|
|
Movie Review by The Gravedigger
|
06.05.09
|
Loosely based on a comic book (they only kept the title and the idea that the story takes place in Virtual Reality), this is the lesser of the Chris Carter produced TV series, though it is entertaining and presents some interesting ideas in regard to the validity of Virtual Reality.
A soldier by the name of Thomas Hobbes, soon to become a civilian and marry his fiance' (Samantha Mathis), is called in for an assignment in the middle of the night and asked to participate in a virtual simulation game called HARSH REALM. He's told this is only a simulation and that to win the game he's to kill a general by the name of Omar Santiago (Terry O'Quinn). He lets them hook him to the machine and when nothing happens he gets up to find the facility empty. When he opens the side door there's a battle going on. He meets soldier and reluctant good guy Michael Pinnochio (D.B. Sweeney of STRANGE LUCK), who stays with him in the 9 episodes of the series.
Also joining them is the mysterious Florence, a soldier who used to be a member of The Sisterhood, a group of mute women who have healing abilities. She still has that ability, which comes in handy. And, there's Hobbe's Jack Russell terrier.
The most interesting episodes are INGE FOSSE, which suggest that this one woman is actually in charge of everything happening in HARSH REALM, not Santiago, as she plays all sides. In REUNION Hobbes comes across the virtual version of his mother, who is dying of cancer. She's dying of cancer in the real world as well-- and she's somehow able to link to where Hobbes is. And in CINCINNATI, Hobbes and Pinnochio are very close to killing Santiago once and for all, though a Native American uprising complicates matters. This episode also shows why Santiago has achieved the position of power he is in. There are also episodes involving Doppelgangers and a trip to New York City, where a nuclear device was exploded years before.
The biggest problem with the series, I think, is that Hobbes simply isn't that interesting of a character. Pinnochio is far more complex than him. Also, the whole idea of Hobbes being this realm's savior and the other religious mumbo-jumbo is sort of out of nowhere and doesn't help anything.
|
Rating: 4.0 out of 10.0 - 1 vote cast total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
