Eyeborgs

In the near future, terrorist attacks on American soil have resulted in the United States taking significant steps to increase homeland security. Mainly, a couple of things have happened. First, all the surveillance cameras you see hanging around - everywhere from banks to the local convenience store - have been connected into one network - the Optical Defense Intelligence Network (ODIN). Second, a mobile robotic system of cameras have been introduced, called "Eyeborgs". Naturally these devices are there to protect our freedom, not take it away. However, it appears something has gone terribly wrong...

In the opening, young purple-haired punk rocker Lucas "Luke" Eberl (as Jarett Hewes) performs with his "Painful Daze" band. There is an attempt to assassinate Mr. Eberl, but he survives when handsome ODIN agent Adrian Paul (as Robert "Gunner" Reynolds) and his Eyeborgs make the scene. Pushy blonde TV reporter Megan Blake (as Barbara Hawkins) smells a story...

Curiously, Eberl is the nephew of the President of the United States. Even more curious, Mr. Paul's subsequent investigation of the killer reveals something disturbing about our protective Eyeborgs. Director Richard Clabaugh and his crew keep the action and intrigue levels high. Visual effects supervisor Christopher Howell Watson and his team received award notices for their animated creatures, which are designed and inserted well. Performances are fine, with Eberl taking the best role to the top. "Eyeborgs" would rank a couple notches higher if not for the shaky cameras. Some of the wobbling looks natural, but there are many times when the camera is shaking uncontrollably. It's not too bad during the erotic car wash, though...

****** Eyeborgs (4/29/09) Richard Clabaugh ~ Adrian Paul, Luke Eberl, Megan Blake, Danny Trejo

Eyeborgs on Blu-ray looks very good for an Independent low-budgeted film. Not surprisingly the Director was a former DP (Director Of Photography) and the visual effects won two awards. The story parallels the real-world anxiety during the Bush Administration with it's futuristic tale. The acting is a little shaky but most of it is the supporting cast with the exception of Supporting Actor extrordinaire Danny Trejo. The Eyeborgs themselves remind me a lot of the Ed-209's in Robocop (they even sound like them) at least the miniature ones do. The bigger Eyeborgs are another robot/creature entirely. The story rings true in lots of ways about losing privacy due to technology and too much power corrupts. You can read my full review here - http://www.movie-vault.com/reviews/eyeborgs-bluray/

Slick Looking Conspiratorial B-Movie with a Multitude of CGI Surveillance Robots that are the Government's New Tool in a "Big-Brother is Watching" Scenario that is Beginning to Find its Place in the Cinema of the New Millennium. Rightfully So and Not a Minute too Soon.

With Cameras Everywhere but in Your Corn Flakes (that's next) in the Real World it is a Ripe and Relevant Scenario Ready for Debate. Freedom vs Security. Cue Benjamin Franklin.

This is a Scary and Creepy Film that At Times can be too Good Looking for its Own Good. Some of the Ominous Observing Robots can Look Cute and Cuddly and Maybe that's the Point. We are Your Friend. Just Like the Government is Your Friend and Bill O'Reilly is "Definitely looking out for You".

The Excellent Plot and its Twists are Above Average for its Type. It Packs a Wallop and it Tries Really Hard to Make its Points when the Point is, this Should be an Obvious Outcome of what's Taking Place in the Real World of Today. NSA Data Collecting and Cameras Up the Yin-Yang Cannot Lead to Anything Great.

Of Course, the Images are Sent Back to a Centralized Network (Skynet?) and Manipulated to Make it look like anything They want and that's the Flaw in the Argument Against the Peeking Patrols of Not Only Eyes in the Sky but Eyes Everywhere.

This is a Fine B-Movie that Thinks and Entertains with Some Gusto from a Talented Director. The Only Gripe is that Some of its Sting is Stifled by the Tone that Sometimes Can Make it All Seem too Much Sci-Fi and Not Enough Paranoid Conspiracy Thriller.

This movie has it's good points and it's bad points Yet there is just something about this movie that holds your attention all the way through. The special effects are not fantastic but they are very good. The acting in general is not great, but it is for the most part, fairly good. The story line is not new yet, it seems to work within the context of the movie. I gave it a seven because it was overall entertaining to watch. Don't expect Star Wars or Star Trek but there is mystery and action and a little bit of thrills, and plenty of robots. Very importantly, I did not feel the movie was slow in parts as it kept my mind engaged and I also found myself thinking more about what was going on in the movie rather than what I thought could have been done better. It does borrow concepts from other great movies to an extent, but given that there are so many science fiction movies out there now, it is hard to come up with any real new and "never been done" ideas. For those that like to get an idea of the basic concept of the move and it's components like acting and plot, I think of this movie as an updated version and cross between 1984, and Colossus: The Forbin Project. So grab yourself a can of pop, pop yourself some popcorn and plop down on comfortable couch and enjoy some good entertainment experience that is good and does not try to be one of the main stream super blockbuster Hollywood Extravaganzas.

I saw Eyeborgs at its premier screening in St. Pete Beach, and it is a fun "killer robot" movie wrapped around a moral/political message. If you want to pay attention, you can catch the allegories to real-life situations equally involving privacy of citizens, and trusting the media and government. However, in essence it is a fun movie about robots being used to take over society. An independent film with a very high production value and excellent special effects. The robots, especially the "Reapers" are extremely well done. Very good performance by Adrian Paul as the Department of Homeland Defense Agent. I definitely recommend this movie for sci-fi fans.