When I saw this I thought it was going to be a cheesy, low budget, poor acting movie. After all it had Adrian Paul in it so what else could it be. Well it is what I thought. BUT somewhere along the line it developed some interesting subplots and some greater social conscience. The movie wasn't able to maximize its potential but it still makes you think. So let's break movie down: ACTING. It's what you expect. Little or unknown actors with limited ability. But the acting is no worse than 90% of what we see on television.
CONTINUITY. The movie flows OK but there's so many unexplained bits and pieces that should have been linked or explained. The singer from the band and the girlfriend are killed in the car making the President's uncle the new lead singer. No connection to the movie's plot. Why sneak explosives into the building when you've already loaded tanks of explosive material in the basement with timers on them. Why have a running gun fight when the purpose is to explode the building? Just do it. How did the plot with guitar man mesh with the explosives in the basement? It's like two plots to kill the President. And why would the guitar man want to kill the President as the Vice-President would take over and it's clear the latter is more the hawk of the two? Plot line. The plot line is confusing at times. We never figure out who is controlling the eyeborgs (likely the VP) or if they are acting independently (AI). Sometimes it seems like it has to be the latter but the basic plot line only seems to benefit the VP.
GRAPHICS. Overall not too bad. The eyeborgs were fairly well done. The larger units looked a little too computer generated at times but other units, such as the soldier units, looked good.
So why give it a 6 instead of a 2 or 3? I found the movie unsettling as it is just a slightly more extreme example of what exists today. Our survelliance cameras might not be linked but they are everywhere. I read somewhere that in large cities, if you are walking on a city street, that you will likely be captured on tape by at least 14 cameras on average. Even if that stat is wrong and it's only 2-3, that's still a lot of times to have someone record you. In the movie people could never get away from the cameras. Even low end criminals selling guns, dope or plotting to kill the President couldn't keep them out of their houses.
Also found it unsettling how they relied on robots for all evidence such as film footage, blood samples and other crime scene investigations. Sort of a Magnus Robot Fighter environment. No one thinks for themselves.
Finally it has the feeling and the closing that would work well as a pilot for a TV show.
It's worth a rental or purchase in the low cost movie bin.
Eyeborgs
2009
Action / Crime / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Eyeborgs
2009
Action / Crime / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
Are government surveillance cameras intended to keep us safe actually killing people? Is it a plot by the government to suppress the opposition, or have our terrorist enemies secretly gained control of our security system and are now using it against us? Following another major terrorist attack the US instigates an intense government surveillance program in which every camera in the country is linked into a single, all-seeing network called the ODIN system (for Optical Defense Intelligence Network). The system includes millions of mobile, robotic surveillance cameras known as "Eyeborgs," which watch everyone for suspicious behavior, all in the name of security, law enforcement and keeping America safe. An agent for the Department of Homeland Security grows suspicious of the system after a series of odd murders in which the physical evidence doesn't match up to what the video records show. Now he must work outside the system to find out who is really controlling the Eyeborgs. With the help of a broadcast journalist and a purple haired Punk Rocker who turns out to be the President's nephew, he must stop a plot to assassinate the President during the final debate of the election.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Better than I thought
Enjoyable sci-fi action thriller
In the near future, fear of terrorism has escalated to the point where privacy has become a thing of the past. Everyone is under constant surveillance from mobile robotic cameras known as "Eyeborgs." Federal agent Robert J. 'Gunner' Reynolds (an excellent performance by Adrian Paul) uncovers a sinister conspiracy plot concerning the Eyeborgs while investigating a series of bizarre deaths. Director Richard Clabaugh, who also co-wrote the clever script with Fran Clabaugh, relates the enthralling and entertaining story at a brisk pace, does a sound job of crafting a nicely paranoid atmosphere, and stages the exciting action set pieces with real aplomb. Moreover, the provocative central theme about the inherent danger of mankind's over-reliance on technology and how if said technology gets out of hand it could wind up controlling us instead of the other way gives this film extra substance. The solid acting by the capable cast rates as another major asset, with especially praiseworthy work by Megan Blake as pesky reporter Barbara Hawkins, Luke Eberl as brash punk Jarrett Hewes, John S. Rushton as Reynolds' skeptical partner Agent Bradley, and Juan-Carlos Guzman as easygoing cameraman Erik. Danny Trejo has a small, but cool role as irascible guitar maker G-Man. The CGI robots look pretty funky (and they make these mean'n'snarly growling noises!). Kenneth Wilson II's glossy widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. A neat little B-flick.
You're Being Watched
In the near future, terrorist attacks on American soil have resulted in the United States taking significant steps to increase homeland security. Mainly, a couple of things have happened. First, all the surveillance cameras you see hanging around - everywhere from banks to the local convenience store - have been connected into one network - the Optical Defense Intelligence Network (ODIN). Second, a mobile robotic system of cameras have been introduced, called "Eyeborgs". Naturally these devices are there to protect our freedom, not take it away. However, it appears something has gone terribly wrong...
In the opening, young purple-haired punk rocker Lucas "Luke" Eberl (as Jarett Hewes) performs with his "Painful Daze" band. There is an attempt to assassinate Mr. Eberl, but he survives when handsome ODIN agent Adrian Paul (as Robert "Gunner" Reynolds) and his Eyeborgs make the scene. Pushy blonde TV reporter Megan Blake (as Barbara Hawkins) smells a story...
Curiously, Eberl is the nephew of the President of the United States. Even more curious, Mr. Paul's subsequent investigation of the killer reveals something disturbing about our protective Eyeborgs. Director Richard Clabaugh and his crew keep the action and intrigue levels high. Visual effects supervisor Christopher Howell Watson and his team received award notices for their animated creatures, which are designed and inserted well. Performances are fine, with Eberl taking the best role to the top. "Eyeborgs" would rank a couple notches higher if not for the shaky cameras. Some of the wobbling looks natural, but there are many times when the camera is shaking uncontrollably. It's not too bad during the erotic car wash, though...
****** Eyeborgs (4/29/09) Richard Clabaugh ~ Adrian Paul, Luke Eberl, Megan Blake, Danny Trejo