I realize now my mistake, as I update this log of ideas accessible by the entire world, I find myself misunderstanding the terms I use. Dystopia, as defined by Webster's, is an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly. This doesn't negate my previous uses of the word, just broadens my idea of what can be fairly called a dystopia.
I had this bizarre idea that a dystopia had to sound good on paper, but ultimately be revealed to be horrible, but based on this description the place doesn't even have to sound good on paper, it just has to suck all around. So yeah, I don't think that will adjust my list much, but it does bring a bit more light to the idea for me, so thanks internet!
TITLE: REPO: The Genetic Opera
DETAILS:
DIRECTOR: Darren Bousman
LEAD ACTRESS: Alexa PenaVega
ANTAGONIST LEAD: Paul Sorvino
SUMMARY:
A worldwide epidemic encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program similar in nature to a standard car loan. The repossession clause is a killer, however.
PERSONAL CRITIQUE:
This one I can see a lot of people not enjoying (so, just like most other movies really) but I personally really enjoyed "Repo!" It's an opera (as designated by its title) centering around a seventeen year old Shilo, as she will insist on pointing out any a rather off-setting number, who simply wants to be free of her father's obsessing. She's sick, dying of a blood disease she inherited from her mother, and is forbidden to ever step outside their home.
Meanwhile her father Nathan, played by Anthony Head, is contracted to serve GeneCo, the mega-corporation that may as well own the world, as a Repo-Man (the Repo-Man?) who must retrieve organs from the poor saps who can't afford their payments. That's right, organs on payment plans, that can be repossessed if you fail to pay. These two's fantastic performances are all wrapped up in a world dominated by darkness and envy, as every one on earth with a dime to their name seeks to get "better" organs and features.
The setting itself is fantastically done, early on we're introduced to our narrator who acts as drug dealer and harvester. He trades in an illegal form of a drug called Zydrate, which he harvests from the brains of the deceased (not the recently deceased either, cat goes through mass graves full of rotting bodies). Additionally, we're treated to the ignorance of those in the setting as they praise GeneCo for allowing them to obtain these perfect bodies, all good things must come to an end of course, but hey, perfect bodies are fun while they last.
SPOILERS!!!
Okay, so I can't say a lot of negative things about the film aside from Shilo's over the top musical number about her age, but there is one thing that kind of bothers me. We follow a plot where we learn that Rotti's three children are all incapable of running GeneCo, but Rotti is on his last leg, due to cancer of some sort. I don't quite remember what kind of cancer, but it seems to me that if you can just tear out and replace any organ, why not just replace the cancer infested one? I mean we have treatments that are generally successful at treating cancer, surely in a world like Repo!'s we can cure the stuff. But, whatever, they needed a feasible plot, and cancer is probably the best way for Rotti to die naturally.
Agree or disagree? Is this actually a utopia in disguise, a perfect society hidden behind one really crummy law and a dark setting? Maybe.
RATING:
Nine out of Ten singing grave robbers would give this movie Four shots of Zydrate, out of Five.
Get your musical fix with REPO! The Genetic Opera.
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