A cross between Stepford Wives and Blade Runner, Surrogates is that special sci-fi treat that one expects from good story-telling and not cgi. It brings to mind some of the best episodes of TheTwilght Zone and The Outer Limits, where the stories made you forget, nay, overlook the cheap special effects.

In a future where people stay at home while their robotic counterparts go out and live their lives, a murder of a surrogate robot also kills its host, something that is not supposed to happen. Bruce Willis plays a cop whose surrogate is destroyed during the murder investigation; thus, Willis must continue his investigation in human form. Here is where the story takes off, as Wtillis' shabby overweight character is surrounded by perfect people, think botox androids (one great line I can't help sharing: as Willis interviews a beautiful attorney/surrogate, he tells her, "For all I know, I'm speaking to a bald fat man naked in front of his computer with his dick hanging." The attorney shuts up as if Willis has hit a nerve.)

Go see this movie for the story, not for the special effects which are used sparingly and effectively. This story is in the hands of some great acting. I will be adding this to my bloated dvd collection.

AC

I thought this movie was so cool! That and Gamer. I loved them both.

Though I have not yet seen SURROGATES, the premise to the movie appears to have been blatently lifted from the classic 1966 short sci fi story "The Body Builders" written by the late Keith Laumer (1925-1993).

I don't suppose any of you guys watched the opening or closing credits to the movie to see if Laumer was given any love? Like, maybe, a "based on" credit?

Just curious.

A cross between Stepford Wives and Blade Runner, Surrogates is that special sci-fi treat that one expects from good story-telling and not cgi. It brings to mind some of the best episodes of TheTwilght Zone and The Outer Limits, where the stories made you forget, nay, overlook the cheap special effects.

In a future where people stay at home while their robotic counterparts go out and live their lives, a murder of a surrogate robot also kills its host, something that is not supposed to happen. Bruce Willis plays a cop whose surrogate is destroyed during the murder investigation; thus, Willis must continue his investigation in human form. Here is where the story takes off, as Wtillis' shabby overweight character is surrounded by perfect people, think botox androids (one great line I can't help sharing: as Willis interviews a beautiful attorney/surrogate, he tells her, "For all I know, I'm speaking to a bald fat man naked in front of his computer with his dick hanging." The attorney shuts up as if Willis has hit a nerve.)

Go see this movie for the story, not for the special effects which are used sparingly and effectively. This story is in the hands of some great acting. I will be adding this to my bloated dvd collection.

AC

Today I saw it and I enjoyed it.

"Stepford Wives" and "Blade Runner" is good example. Also this reminded me of "I, Robot" and "Avatar".

***Spoilers***

[SPOILER]I laughed at that last scene. Where is the human?! Everybody were surrogates? Nah![/SPOILER]

Though I have not yet seen SURROGATES, the premise to the movie appears to have been blatently lifted from the classic 1966 short sci fi story "The Body Builders" written by the late Keith Laumer (1925-1993).

I don't suppose any of you guys watched the opening or closing credits to the movie to see if Laumer was given any love? Like, maybe, a "based on" credit?

Just curious.

Hey, Mike. Just ordered Sha'daa: T.O.T.A., looking forward to its arrival and to digging into it.

Laumer's Wikipedia page has a link from one of his "works" that includes Body Builders to the Wiki for the Surrogates graphic novel entry, but beyond numerous references from internet comments (that are similar to yours) I cannot find any acknowledgement by any official source that Venditti and Weldele based their graphic novel on that story.

So "lifted" seems spot on.

-Wapitikev

Howdy. I hope you enjoy the book. We just finished locking down the sister novel "Sha'Daa: Last Call," signed the contract with the publisher, and the cover art is now being worked on (by Johnney Perkins, who did the cover for the first book). It will be published later this year.

Yah. All the classic sci fi authors are getting ripped off by Hollywood these days (whether they are alive or dead).

There is no way you're going to convince me that the team who developed 1996's DRAGONHEART did not contain at least one person who had read Roger Zelazny's short story "The George Business."

Mike

Hey, Mike. Just ordered Sha'daa: T.O.T.A., looking forward to its arrival and to digging into it.

Laumer's Wikipedia page has a link from one of his "works" that includes Body Builders to the Wiki for the Surrogates graphic novel entry, but beyond numerous references from internet comments (that are similar to yours) I cannot find any acknowledgement by any official source that Venditti and Weldele based their graphic novel on that story.

So "lifted" seems spot on.

-Wapitikev

Howdy. I hope you enjoy the book. We just finished locking down the sister novel "Sha'Daa: Last Call," signed the contract with the publisher, and the cover art is now being worked on (by Johnney Perkins, who did the cover for the first book). It will be published later this year.

Yah. All the classic sci fi authors are getting ripped off by Hollywood these days (whether they are alive or dead).

There is no way you're going to convince me that the team who developed 1996's DRAGONHEART did not contain at least one person who had read Roger Zelazny's short story "The George Business."

Mike

Alas; there is nothing new under the sun...in Hollywood.

-Wapitikev