorry I don't have the time to write long sentences and I think it would be better to return to the classic system of reviewing, but it's a very good service!
Published 1 month ago by Cristina Moldoveanu
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN ANTISEPTIC PARADISE
"My real resume is in my cells. They have discrimination down to a science."
- Vincent Freeman
Brave New World with its genetic aristocracy - don't you just want... Read more
- Vincent Freeman
Brave New World with its genetic aristocracy - don't you just want... Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging film.
Explores a coming revolution in our relationships as micro-chipping takes an evermore demmanding place in our lives. Thought provoking, frightening.
Published 2 months ago by Owen Walter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Film is timeless
I watched this with GCSE Religion and the Media students a few years ago and have purchased it again to help look at possible consequences of Genetic Engineering. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. J. L. Robson
4.0 out of 5 stars
We now have discrimination down to a science.
Gattaca is written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It stars Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Gore Vidal, Loren Dean, Xander Berkeley and Alan Arkin. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Spike Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just great.
Just as described. It was just as good as I remember as well, so all in all thumbs up for sure.
Published 2 months ago by Samuel John Foster Finn
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Perfect SciFi film!
A compellingly brilliant film. Great characters. Brilliant story. An Andrew Niccol screenplay and arguably one of the best directors around these days. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. F. Burrows
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Film, DNA sequencing at its best!!!
I absolutely loved this film because it is a telescope into the future ...actually, drop the telescope, DNA sequencing is already here!!!. Read more
Published 4 months ago by mrs da hitchins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Sci Fi with something to say
Possible Spoilers
After being massively disappointed with the vacuous, CGI dominated, silliness of Prometheus
I watched this on the recommendation of a friend. Read more
After being massively disappointed with the vacuous, CGI dominated, silliness of Prometheus
I watched this on the recommendation of a friend. Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. F. Dodds
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