ckaihatsu
30th October 2009, 07:24
'Hardwired' -- Gritty cyberpunk action-adventure or exposé of currently in-use technologies?
'Hardwired' has more political edginess than one might think at first -- while the Internet Movie Database entry (below) lists the evil corporate hegemon's name as "Hexx Corporation", the movie itself shows the name as "Hope Industries" -- a clear allusion to the Obama campaign's gauzy, touchy-feely marketing theme.
Add to it that the main character is a too-much-of-a good guy, who, besides winning service commendations while in the Special Forces, also busted out a weapons smuggling operation in his own unit. His nascent family becomes the target of a thuggish Orwellian corporation's secret invasive technology.
Considering what we *do* know about *current*, *real* invasive technologies, the plotline of the movie almost plays like an exposé -- note "Proven and Available Harassment Technologies", at raven1.net.
Besides easily being taken for a subtle political critique of the *current* administration, the movie's ending shot conveys an explicit political take on contemporary authoritarian government attitudes, like that of the Department of Homeland Security. The shot overlooks the landscape of a city's skyscrapers at night, the darkness punctuated by the tiny rectangles of lit rooms that form the shapes of the tall buildings. Superimposed on the sides of three skyscrapers are full-height 'Wanted' posters, showing photographs, and accompanied by text reading "If you see something, say something", and "You're safe with Hope."
Chris
--
--
___
RevLeft.com -- Home of the Revolutionary Left
www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=16162
Photoillustrations, Political Diagrams by Chris Kaihatsu
community.webshots.com/user/ckaihatsu/
3D Design Communications - Let Your Design Do Your Footwork
ckaihatsu.elance.com
MySpace:
myspace.com/ckaihatsu
CouchSurfing:
tinyurl.com/yoh74u
-- My superficiality is only skin-deep --
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405412/plotsummary
Plot Summary for
Hardwired (2009)
After a tragic accident claims the lives of Luke Gibson's (Gooding Jr.) wife and unborn child, he is left with critical injuries and complete amnesia. A new technological breakthrough from the Hexx Corporation - a Psi-Comp Implant that's hardwired into Luke's brain - saves his life, but Luke soon finds out that this new technology comes with a price and that the Hexx Corporation harbors sinister plans for the new device. With the help of new allies, Luke tries to recover the memories of his past while uncovering the Hexx Corporation's true motives. Written by Anonymous
'Hardwired' has more political edginess than one might think at first -- while the Internet Movie Database entry (below) lists the evil corporate hegemon's name as "Hexx Corporation", the movie itself shows the name as "Hope Industries" -- a clear allusion to the Obama campaign's gauzy, touchy-feely marketing theme.
Add to it that the main character is a too-much-of-a good guy, who, besides winning service commendations while in the Special Forces, also busted out a weapons smuggling operation in his own unit. His nascent family becomes the target of a thuggish Orwellian corporation's secret invasive technology.
Considering what we *do* know about *current*, *real* invasive technologies, the plotline of the movie almost plays like an exposé -- note "Proven and Available Harassment Technologies", at raven1.net.
Besides easily being taken for a subtle political critique of the *current* administration, the movie's ending shot conveys an explicit political take on contemporary authoritarian government attitudes, like that of the Department of Homeland Security. The shot overlooks the landscape of a city's skyscrapers at night, the darkness punctuated by the tiny rectangles of lit rooms that form the shapes of the tall buildings. Superimposed on the sides of three skyscrapers are full-height 'Wanted' posters, showing photographs, and accompanied by text reading "If you see something, say something", and "You're safe with Hope."
Chris
--
--
___
RevLeft.com -- Home of the Revolutionary Left
www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=16162
Photoillustrations, Political Diagrams by Chris Kaihatsu
community.webshots.com/user/ckaihatsu/
3D Design Communications - Let Your Design Do Your Footwork
ckaihatsu.elance.com
MySpace:
myspace.com/ckaihatsu
CouchSurfing:
tinyurl.com/yoh74u
-- My superficiality is only skin-deep --
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405412/plotsummary
Plot Summary for
Hardwired (2009)
After a tragic accident claims the lives of Luke Gibson's (Gooding Jr.) wife and unborn child, he is left with critical injuries and complete amnesia. A new technological breakthrough from the Hexx Corporation - a Psi-Comp Implant that's hardwired into Luke's brain - saves his life, but Luke soon finds out that this new technology comes with a price and that the Hexx Corporation harbors sinister plans for the new device. With the help of new allies, Luke tries to recover the memories of his past while uncovering the Hexx Corporation's true motives. Written by Anonymous