Code 46 (DVD)

Intelligent British science fiction isn't a term heard particularly often these days. In fact, dumb British science fiction isn't really heard of either. Simply put, for some reason the British film industry backs away from the whole genre, which is a shame, although when a unique piece does manage to break through, it does make it all the more special. Code 46 is such a piece, although before one can appreciate it for what it is, one has to accept that pretty much everything within this film has been done before. So much of it being lifted from elsewhere may be annoying in many films, but Code 46 takes its basis from some of the intelligent sci-fi greats; ...  Read the complete review

In a Dystopian vision of the future, movement around the world is more tightly controlled than ever before. Anyone who intends to travel anywhere must apply for specific papers, and if the request is refused, the populace must settle for the fact that it's usually for a very good reason. When a Shanghai-based manufacturer of these papers reports a high instance of forgeries, investigator William Geld is sent to find out who is behind it. Geld holds a unique telepathic ability, caused by a previous infection from an empathy virus, and with only a single fact from an individual, he is able to learn everything about them. Questioning each of the employees, he meets and ...  Read the complete review

Code 46 was recommended to me by a friend whilst at university as a film I may enjoy, once I started to look at the cast of the film I had very high hopes for it, Tom Robbins who as we should all know from the Shawshank Redemption is a brilliant actor and Samantha Morten is equally a brilliant actress, 2 brilliant actors don't usually create a bad film (perhaps Freeman and Cusack in The Contract). The film is set in the future where code 46 is a violation which by any genetically similar people are not allowed to form a relationship, basically all life is controlled by codes, investigated by a corporation, Robbins' character is a member of this and is told to ...  Read the complete review

A charismatic corporate investigator is flown to Shanghai, where a company making medical ID / visa pass thingies are witnessing fatally doled out forgeries among their output. He instantly finds the culprit, but does nothing other than let her off, and fall in love with her... This sounds like a reasonable scenario for a film that's both small-scale and globetrotting, and that's just what it is. It's very quietly science fiction - in that it's not Alien 6 meets The Matrix. You might enjoy the film without any concerns about its futuristic setting, although it is important, as we can see by dissecting our opening paragraph. *Charismatic...* Tim ...  Read the complete review