Customer Reviews

Repo! The Genetic Opera

5 star:		(182)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

This movie is amazing! The scenes are very creepy and unsettling, but at the same time very appealing and artistically beautiful. Even if you hated the music or plot, which I didn't this movie alone for the scenery is worth a buy.

Now about the music. At first I was uncertain of how to feel regarding their musical numbers, and by the third song I was hooked. The lyrics in this are comedic at times, other times serious, and actually nearing the end there is a song that I think is pleasant, "I Didn't Think I'd Love You This Much," is the name of the song I believe. The vocals of lead Alexa Vega are great, strong, and defined. Even Paris Hilton surprised me as this is the first time I have heard her vocals, and it reminded me some some old school goth rock cd I'd listen to in high school. Finally, Sarah Brightman. What can I say about Sarah that anyone doesn't already know? Musical Wise, she was nothing short of spectacular.

Acting wise, I'm a big junkie for Bill Mosley and it was fun to see him pull off the comedic cult character he portrayed. Paris, actually did great acting, it surprised me how great Alex Vega did considering I had never seen her attempt anything like this, and I was surprised that Sarah Brightman could be as dark as she was in this movie. The casting meshed well and it was fun to see such big names in a movie that hadn't hit theaters in my area.

Art wise, the scenes were mind-blowing. There are scenes where there is much cgi used, but overall it looks good, and that's saying a lot for me considering I hate cgi. Also, the make up was great with good effects, example, if the box hadn't said Paris was in this I doubt I would have recognized her until the end.

Overall, I rarely say this.... But I wish I could give this a higher rating then a 5 star. I will be buying the soundtrack as soon as I complete this review. Repo! Will be played a second time tonight for my posse... Yes, it was that good.

Three, count 'em, three (!) songs from Repo! The Genetic Opera are being considered for Academy Award nomination. That shows how amazing this film is. Sadly, Lionsgate does not consider this film to be all that amazing, and is not doing anything to support this nomination. Generally, a film company would send letters and sample DVDs to the Academy members, promoting their film. Lionsgate, however, is run by a bunch of idiots and they are not doing this. So, it is up to the fans to promote Repo! Here are the three songs that are up for the nomination:
"Zydrate Anatomy"
"Chase The Morning"
"Chromaggia"


Set against a futuristic backdrop where an epidemic of organ failures is plaguing humanity, people turn to the unscrupulous Geneco Corporation to purchase replacements for their failing vitals. Not everybody makes good on their payments, however, which is where Nathan Wallace (Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) goes into action as one of Geneco's "repo men", brutally reclaiming defaulters organs at scalpel-point.

I loved it! It's basically a very stylized, horror rock opera. I was a little worried about Alexa Vega and Paris Hilton being lead characters in it, but Alexa Vega was marvelous, and Paris Hilton was basically being herself (an heiress to a multibillion-if-not-more-dollar company who's obsessed with fashion and thinks she's capable of singing), so she couldn't really go wrong. Her character didn't sing much either, so you don't really have to hear much of her voice. The songs are incredibly catchy and well written, and the actors had the voices that really brought the songs to life. Imo, the best songs are "Zydrate Anatomy," "Infected," and "Legal Assassin." There wasn't as much gore as expected, but the gore in the movie was great. Lots of someone being cut open and then the Repo Man reaching into his/her abdomen and taking various organs.

I've read/heard a lot of complaints about the film saying "oh the story's too complex and weird!" or "the lyrics were awful and poorly written!" You know what? The movie's called Repo! The Genetic Opera. "Opera" being the key word here. The melodrama and crazy story lines are a staple of classic operas! The story line is just like many classic opera story lines. I read someone's comment that the only opera aspect missing is a mistaken identity, which I find to be totally true. Weird lyrics are also a staple of classic operas. I mean, come on, they sing EVERYTHING in operas. Even "oh no, I've dropped my hat" gets turned into a ridiculously emotional song.

Overall, I loved this movie. The cast was great, the songs were great, and the style of the film was really interesting. I loved the nods to classic opera as well.

Final Verdict: 10/10

A few years ago I went to see Rob Zombie's directorial debut "House of 1000 Corpses" and I remember driving home not knowing what the hell I just watched. I wasn't sure it was actually any *good* but I knew it was different. I had that same feeling tonight after watching "Repo! The Genetic Opera."

It is what it is, operatic but with a distinct goth/rock feel. Very little of the dialogue is spoken, it's mostly sung. The look of the whole thing was a mishmash of "Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Moulin Rouge," "Blade Runner" and the Nine Inch Nails music video for "Hurt." So visually it was arresting to be sure.

I didn't like it at all at first, the first 20 or so minutes was pushing me to just turn it off but it grew on me......somehow.

The film's plot (if you can call it that) is we're in the not-too-distant future where the world has seen an epidemic of organ failures and one company offers something of a cure-all. They specialize in organ donors but the catch is if you fail to make your payments, they send a repoman to reclaim the heart, kidney, whatever from you....forcibly.

Obviously there's a strong horror movie vibe going on here with some macabre imagery (and a dash of sci-fi thrown in) and having everything played out in these grand operatic gestures dressed up in trashy goth outfits.....well......it's different. Certainly not something for everyone but I'm willing to bet "Repo! The Genetic Opera" will find a very loyal cult following.

Seemingly forever destined for cult status, Repo! The Genetic Opera is something you have to see to believe. A Goth-themed rock opera directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, & IV), Repo! tells the tale of a future, Blade Runner-inspired world where massive worldwide organ failures have led to the rise of GeneCo; a biotech company run by Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) that lends out organs to those that need them. Failure to pay in full however results in a visit from the Repo Man (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anthony Stewart Head), who has no qualms about getting his hands dirty (and bloody) as he takes them back. As the story moves on, we learn of Repo Man's sickly beloved daughter Shilo (Alexa Vega) who learns of some deep buried secrets, and Largo's heirs Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton), Luigi (Bill Moseley), and Pavi (Skinny Puppy's Ogre) who are all warring to be left in charge of their sickly father's empire. The film moves along at a pretty brisk pace, even though its story doesn't always manage to catch up to it. The film's music is spectacular, and the cast (even Paris Hilton believe it or not) is wonderful as well, as Bousman quickly shines well above anything he's ever done with the Saw series. Also featuring Sarah Brightman, Repo! stage vet Terrence Zdunich, and a quick cameo from Joan Jett; Repo! The Genetic Opera is made to be a pure cult classic through and through, and though it definitely isn't for all audiences, the film stands as being something special regardless, and is wholeheartedly worth a look at the very least.

I was really looking forward to this when it arrived from Netflix, and maybe that was part of the problem. I had my hopes set too high. I had just seen Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, and was looking for other kooky musicals to fall in love with, so when Repo! appeared in my mailbox, I was psyched. It disappointed from the start, though I did try to give it the benefit of the doubt that it would pick up and be a bit more well written later in the movie. It wasn't. There were a couple of legitimately good songs in the movie, but for the most part I felt like i was watching something that was written as a standard movie, and then it was decided about halfway through production to turn it into a musical. Most of the songs did not feel at all like songs--more like they were just pages of script that someone set to music without any edits. The voices were all wonderful (well, the main character voices anyway). Paris Hilton wasn't anywhere near as annoying as I expected her to be. Anthony Stewart Head almost managed to salvage every one of his songs, though for most of the numbers he just couldn't pull off the impossible. Anyway, I guess it was just a very thorough letdown. The songs were very disappointing, and I felt like more money was spent on fake blood than on writing.

All that being said, the main actors were all wonderful and tried their darnedest to save the movie from its own writing.

Everything the acting to costumes and songs are fantastic!
This film is wonderfully paced and a bunch of the songs like Chase the Morning and At the opera tonight are really catchy! another highlight would be Sarah Brightman's role as Blind Mag! Her Performance is so subtle yet very convincing you can't help but feel for her character!

I'm usually not a big fan of musicals, but I decided to give this a chance. I bought this with Max Payne and Saw V a few hours before Obama's Inaugurated. I thought Repo was really good! I love how it had the goth look and feel of the movie! I also loved the style, visuals, and beautiful scenery it had! Darren Lynn Bousman did an awesome job! In the future, an epidemic of organ failures plagues the city, but GeneCo gives organ transplants, but if the person never pays up, GeneCo sends out the Repo Man. Repo Man happens to be the father to Shiloh, played by the beautiful Alexa Vega. The owner of GeneCo, Rotti Largo is dying and wants to give GeneCo to Shiloh. Rotti's children, Luigi, Pavi, and Amber Sweet want to inherit GeneCo, but Rotti hates them. I loved the rock music! I highly recomend REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA!!!

This movie was so much fun. It reminded me of Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm not even going to go into a description, just rent this movie, fall in love with it, then buy it. You won't regret it.

If you are a fan of Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment or any other musical of the same nature you will love love love Repo! Repo! is a fast paced beautifully directed rock/horror/goth/electronic masterpiece. Great performances by the whole cast and brilliant and stunning visuals... No, this is no academy award winner, This is a violent opera with twisted themes... Blood? yes thre is tons of blood and gore this movie should not be missed!

This movie is AMAZING! Its funny, its well acted, and beautifully filmed. The music is FANTASTIC! Every song makes you want to get up and sing along.
The only thing thats unenjoyable about this movie is that it ends.
I wish there had been more advertising for this film because its a must see for all. Whether you love it or hate it you wont be able to stop talking about it!
The actors and Actresses do a more than amazing job in this film, pulling you into the world of rock and organ re-possesion. You'll want to watch this film again and again.
If you're anything like me, i suggest you buy two copies, because you never know when you'll need a backup!