Strange Days | | Cast : | Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis | | Director : | Kathryn Bigelow | | Studio : | Twentieth Century Fox | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, THX, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 13, 1995 | | DVD Released Date : | February 03, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 27, 2005 | | Summary | Strange Days indeed... | Content
 | I've been a fan of this film for years, way before I even knew what is was called (came across it many a late nights).
"Strange Days" is an awesome movie, a thiller set in the not so distant future. (Well at the time it was filmed, now it's 5 years in the past.). What I love is that it's character driven, Angela Basset is amazing. She's a strong character, yet fragile at the same time.
The soundtrack for this film is a keeper. It's totally in pace with the movie, and keeps things going.
These characters have so much thrown at them because of a single event. It's kind of hard to ge lost in this film, but that's what makes is so good. You can feel what the characters are going through.
Trust me, this is one hell of a movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 11, 2005 | | Summary | First Rate Thriller w/ a touch of Sci-Fi | Content
| There are aspects of this movie that are sure to offend some people and it's obvious from the 1 star reviews that certain individuals were offended by those aspects of the film, which clearly clouded their judgment and precluded them from presenting an objective and accurate review.
The basic storyline is as follows: There exists a technology that was created by the government, which found it's way on the streets and has since been outlawed. Due to the emotional need for this new tech, it is created and sold on the underground (much like the situation with LSD in the 60's).
The technology is a device that allows the user to experience sequences that were recorded so that it is like they are really there in the scene. This is not virtual reality where you are the one moving around, you experience what was recorded exactly as it happened. The device works through sending the signal or whatever into the nuerotransmitters of the brain so all the senses are affected.
Most of the sequences are thrilling and allow people who live ordinary lives to experience certain behavior that they otherwise would never know, or people in relationships to experience sexual fantasies wherein they feel as if it is actually happening when it is not, hence they are not actually cheating. Then there are the more immoral sequences, the misuses, etc., that are the cause for the conflict in the film.
Feines is a dealer who is obsessed with his ex whom he has several sequences of which allows him to relive his past when they were together. He happens upon a sequence which is quite illegal, actually two of them, and he, along with a potential love interest (Angela Bassett), tries to find out who was responsible. What he finds out is a shocking cover-up that puts his life in danger.
Ignore the negative reviews, this movie is thrilling with a fascinating look at a riveting form of entertainment technology. It is not a straight-up sci fi flick, it is more than that. I would label it as a thriller with some sci fi aspects to it, not the reverse. The acting is well done and since it only takes place about 5 years in the future (from the time it was made), the setting does not look radically different than the present. To say it should is stupid. It is 12/31/1999, not 2050.
The best part of the film are the 'sequences', which are, of course, shot in the 1st person, and allows you to imagine what the person is feeling as he is hooked up to the device. As I mentioned, there are some disturbing scenes, including a crime involving a woman, that some people were upset over, but to ask how a woman could direct a movie that has a scene involving a crime against a female is insulting to any woman in the industry. What do you think, women should only be allowed to direct movies like Bridget Jones Diary? That is the more misogynistic view, in my opinion.
Regardless, Strange Days is a fascinating thriller w/ a great plot and riveting action, not to mention a brilliant opening scene, that will leave you fully satisfied. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 03, 2005 | | Summary | Marvelous | Content
| This is a masterpiece. Great characters, great plot, a lot of action and imput for a deep reflection about our future and our nature. And a marvelous love story. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 24, 2004 | | Summary | Much more than you might expect | Content
| Obviously, this is a movie people either love or hate. Put me in the "love" category. I'm no James Cameron fan, and I found the first hour or so of "Titanic" so pretensious that I almost couldn't get through it. So I was shocked to find how much I loved "Strange Days." This is a gutsy film that takes a lot of chances in terms of plot, performance and presentation -- American critics claim that's what they want in American movies and, yet, when such a film comes around, they berate it for such.
At its most basic level, "Strange Days" is a thriller -- futuristic film noir, with all of the traditional characters. But don't let the title or the plot summaries fool you -- this is a film that is less about new technology, science fiction and the future, and much more about the volatility of race and police relations in the USA, laced with strong athemes of unrequited love, trust, and the darker side of massive urban cities in the USA -- all presented in a frighteningly authentic manner. This is a character-driven movie, not an effects-driven one.
This is also an ensemble piece, where even characters with just a few lines are essential to the mood and presentation, as well as giving the main actors juicy moments to play off of. Director Kathryn Bigelow maintains a frantic, claustrophobic pace in this film, never going for the obvious -- every scene has a point, big or small, which you know in the moment or that you will learn about later. The soundtrack enhances the visuals in a way rarely experienced in a modern film.
If nothing else, you will love Angela Bassett. She's amazing not for the kung fu moves -- her character is the voice of reason, and her performance is stunningly genuine (and heart-breaking at times).
This movie is as flawed, and as classic, as Bladerunner. Time will tell if it gets as much respect. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 19, 2004 | | Summary | 2 out of 10 | Content
| Strange Days is an insane film. The story is too stupid to be comprehended. I wasn't aware that L.A. was that bad by the time of the 2000 celebration. If it's true, should those characters be better off getting out of the city rather than staying in? I had my expectations a little high for this film due to Ralph Fiennes. As much respect I have for Ralph Fiennes, I think he played his role decently, but it is not enough to carry the weight of the film. Strange Days is too long. An hour cut from the film will be sufficient, but it won't prevent Strange Days being delivered as a terribly bad film. The best aspect of this film is when Juliette Lewis gets naked. Sounds silly, doesn't it? Although I was amazed with the direction, by Kathryn Bigelow, in the film Point Break, Strange Days is a let-down for me. |
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