Review of Vice (2015) by Maria D — 27 Jan 2015

It doesn't bode well when a movie's fundamental theme is lackluster to begin with, Vice uses a tired artificial intelligent gimmick and slowly breaks down even more with a mountain of plot holes as it progress. If the third-rate sci-fi doesn't deter audience, the abysmal graphic will surely will. Amateurish at best, the camera work dissolves everything into dim light, bright glare and out of focus view. Acting and script are insipid, there are Youtube videos that have better production quality than this.

Vice opts for the story of robot becomes self-aware, it's as basic as it can be. The concept itself isn't bad, but this movie certainly cannot deliver the weighty significance of its theme. Even Robocop or Automata possesses more depth, that's saying a lot. Furthermore, the movie doesn't exemplify futuristic world at all, it's almost exclusively shot in alleyway or abandoned warehouse. The scale feels too constricted for a movie that should be set in an entire city.

Cinematography is unquestionably awful. There's little thought on angle or lighting. Everywhere seems too dark and any light source beams with too much intensity, as if they are equipped with extremely powerful lens flare. Any action is shot with tilted cam, they literally spin the camera around in hope for any dramatic effect. Slow motion is used frequently to establish any sense of tension, but they are so laughably bad, it wouldn't even work for 90's action flick.

Music also takes part of the downfall. It barrages the audience with overly intense tune till the point of desperation. Imagine cheap knock off from Inception honk, and crank the volume like it's used in a techno rave party as you overdose. Acting is pure B-movie rate, Thomas Jane as main protagonist is a template used by Stallone impersonator. I don't even know what Bruce Willis is doing here, one have to question how they manage to drag him into this. If it's a blackmail, the film about said blackmail would be better.

The movie offers many good looking female, including the Ambyr C. Childers as the lead female. They are involved in a bit of innuendo or full blow voluptuous act, and that cheap fanservice is the actual best part of this movie. If that's the case, might as well remake Pamela Anderson's Barb Wire, which would make a superior movie.

Vice is a waste of time for both the creator and the viewer. Don't make mistake of paying for it, like I unfortunately did.