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Strange Days [1996]
![Strange Days [1996]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MG6S3M4KL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £5.99
Our Price: £2.99 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
James Cameron wrote the script for Strange Days, a not-so-futuristic science fiction tale about a former vice cop (Ralph Fiennes) who now sells addictive, virtual reality clips that allow a user to experience the recorded sensations of others. He becomes embroiled in a murder conspiracy, tries to save a former girlfriend (Juliette Lewis), and has a romance with his chauffeur and bodyguard (Angela Bassett). Cameron's ex-wife, director Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break), brought the whole, busy, violent enterprise to the screen, and while the film's socially relevant heart is in the right place, its excesses wear one out. Some of the casting doesn't quite click either: Fiennes isn't really right for his nervous role, and Lewis is annoying (and unbelievable as the hero's much-yearned-for former squeeze). Expect some ugly if daring moments with the virtual reality stuff. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Excellent 90s Sci Fi
Review date: 2008-02-10 Rating: 8 out of 10
The previous reviewer has picked the wrong film to berate with a 1/5 review from his wannabe-elitist perch. This film is based around a very neat premise of selling human memories as an alternative to traditional chemical based drugs. The human misery and exploitation endured by the proletariat to produce these memories for the consumption of the upper classes resonates even more today with the expanding wealth gap and expansion of reality television than it did around the film's theatrical release. Many memorable set pieces, particularly the POV recorded from memory action scenes and some and great characters make this a forgotten 90s classic than should be rediscovered by all. Enjoy, unless of course you have an agenda to hate.
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Reviews
This could cause you brain damage!
Review date: 2007-12-16 Rating: 2 out of 10
A piece of such banality that it makes you want to scream. Hammy acting and a cliched script.If you can sit through it you are more easily entertained than I am. It's inconsequential American drivel!
Ralph Fiennes must have been very embarassed to be part of this. I normally only review interesting work that I have enjoyed but this annoyed me enough to make an exception.I think it may be aimed at young teenagers but they deserve something more substantial.If it is an exploration of the dumbing down of modern american culture it made its point so well that watching the whole film is not necessary.
Extremely underrated and misunderstood
Review date: 2006-02-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Strange Days is a film which has recieved a lot of pretty unfair criticism. One of the main complaints is that this is simply a standard underworld thriller given some futuristic SF gloss. In a way this is kind of true but classic Noirish storytelling is just one of several themes / ideas Bigelow and Cameron explore with this project. Strange Days is an overly ambitious film- but as overly ambitious films go it's probably one of the best there is. Religion, the turn of the millennium, virtual reality, prostitution, police corruption, racism- it's a lot for just over two hours but the fact that this film works is testament to it's makers' talents. Yes, Cameron's gone incredibly rubbish since with the absurd titanic (technically brilliant maybe but without doubt his worst film- including Piranha 2!). As to Bigelow- what problem do other reviewers have with her "Choice of material"? Near Dark, Blue Steel and Point Break are all excellent films (although I admit bad reviews put me off bothering with the Harrison Ford submarine one).
Strange Days also features standout performances from everyone in it. Fiennes is brilliant in one of his legendary transformational performances as the "likeable loser" Lenny (this was the first thing I ever saw him in and still have trouble accepting him for the posh Englishman he really is!) Juliette Lewis is great too- she sings for the first time here (actually two excellent P. J. Harvey covers) and her new band Juliette and the Licks are well worth checking out. Also having done the whole tormented loner/slightly crazy girlfriend thing in the past can tell you Lenny and Faith's story/relationship certainly is real, believable and really quite touching.
Michael Wincott is also very memorable as bad guy Gant. As great as he was in The Crow and Dead Man I think this has to be the best long- haired, mad- eyed villain with a voice sounding like a brick in a cement mixer on his considerable list of such characters.
In summary, Strange Days very nearly is as clever as it thinks it is. Yes, it is a lot of themes/content for one film (but considering you couldn't so much as swear on American TV in 1995 what other medium would have suited the material?) There are a great deal more reasons why Strange Days is a great film- too many to go into here really. Mainly though, it's just cool. It looks and sounds amazing and the soundtrack album's definately worth buying too.
One of my fav movies ever!
Review date: 2005-12-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film is long and windy in its plot. Don't underestimate. While it isn't spectacularly original and does have some reminiscent flair of top flicks like Bladerunner, it really engages you in something exciting -- paranoia.
The opening of the film is all FIRST PERSON for several minutes: no cuts, no nothing just one long stream of first person action as "you" go into this place with a gun (a small one, you inspect it and question its power, infact) steal some money then run from the cops up to the roof of the building dodging gunfire all the way. Then your buddy jumps to the opposite building and when to try to follow, you don't make it and watch your hands scratching at the brick wall as you descend to your death. All in first person... incredible! There are several sequences of first person action like this throughout the film.
The plot seems pretty predictable and tedious for about half of the film, but trust me: wherever you think its going, you're wrong. Prepeare for quite a surprise at the end.
For a few quid, you can't go wrong, can you?
Strange Days was the most underated movie of 1997 (98?)
Review date: 2002-02-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
I have never understood why this film didn't boom. Great story, strong cast and a pulse which kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the only movies I can honestly say, I've watched dozens of time without getting bored.
In the top 15 of all time...
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Juliette Lewis
Tom Sizemore
Ralph Fiennes
Angela Bassett
Michael Wincott
Director(s):
Recording label: 4 Front Video
Manufacturer: 4 Front Video
EAN: 0044007821527
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-03-07
Universal product code (UPC): 044007821527
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 139 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1995-10-13
Language: English (Original Language)