bowmanblue
Okay, so the whole 'Hunger Games' scenario is very popular right now – the one where a group of people are stuck in some sort of situation that involves them having to kill each other so that one ultimately survives. Here, with 'RPG' Portugal throws its hat into the ring.In a not too distant future (where everyone drives slightly more space-age cars than now), a handful of rich people want to live forever, so they go to a place which makes them go into a 'virtual reality' world (think 'The Matrix')where they're portrayed as younger versions of themselves (to get a feel for what it's like to be young again). However, once there, they have to kill each other – only one can apparently be reincarnated. Why? I don't know. I don't think I picked up on that.So, there you have it. Oh, and this is probably a good time to point out that, if you saw Rutger Hauer's name on the poster, you may need to know that he's not in it that much. He's one of the oldies who quickly gets replaced by a younger version of himself (and hence actor).I can take the lack of originality in the plot and the slightly 'made-for-TV' feel of it all. It was the acting that got me. I've sat through countless badly-acted horror films and never let the acting annoy me. However, here, everyone seemed to be reading their lines. At first I thought it was because many of the cast didn't speak English as their first language. However, when I saw they had a British girl among the cast who also seemed to have trouble speaking English, I realised they had just had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for acting talent.The Hunger Games may be popular, but this is copying it in 'scenario only.' It's nothing like it. Therefore, if you're a fan of the Hunger Games, don't watch this expecting anything similar. Also, if you're generally a fan of people having to kill each other for sport (think Battle Royale or the Running Man), RPG isn't half as good as either of them.Just forget this film all together. I'm sure Portugal can do better.
G H
Joined to just review this. After seeing poor reviews I had to say that this is worth watching. Nice to see something different, you have to watch it all. The actors English accents I thought were a treat and would enjoy seeing more of these stars.The story might need more padding out for some, but I found there was enough to get you to think about the plot.It did feel more like a short story than a full film but I liked how easy it was to watch. Rather than rubbishing the film those involved deserve praise for taking a risk on something different in my mind.Maybe with a bigger budget it could be more whiz bang with the characters and plot more fleshed out. But then it would not be what it is.
Jesse Boland
I personally Enjoy movies that leave you wondering until the very end, the kind of movie in which everything that is happening seems impossible, and none of the characters seem to notice. This is that type of movie completely, though it could have been a good movie if they had tried just a bit harder. You have the great Rutger Hauer playing a dying rich man who has paid to play in the game with the other 9 rich, and famous people. None of the characters can remember anything past the age of 23 that the bodies they are dropped into, though they must figure out who each of their fellow players are, then kill them, and return to a room in which they have to pick from a line-up: who it was that they just killed. From the beginning you can tell that something is not right with the entire system. This is supposed to be a possible near future, and somehow physics do not apply, as each player has been dropped into the mind of a 23 year old in a virtual 2013 that is devastated by war. You have to put all of this aside, and really not put any stock into that part of the story or you will never get to the actual point of the movie. All of this is just a life lesson for one man, in fact it is possible that no other people were actually playing, and this was all just a way to clean out this man just before he passes. Where did the 10 hours go? The initial promise of living life for 10 hours as a younger man is just a carrot on a stick, and you will see why, though it just takes such a long time to get to there. The young actors are all good, and the main story really could have been a lot better. I am not really recommending this movie to anyone, if you like strange sci-fi, and Rutger Hauer then you may just want to see it to see it, but if you are an average person this movie will just leave you feeling empty, and ripped off. This could have been more, but The first special effects with the plane, and car should be enough to make most people stop watching right there as it looks awful, and more like a cinematic from an old 90's video game.
renemaia
I was very interested to see this movie after learning that it had been "made in Portugal" and especially after watching the trailer. However I was hugely disappointed. In fact,I left during the interval, something I have not done in a very long time. The acting was very stilted, I could not get into or enjoy the film. In my opinion, if this movie had been made in Portuguese, that is, actors speaking Portuguese, then the actors and the movie would have come across as more natural. I think they were concentrating so hard on speaking English they forgot how to act. This is a great disappointment as Portugal has produced great films and it is just a pity this is not one of them. The trailer appears to be the best part of the film.
AD
