This Russian production consisting of two parts needs special attention. Why? Because I believe the two action movies are infinitely better than most contemporary Hollywood counterparts. Especially since you probably haven't even heard about this.
Na Igre a.k.a. Gamers: In search of the target a.k.a Hooked (2009)
Without having any knowledge about this particular production, one could
think this was a less serious one or aimed at a more youthful
audience. At least that was the impression I got at the start of the
movie when the viewer gets introduced to the main characters, a bunch of
teenagers competing in games like Counter-Strike.
Since I knew in
advance it was going to have sci-fi elements, I was expecting some sort
of Matrix rip-off. Especially when this unknown individual rewarded the
youngsters with a special bonus prize, a DVD with a special game on it.
Of course, something was going to happen when this DVD was going to be
used. When this disc, for some unexplained reason, enhances them in a way
that their gaming skills have become real, it is actually funny to see
how quickly they adapt to their situation. But then it is over with the
fun and games, and it gets quite serious. The movie gets faster-paced
and tightens its grip on the viewers. At one point, I did have trouble
with some of the actions of the main characters since some of the
motivation was pretty poor. Then I realized that this could be one of
the points the director was trying to make. Even if it was
unintentional, I am sure of it that people will have discussions about
it, although most of the events are completely over the top when morals
are concerned. The action, for the most part, looks realistic (as in
barely any use of CGI), which is superbly choreographed. Even the acting is
very good. However, with all these good elements, there was one thing that
bothered me slightly. And that was the abrupt ending. This movie ends
on a cliffhanger. Fine if it is a TV Show. But bit risky if you ask me
in case the sequel never gets made. Luckily, it got made, so no problem
there.
Definitely worth it for people who love action.
Na Igre 2
a.k.a. Hooked 2: The Next Level (2010)
Na Igre 2 directly follows Na Igre, which ended in a cliffhanger. It
does assume you have seen the original since there is no recapping
apart from the final scene. The fast pace, good action, and the surprises
from the first part are present and then some.
Maybe too much, at one
point, it became a little difficult to root for the main characters as
the distinction between good and evil was extremely blurry. I
personally had a little hard time believing that once good friends
would turn on each other so quickly. And it never became quite clear if
it was because they were changed because of the discs that made them
into superheroes, or that they acted on greed and would act that way
without the discs. Although there is a scene in which Vampire says the
discs made him lose control, he and the others do seem very much in
control. The conclusion, in my opinion, was extremely weak. For one thing, the strong villains in the first were only a fraction of their former
selves. Which would have made sense if a certain time period had
passed. It felt like the makers of the movie were running out
of ideas and decided to end it as quickly as possible, with barely a
description of what happened after. I think action aficionados won't
mind that much. Overall, Na Igre 2 is a good sequel, but it does seem a
little rushed.
Even with the sequel being less strong than the original, it is still as good or even superior to recent Hollywood action movies. It surprises me that in this world, which is getting smaller, there is still barely a place for productions like these in the local cinema. If one is lucky you could watch it at special festivals or arthouses. And that is almost criminal if you ask me.
Director Pavel Sanaev contacted me and pointed out that there is a director's cut you can check out underneath (Unfortunately, the video is unavailable.). The studios had forced him to release his film in two parts, which he wasn't happy about. Haven't been able to watch that cut myself yet, but once I do, I will write a review on that and compare it to the original releases. Do watch the film and spread the link wherever you can, since the film is very deserving of a big audience.
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