Awake on DVD (2007)

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

crockery from Belfast [Highly rated reviewer] , 06/04/2008

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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Better than expected

Meako [Highly rated reviewer] , 03/04/2008

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.

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Awake!

A customer from SW London , 12/04/2008

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.

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Better than the reviews

A customer from Manchester , 28/08/2008

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.

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

crockery from Belfast [Highly rated reviewer] , 06/04/2008

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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Barely Awake

Meenie from High Wycombe [Highly rated reviewer] , 13/08/2008

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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