Awake Reviews

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[Highly rated reviewer]

Can happen to you and me !!!!! "Anesthesia awareness"

My mum woke up under a hip operation - 20 years ago .. we have never talked about - she still avoid it .. but the day after the operation when I visit her - she where lime green in her face and totally in shock - she was shaking. I think my mum expericance where fare more scary then this movie can show us.

Back to the movie - It's okay ... but only that.

It's a reasonable story with a predictable end, nothing special here except the tension it creates. The biggest deficit is leaving you cold with an ending that lacked the revenge that you so wanted the evildoers to experience. I mean come on, at least have the black doctor commit suicide in his office during the wrap up - that would have made me feel a lot better. I see from other comments that the operating room/surgery was full of errors - I didn't notice or care since I am not a doctor; it looked legitimate to a casual viewer like me. Is this worth seeing, yes. Is it a great movie, NO!! Decide for yourselves.

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[Highly rated reviewer]

Better than expected

Awake is a film which is surprisingly better than you would expect. The story, involving someone who is still aware of everything going on when he is being operated on, is based on actual experiences which a small percentage of people have. The sub-plot involving the planned murder of the person being operated on is actually handled quite well too. Throw into the mix two actors who usually get derided for their lack of ability (Christensen and Alba), who prove some talent here, and it far surpasses expectations. The film starts off pretty straight forward, with a wealthy entrepreneur, Clay (Hayden Christensen) trying to keep his life in order whilst awaiting a heart transplant. He has kept his engagement to his mother's assistant, Sam (Jessica Alba) secret, fearing what his mother (Lena Olin) would say about it. After setting up the basic background of the characters we soon move to the operating table, and that is when the film begins to come together and surprise the audience. The initial moments of Clay's awareness that he is not unconcious strike so well, and make you sit up and pay attention. To escape the pain he is feeling Clay begins to focus on his memories to find a happy place, but unfortunately begins to see clues as to something unsettling going on. The memories are played through with Clay having an out-of-body experience, and drifiting through all the moments in his mind, and it is through all this that we too piece together the puzzle presented to him. Christensen handles the part well, and shows some range of skill that we have only glimpsed once before (in Shattered Glass). Alba is less impressive, but is a far cry better than her performance in The Eye. Terrence Howard, playing the surgeon operating on Clay, who is also his best friend, has one of the meatier roles, and he wrestles with his own demons throughout. A decent enough film that has a few nice twists and turns. It is a shame that the marketing campaign for the film gives away one of the major plot points as it sort of deadens the impact, but there are still a few nice, crafty turns inside. The only real failing is that the tale does get a touch too syrupy sentimental towards the latter half.

Awake!

I had heard some bad reviews prior to seeing the movie, but decided to watch as I like to see movies with Hayden in it. Plus it fascinates me that there are people who are actually awake despite having been given anaesthesia during an op. The movie turned out to be better than expected, with a few twists and turns in the end.A recommended watch, with the element of surprise in the end, which is always a good thing, in my book.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Barely Awake

What a snore fest this film is,the lure of bieng repulsed by watching someone go under the knife while awke but parylised was too much for me not to have a look at this but i wish i hadnt of bothered.

I wont spoil it for anyone who is intending on renting this title for a gawp at (the overrated on all sides in my opinion) Ms Alba or any other reason,as far as the story goes i think they had a good idea but executed it very poorly.

My advice,if you have some washing to do,paperwork to catch up on or just fancy getting blind drunk,do it instead of watching this rubbish.

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Better than the reviews

I wasn't expecting anything from this film as it bombed at the box office, but I was surprised to find it was actually okay. The acting is average but it is good to see Jessica Alba in a darker role where she doesn't rely solely on her looks. The twists are very easy to spot [even the mother's suicide] and Terrence Howard is pretty poor in this film. Hayden and Lena are good and do their best with a weak script. Passes the time quite nicely but won't surprise or shock you. It's strangely marketed as a horror script but the awareness scenes are right at the beginning and it soon takes a different turn.

Don't. Just don't.

At the time of reviewing, this film has 96 positive reviews and 32 negative ones - proof positive that it isn't solely the big studios fault that mainstream cinema has become littered with drivel such as this.

I beseech you, don't bother with this film. Admittedly, the trailers made it look at least good enough for an evening in. But the sad truth is that the editor of these trailers is an unsung genius - if he/she can take the 80 minutes or so of utter tosh (I'm trying to be polite, not posh) and condense it into anything interesting, no matter how short, then they are a much more talented filmmaker than the greats and deserve to be making films ahead of those responsible for this one.

Admittedly the premise is interesting, BUT THAT'S IT. It never really explores the premise. Or the characters. Or anything. It's just stupid, plain stupid, with so many glaring faults and contrivances that they needn't have bothered being so careful about framing the picture so you couldn't see the crew and equipment.

And Hayden Christensen. His acting is pure MDF. In that it is a poor substitute for wood. His cries of pain sound like he is undergoing a moderately uncomfortable eyelash removal, not open heart surgery without the numbing effects of anaesthetic. Sadly, this is the most convincing his performance gets. And with a supporting cast of glazed-eye cheque-chasers, by about 2 minutes in you don't really care what happens to anyone. Then come the ridiculous 'twists' that bring this film to its knees.

I'm not going to berate it any further - it has already taken up far too much of my time. Move along. There's nothing to see here.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Awake

This film keeps you guessing and has twists i definitely didnt see coming! Definitely a great film!

Don't bother

The film starts off ok and Ms Alba looks stunning but descends down a very dull path. I was hoping for a plot twist, also the end is so obvious, you can see it a mile off.

The film must be a cure for insomnia

[Highly rated reviewer]

Utterly pointless film

Awake - this film has no story, no plot,no twists; is neither entertaining, clever, or scary, is completely predictable, totally implausible, and quite possibly the lamest film i have seen this year. The only good thing is that its only 1h 20mins long. Really. Don't Bother.

I had to write this...

OK, dead brief and simple - as I managed to crash my PC the last time I wrote this! Yep, Im clever.

Awake is a GREAT film, twists and turns, and suspense throughout.

Get a bottle of wine and enjoy - trust me, you wont be dissapointed.

(from a non-film nerd...)