Aaron Howell

To write a clever and original story, you must present a well-thought-out and coherent theme with substance and value that the audience can understand abstractly (for themselves) or explicitly (where the concept is presented in plain view). Strong films often draw upon well-developed philosophies and concepts that have had time spent on them to prevent mere imitation of cleverness. A clever film with a deeply developed concept for example was "The Matrix" (1999) where Keanu Reeves and the cast read and understood the book "Simulation and Simulacra" before starting to shoot any of the film. The movie's main theme of "unplugging from the false plane of reality" is also derived from Plato's allegory. This was a strong concept with substance that could clearly be understood by the audience. It was delivered clearly and with emphasis; with as much meaningless fodder and fast trimmed from the screenplay. Many other films have tried to replicate this success; attempting to be deeper than they were and have failed year after year. This felt like one of those films. Imitation, where substance was left wanting, and greater meaning was never reached beyond existing because the budget allowed for it. All the components were there to create an outstanding film, including cinematography, cast, and the like, though the concept was never mastered, and so I and many like me sat through a 2-hour presentation of senseless fodder that we can never unsee; time we will never get back. Watch something else, as this is not representative of the praise this film has received thus far.