Several reviews here refer to this as a "Christian" film. Those reviewers totally missed the point. Yes, God and religion are mentioned, but they are neither promoted nor dogmatically insistent on such. It's listed more as a historic fact: At one time people believed on God and faith and had religion. That's pretty accurate "history" for the sake of the movie. In no instance did the movie promote returning such thing to society. The closest it got was mentioning that some people believe there is an eternal soul. But it turns right around and says, "What if that's wrong? What if when we die, we cease to exist?"
That's not a "Christian film". That's a question many people ask themselves all the time. And that's what this movie is about... all the way through. It's about a man who has offered society immortality-- at a severe reduction in their emotions and free will-- and society accepted. But after a while some people began to wonder what we traded for that.
The film brings out several good points. First: there are always those who rebel, no matter what. It questions if eternal life is a good thing, or if death has a purpose. It definitely questioned reducing emotions and appreciation for life by extending that life indefinitely. Those are all sound science fiction themes-- and this is not the first story line to present such questions.
Neither does the film offer any answers. In the end some people make some choices, others make other choices. They don't show 200 years down the road. It's evidently not the goal of this film to make a statement. Rather, it's to pose a question: if given the choice of eternal life, would you take it... especially if there was a significant cost?
One of the points made by this film is that even a Utopian society might take the form of a Dystopian society under certain circumstances. I thought it did pretty well in presenting that concept.
The writing, directing and acting was reasonably good. It was a slow-burner and some viewers may be dissatisfied with the ending. It's not for everyone (I myself only give it a "mediocre" 5 stars). Yet I do see what they were trying to do: make us think. Make us question.
In the end there was still the major issue of which is worse: the society we live in now, or a less-motional, pristine society without crime, war, sickness, aging, or death. I would suspect that given the choice a lot of people would choose eternal youth and good health. Many people may agree that our society is excessively emotional anyway; maybe it could use a dialing-down from always on 10. What if we could eliminate all the things that plague our society today. Were the people in their society unhappy? Was the newfound "wonder" in the rebels worth what would undoubtedly follow: a return of greed, hatred, crime and eventually war?
These were all open-ended questions presented in this flick. I would have given this 6 or 7 stars, but the movie tended to be somewhat one-sided, and in my opinion failed to give "equal time" to the other side. They mentioned it, but let's mention it again: Before their "cure"... the world was a horrible, terrifying place filled with hatred, crime, war, disease and death. They put a stop to all of that. The people weren't walking zombies. They were cognizant, alert, happy. Is that so bad?
That's the ultimate question asked-- with no real answer provided. Perhaps it can be taken for granted that in another 200 to 300 years their civilization would have regressed, and would no longer be so civilized. Then perhaps there would be a rebellion of people thinking that eternal life and a balanced society wasn't such a bad thing after all.
So no, it wasn't a "Christian" movie. It was a reasonably decent sci fi movie that I wish had been fleshed out to present both sides in a little more balanced and through-provoking manner. It was the weakness and unbalance of the script that cost this film stars.
