Cheap Gattaca (Superbit Collection) (DVD) (Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law) (Andrew Niccol) Price

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Customer Reviews of Gattaca (Superbit Collection)

A Movie for all who are Genetically Imperfect (all of us)
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>(Note that this review if for the DVD "Gattaca" released Oct. 2003.) <
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>This is a fascinating movie that gives the viewer a glimpse into humankind's possible near future. <
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>The beginning sets the viewer up for the rest of the movie. We are shown the birth of the hero of this movie, Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), and hear his genetic profile for major afflictions: <
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>(1) Neurological condition 60% probability <
>(2) Manic depression 42% probability <
>(3) Attention Deficit Disorder 89% probability <
>(4) Heart disorder 99% probability <
>(5) Life expectancy 30.2 years <
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>This genetic profile has sealed the infant Vincent's fate. He is now labeled an "In-valid" or "de-GENE-erate" because of his bad genetic profile. This means that the adolescent Vincent's dream of "going into space" will not come true. <
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>Vincent's parents decide that their next child will be almost genetically perfect. Vincent was conceived the old-fashioned way (so he's known as a "God-child") but this new child will be genetically engineered where procreation is done in a Petri dish. The parents have decided beforehand that Vincent will have a brother named Anton (Loren Dean), and that Anton is to have "hazel eyes, dark hair, and fair skin." The geneticist (Blair Underwood) who will do the genetic engineering will take care to remove "any prejudicial conditions" like "premature balding, myopia [near-sightedness], alcoholism, addictive susceptibility, propensity for violence, obesity, etc." <
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>This genetic make-up will insure that Anton has a bright future. He is labeled a "Valid" because of his good genetic profile. <
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>Welcome to this new world where there now is a new kind of discrimination called "GENE-oism." Vincent enters this world as a young adult who wants to attain his impossible dream. <
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>He soon secures a lowly job at the "Gattaca Aerospace Corporation," a private space institute that at this time is planning a manned space mission to one of the moons of Saturn. (Saturn is the sixth planet of our solar system.) At this time Vincent meets a genetically enhanced person named Jerome Eugene Morrow (Jude Law). But Jerome is special. Why? Because he is disabled and even though he is nearly genetically perfect, his disability makes him useless in a world obsessed with perfection. Jerome helps Vincent try to achieve his dream. <
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>Vincent also meets a genetically enhanced female named Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman). She also indirectly helps Vincent to achieve his dream. <
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>The acting in this movie is well done. Ethan Hawke and especially Jude Law give very convincing performances. <
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>The sets are very good, creating a futuristic sense but not too futuristic as to alienate viewers. As well, the background music adds to each scene. <
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>Viewers who have some science background will also appreciate the science aspects of this movie. Some examples: <
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>(1) The name "Gattaca" is composed of the first letters of the four building blocks that make up DNA (namely "G," "A," "T," and "C"). <
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>(2) Jerome's middle name is "Eugene" which in Greek means "well born" and is the basis of the word "Eugenics." Eugenics is the movement devoted to improving the human species through the control of hereditary factors. (It is actually the central theme of this <
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>(3) Irene's last name is "Cassini." This was the last name of the seventeenth century astronomer who discovered, amongst other things, the prominent gap in Saturn's rings. (Recall that the space mission in this movie is to one of Saturn's moons.) <
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>Besides Eugenics, I think another theme of this movie is that your genes don't have to determine your fate. <
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>Finally, DVD extras include a short featurette and deleted scenes. I found these interesting. <
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>In conclusion, this is a rare movie since it's an intelligent combination of science fiction and thriller. With a great plot, good acting, and great visuals, it is a movie not to be missed!! <
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>(1997; 1 hr, 45 min; widescreen; closed-captioned) <
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The real essence of being a human
I'm a big movie fan & this is one of the movies that can be watched anytime because it's got quite a universal theme. <
>It's a science fiction movie set in the not-so-distant future on earth. Everything will be determined by science, even your genetic make-up, and that would be what matters ... nothing else. <
>Ethan Hawke plays as a "God's child," someone who was conceived naturally, without the intervention of science in order to determine his genetic make-up. His whole future could already be 'read' when he was born with a single drop of his blood sample, e.g. his approximate years of life span, any future health complications, etc. <
>His dream was to fly into space and although he has the intelligence for the job, his genetic make-up hinders his dream. <
>This movie is about what science cannot intervene: fate. Ethan Hawke wants to achieve his dream and nothing could stop him. He wanted to create his own fate, not the fate that was determined by the doctors on the first day he was born. <
>The human body is so great and so adaptable, that even science cannot read the future of our bodies, biologically.

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"I never saved anything for the swim back."
Well after ten years they have gone and done it. We now know how the genetic make-up of human beings. We also have electric cars and wrist radios. This is no longer sci-fi; it is speculative fiction. Or at least it is speculative. Anyway I have a friend that had a back problem in his youth. They left some dye in him and it was spotted during a job interview physical for a desk job; you guessed it. <
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>Anyway this is a spectacular film. The sound track helped support the movie. They did a good job of picking the actors. The characters were believable. Uma did not even have to show her Thurman's. Ethan did a convincing transformation and Jude was good enough that you almost thought the film was about him. The scenes were breath taking. I was most impressed with the sunrise on the solar panels and the swim competition. <
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>Two points to look for on your second viewing are: <
>1.Several times the brothers compete physically and logically. Even with his handicapped origin Ethan Hawke" Vincent Freeman" surpasses his brother Loren Dean "Anton." <
>2.Jude Law "Jerome Eugene Morrow" Was not without ambition. He was disappointed that his advantage was not advantageous enough for the gold and receives his gold thought the actions of Vincent. <
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>Vincent who was conceived in the Rivera, as a love child must compete in a world where all the negative genetic dispositions are usually removed as was his brother's case. Vincent is tagged for failure at birth. To overcome this social barrier and obtain his goal of going into space, he borrows the genes of an athlete gone astray. The director where he is working (GATTACA) is killed as the last obstacle to the mission. Will Vincent be found out? Irene (Uma Thurman) suspects the number one candidate for the space trip Jerome of the murder. She never suspects that he is really Vincent. <
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>Bottom line is if you aren't genetically correct the movie may scare you. <
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>Just a note to those that are DVD illiterate. Some select DVD's lend themselves very well to Superbit. This is one of those films. <
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>When films were first transferred to DVD's they did not need that good of picture quality or sound for the average TV; so they had plenty of room left on the DVD capacity. This was a perfect platform for DVD Extras and fun fillers (and also coming attractions.) all at the expense of the more sophisticated or discerning viewer. <
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>Today people want more from the film and have equipment with better capabilities. Thus the use of Superbit. The DVD is packed solid with more picture definition and better Sound options. Thus know room for those Extra fillers. <
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>Also do not over look Widescreen with DTS as an option <
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