Customer Reviews

The Gene Generation

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There has been a lot of comic book to film adaptations for the past several years. Being a film based on a comic book called "DNA Hacker Chronicles" and a joint international effort between Asian and Western filmmakers, of course I was immediately drawn to "The Gene Generation". Why not? My expectations were very low and it stars sexy Chinese actress Bai Ling and the director is the comic book's creator; Pearry Teo--so how bad can it really get? I like Bai Ling and I like science fiction, so I decided to give it a shot.

In a post-apocalyptic future, science has created a device that can easily manipulate human D.N.A.--this device can either heal or cause abominations. When a group of profiteers/extremists intends to use the device as a weapon, Christian (Alec Newman) decides to steal the device to keep it from being used by the wrong people. Meanwhile, Michelle (Bai Ling), a beautiful assassin who works for the authorities to kill DNA hackers is pulled into her family's drama when her brother Jackie (Parry Shen) runs afoul of gambling debts and some hackers whose modus operandi is to mess with a victim's DNA. No matter how hard Michelle attempts to steer her brother from trouble, it just finds him and he always relies on her to bail him out. However, this time, Jackie may have gone too far as he crosses Michelle's own employers. Can Michelle save him and herself one last time?

I have very mixed feelings about this film. It has very attractive visuals, the CGI EFX looks like they came straight from an Xbox 360 and CGI fan boys will be somewhat satisfied. The film looks very cool, the CGI generated set designs are very moody and atmospheric. The costumes and characters looked like they came straight from a "cyberfunk" anime feature. There is one villain who looks like a "Sephiroth" (from Final Fantasy 7) rip-off and Michelle is so alluringly sexy but at the same time, looks very lethal. The story's main premise isn't really that bad, it has elements of corruption, social class, greed, love and family. There are also some creative elements--a typewriter is retooled to work as a computer, the ghettos have a filthy yet advanced look. (I loved the flying Chinese-inspired ships) and well, there is even splattering blood and some gore, not to mention, sex and nudity.

Ok, so I basically named most of the cool stuff I look for in a sci-fi film, but the problems of the film begin with its very uneven direction. Some plot elements seemed a little too rushed, it felt like Pearry Teo was in over his head trying to fit all the elements of the comic into one 96 minute film. Sequences seem to jump around at times, and lacks the necessary groundwork. All the elements seem really cool but the screenplay by Zhang Pingli and Keith Collea was inconsistent. The script is also a little dry and too obligatory.

As for the action sequences, some looked quite cool, while others were mediocre. There is a very cool scene when Michelle was surrounded by gunmen, and the way she dispatches her attackers was seemingly inspired by "Gun-Kata". (From Equilibrium and Ultraviolet). It was rather obvious that most of the film's budget went to the visually cool set designs and costumes that the fight scenes were sacrificed; some fights looked better than others though. The need for multiple angles and perspective camerawork is definitely needed to make the action hard-hitting and exciting--a low budget did hurt this needed practice. But to Bai Ling's credit, it did look like she did most of her own stunts. There is a lot of cool posturing that complements its cool visuals.

The acting for the most part is full of human angst. I don't think I saw anyone else smile aside from Bai Ling after she had sex with Alec Newman's character Christian. Bai Ling has a magnetic presence, at times she looks trashy yet but still remains so alluringly seductive that her nude scenes are definitely one of the film's saving grace. Her costumes and make up give her character a lot of personality, and I have to say, her lethal sexy character is enough to keep me glued to my seat. The supporting cast does a very mediocre job, given with the little factors they were given to work with. Parry Shen acts with the same style as with his other flicks and Faye Dunaway has a special guest appearance as the villainous Josephine.

Overall, "the Gene Generation" has all the elements sci-fi aficionados would look for; great visuals, a very sexy and cool heroine, sex and nudity, blood and violence, a decent premise but sadly it didn't do much with everything it had pitched in. The film is very superficial, and could have done a lot better with a more experienced director or as an anime series. I do appreciate that the filmmakers seemed to have their hearts in the right place. Sadly, after all is said and done, the lasting impression it leaves is just how seductively sexy Bai Ling really is--the rest is forgettable. Bai Ling's raw sexual appeal may well be enough to take this film out of the unwatchable list.

Recommended ONLY to Bai Ling fanboys and a Rental for everybody else.
[3 Stars]

I have to admit that I agree with most reviews on this film; it's nothing to write home about,yet on the other hand it's not really that bad either and I can honestly say that I have seen much, much worse. Its problem lies where all films problems lie and that's with the script. It's absolutely inane, absurd and makes virtually no sense at all even within the world it attempts to create. The actors seem to be working hard with what they are given but there's only so much they can accomplish with this tripe. Bai Ling does her best--meaning she fills out her sexy costume and strips down for a couple of nude scenes, and Parry Shen (best known for his brilliant performance in BETTER LUCK TOMORROW) gives his all trying to make his role of the troublesome younger brother interesting. In the end however, everyone is defeated by Singaporean director Pearry Teo's adaptation of his own comic book. You'd think that with this much control over the end product Teo would have been able to produce more than this confused and confusing flick that serves only to make the viewer wish they were watching BLADERUNNER.

GENE GENERATION is an average film that valiantly strains to be more than average, but sadly it fails.

I was trapped by this movie in the first half hour or so. It was mesmerizing, the story was developing slowly, but I was just hooked. The characters were great, unfolding a story of a troubled relationship between a woman and her little brother who just couldn't get out of bad habits and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The whole DNA hacking main plot wasn't opened up yet, entirely, but I was waiting with anticipation.

And it fell. Right on its face. I didn't feel like anything opened up, and the ending just didn't set off the spark that the beginning had promised. My hopes were dashed, while my excitement had already wandered off some thirty or forty minutes prior anyway.

On top of that, the whole premise of the film, this crazy DNA Hacking concept, wasn't explored to anywhere near the potential such an idea could have been. It was glazed over quickly, pushed to the side to highlight our protaganist's Michelle's dilemmas. And yeah, she's a good character acted out wonderfully by Bai Ling, but I didn't decide to watch this film because of either of those things -- my curiosity was piqued by this whole DNA HACKER / DNA ASSASSIN deal. I feel a little cheated.

The imagery and style was done well, but by the end I wasn't wowed. It was like Bladerunner meets all the 90s cyberpunk films it inspired plus a digital media arts students profile work slammed together. Maybe I'm being a little harsh because of my disappointment in the film fizzling out, but unfortunately I don't feel inspired to re-watch it again anytime soon to decide which it is.

That being said, I would watch it again for the characters and the acting, just not anytime soon. Definitely worth the rental, more than well worth adding to your collection if you're like me and enjoy piling up DVDs of varying quality for the fun of it.

In its striking images, in its detailed and compelling depiction of a futuristic city, this sci-fi entry is -- visually, at least -- the equal of "Blade Runner." And although it lacks that picture's outstanding cast, you won't be able to take your eyes off Bai Ling as a dominatrix-clad hired assassin.

The plot has something to do with a DNA encoding device, but never mind -- it's the many haunting images that will stay with you.

P.S.: Feast your eyes on Faye Dunaway, still looking good, at the start of the picture -- after that she's always covered with writhing worms (don't ask).

I think this is vastly underrated by many. Considering the budget they managed to create a visual and visceral masterpiece. It immediately made me recall the first time I saw Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray] in a theater in 1982. It was a movie ahead of its time and has become far more appreciated with age. When it was released many people didn't understand it or fully appreciate the visuals. Check old reviews and you will see it wasn't recieved that well by audiences and critics alike. Over time with more movies using this style it has become an icon. I think "The Gene Generation" will be as well in time, or at least I hope so. Whether or not it does I think there is true art of the cinema here. Masterful directing, excellent acting, gorgeous special effects, original storyline, and beautiful music make it well worth seeing. I intend to add it to my library. If I have anything to critique I probably would have changed the title slightly to make it sound less like a certain soft drink commercial. If you enjoyed this movie, be sure to see Chronicles of Riddick [Blu-ray].

CA Luster

If your a sci-fi fan, you'll like this one. It's fun. I feel people are being way too hard on this film. It's no masterpeice, but I liked it. Bai Ling is fantastic and super sexy. It's action packed. I liked it alot.

You know you're in trouble when you hear such scientific exposition as "genetic manipulation". With such broad stroke terms, anything is possible. For instance, a device that makes DNA Hacking so easy that even your mom could use it. Or worse, it could end up in the wrong hands -- your dad. And they might create the worst of all possible abominations -- a brother with a gambling habit. And then they'll die and leave you to look after your brother.

Michelle is a DNA Hacking assassin whose name is not nearly as interesting as her war paint and outfit. Her day job is ridding a post-apocalyptic world of DNA Hackers. Her night job is keeping her idiot brother out of trouble. With their parents dead, Michelle has her work cut out for her.

Gene Generation would have made for a great Sci-Fi channel release. For TV, it's production values would have been considered top-notch. As a feature film, however, it feels like a B-movie that got a pay raise. The cinematography and art direction are the highlight of this movie. That, and Bai Ling, who I must admit made it easy for me to keep my eyes on the screen. There are a few director's tricks that jump out. For instance, watch the freeze-frame scene of Bai Ling kicking a guy into a window. Everything comes to a halt except the window which slowly cracks and shatters. Sweet.

But all in all, the acting is cariciaturish, and the story not terribly interesting. But thanks to Bai Ling it's an easy watch, so who am I to complain?

Gene Generation is another Lion's Gate Special direct-to-video opus. Its a CGI filled Sci-Fi actioner based on a comic called "Gene Hackers" or something.

In the future, scientists have created a way for people to wear their intestines on the outside. One really bad scientist (played by Faye Dunaway - no kidding) gets really caught up in her work and must find another scientist and his special gene morphing glove (sure, why not?) for a cure. Bai Ling stars as an assasin who lost a bet (I am guessing about that) and must wear Joker makeup and crazy outfits in public while murdering and committing other acts of mayhem.

Is this movie worth watching? Well, not really. The music is nice and you do get to see Bai Ling's booty, there are some decent action sequences but the rest of the film is kind of a mess. The CGI is cheesy too. 2 stars for the booty, 1 star for the movie.

A stark cyber-punk movie that blows multi-million dollar boring period pieces away with it's incredible harsh cold beauty.

Anyone who has played Fallout 3 will understand how the harsh, cold and ugly can be amazingly beautiful. This movie was shot LONG before FO 3 ever released a screenshot. FYI - it looks NOTHING like FO 3 - just has the same abilty to find beauty where most would never even look.

A deep finely crafted plot with actors working far above their capacity. Bai Ling becomes a top-notch actor in the role of Michelle. She is a duel-edged sword. A cold-blooded Assasin but also the protagonist you can't help but identify with.

Special FX and CGI make the movie look like it cost about 100 times more than it did. Truly spectacular and were it a bigger movie it should at least been nominated for cinematography and would have easily won Special FX.

Sound track - well it's to die for. I was dancing in the aisle at the end of the movie when the credits rolled to CombiChrist's 'Red'

All of the mastery of this movie can be credited to the young director who had already picked up many Independent film critic awards before the ripe old age of 25.

For those who love cutting edge SciFi, Cyber-Punk or just damn good movies this is a MUST HAVE!

Bai Ling + lots of T&A = 5 star film.

oh yeah, and some science stuff happens too whatever that was about.