Awake [2006]

See Larger Image	List Price: £17.99 Our Price: £13.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Icon Home Entertainment Starring: Hayden Christensen, Lena Olin, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard Directed By: Joby Harold Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 5051429101446 Format: PAL Label: Icon Home Entertainment Manufacturer: Icon Home Entertainment Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Icon Home Entertainment Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2008-08-25 Running Time: 82 Studio: Icon Home Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: 2006
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Editorial Reviews: Now here’s an intriguing premise for a horror-thriller. What if you were entirely aware of what was happening mid-operation, when you were supposed to be under anaesthetic? That’s just what happens to Hayden Christensen in Awake, a tidy, intriguing little film that makes a few interesting choices as its storyline evolves. Christensen plays Clay Beresford, born into a rich family and dating a woman that he hides from his mother. He also is in need of heart surgery, and as he heads in for his operation, he gradually seems to be tying his life together. But there’s more to Awake than that, and writer-director Joby Harold’s screenplay throws in a couple of fairly obvious rug-pulls, although it’s still decent fun spotting them nonetheless. What’s surprising about Awake is that it’s less interested in its central concept than perhaps it should be. It also hinges a too-challenging role on the shoulders of Jessica Alba, although supporting players such as Terence Howard, Lena Olin and Fisher Stevens do carry some of the weight. With a concise and to-the-point sub-90 minute running time, Awake knows not to outstay its welcome, and generally delivers an entertaining, if ultimately shallow night in front of the box. There was, however, potential here for a more interesting movie than the one we got. --Jon Foster
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: pretentious boring complicated drivel Comment: I cant believe I wasted time on this film. I actually thought it would be good! The idea of not being properly sedated in an operation is terrifying beyond belief. However this film was simply a mess of a plot that was trying too hard to be arty and scary when in fact the whole thing was just ridiculous!At one stage I thought I was going mad but then I realised its just the idiotic plot!If you end up watching this you will seriously wish you hadn't, so why not just give it a miss! Customer Rating: Summary: Beautifully shot, but badly executed hospital-set thriller Comment: By now, everyone probably knows what the set-up is, but for those who don't: 1) A wealthy man is undergoing a heart transplant... 2) When his operation begins, he realizes that he hasn't been anesthetized correctly... 3) He then hears doctors considering whether to just let him die... 4) Amazingly complicated plot-line ensues... Even though there could have been better ways in which Awake's premise could have been accomplished, director Joby Harold makes the film so visually sumptuous that it doesn't really matter. Hayden Christensen is quite good in a classic man-in-peril role, and equally good is Jessica Alba playing Hayden's two-faced girlfriend. Admittedly, there were moments in this film which made me take a step back and consider whether or not I'd accidentally picked up a feature-length version of Casualty, but a good story, a fast pace, a tiny running time and lots of cringe-worthy scenes make Awake a considerable amount less grueling than some reviewers would have you believe. Give it a go! Customer Rating: Summary: ...sleepwalking... Comment: If memory serves, this was a blink and you'll miss it theatrical release which continued the downward spiral of former Sith Lord, Hayden Christiansen and the ongoing how has Jessica Alba got a career debate. But actually, it's not all bad. The tagline was ""Every year 21 million people go under anaesthesia. One in 700 remain awake the entire time. When they planned her husband's murder, they never thought he'd be the one." Which sums it up pretty well. The basic riff is that Clay (Christiansen) is a young tycoon with a dodgy ticker, an over-protective mother (played by Lena Olin who acts everyone else off the page) and a secret bride to be, Sam (Alba). Clay marries Sam the same night as his heart transplant is taking place, an operation being carried out by his friend Dr. Harper (Terrance Howard). Thing is, the anaesthesia doesn't take, and despite his outward paralysis, Sam can hear everything that's going on, including the plot to kill him! Gasp. Much like the character, you're not sure what is fantasy and what is reality, as his out of body experience allows him to put the pieces of the plot together. Although it doesn't really matter, as he's going nowhere, regardless of his explanatory voice overs. Although most of the characters don't really come across as three-dimensional, the surgery scenes, heeby jeeby spooky bits, and Lena Olin make enough of a film, so that ninety minutes spent in its company isn't a waste. One for those cold, winter nights in front of the fire. For a low budget movie there is a decent array of extras, but you might want to just rent, or wait for the on-line sales. Customer Rating: Summary: Good story ruined by rubbish acting Comment: Hayden & Jessica the planks star in this film. When will Hollywood learn that pretty people who can't act don't make great films!! The story is sound and quite a horrific thought to be awake during an operation, however Hayden and Alba simply don't deliver! As one of my fave film review mags said, which I thought was a classic: you would think that Hayden would sound a bit more urgent if he was aware he was being cut open, but instead he sounds as if Starbucks has just run out of choc-chip muffins!! Customer Rating: Summary: Whats not to like? Comment: Well obviously this movie has the whole Marmite thing going on, you either love it or you hate it. It appears so far that most people on amazon really don't like it. Well I have to say I loved it. I was gripped from start to finish, I personally didn't find it slow at all and all the cast put on a great performance. The twist was actually a pretty big shock to me, I didn't see it coming at all. And as the movie only runs for 75 minutes it's kept short and sweet. So how anyone can say it's slow surprises me, but we all have our likes and dislikes. So if you're in the mood for a classy thriller then I would definately check this one out. After renting it the other night I will most definately be adding it to my DVD collection. More Reviews