Gemini Man (2019)

[D00mM4r1n3]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Just came back from seeing this in 120fps HFR 3D. I believe my theater was just one of 14 in the country that had it in 120.

[Show spoiler]For the most part I was really impressed with the HFR format. it takes a little getting used to, but once my brain sort of adapted to it, it worked quite well. The HFR provided an unbelievably detailed, and realistic picture, with stunning colors and probably the best 3D I've ever seen. 3D is one of those thing that I tend to get used to quickly, and the effect wears off, but it was very effective for the whole film this time. The few underwater scenes, especially, were absolutely amazing with this presentation. It made me think how well it could be used for a franchise like Aquaman, or something. I still would consider this to be experimental only though. Scenes still look unnaturally sped up at times, and it's certainly not what I'd consider the future of film.

As for the movie itself, perhaps it was my lower expectations going in, but I actually thought it was pretty good. It's perhaps nothing we haven't seen before in some shape or form, but I still found it entertaining, and was never bored. The movie does have some super clunky dialogue, though every now and then it churns out some solid one-liner gems. The entire premise, combined with the cheesy dialogue, makes this feel like a Nicholas Cage vehicle. I say that almost lovingly, as I do adore Cage's performances, even when he's in a terrible film.

Part of the issue with this film is that the premise just doesn't have any sort of "wow" factor to it. Apparently Gemini Man was in development since the late 90's and that definitely shows. The story line completely feels like something inspired by the hot headlines of that era, when the cloning of a sheep was major news, and there was a huge concern over human cloning. Fast-forward some 25 years later, and the notion of human cloning just doesn't have the same impact it may have had back then. I liken it to Gattaca in this regard. Gattaca was a brilliant movie, well ahead of its time, but had it been released now, people wouldn't look at the premise of children being designed as something unrealistic, and well out of reach.

Despite the limitations in its story, I do feel like the movie benefited greatly from being delayed till now. Say what you will, but I think Will Smith was absolutely the perfect casting for this role. More than any other action star (or star in general maybe), we got to know him really well as a young adult, so it really gave a sense of familiarity in seeing a young and old version of the Smith that I really don't think you could get from many, if any other major stars today. The technology to reproduce a younger Smith is of course another plus for having it made now than in the past. While I do feel like the CGI wasn't always that convincing, there are definitely times when my brain was "tricked" by it. I still think they did a pretty admirable job nonetheless, given that it's an entirely CGI character.

The rest of the cast was very good too. Mary Elizabeth Winstead was so damn dreamy (as always). She hasn't been in many action roles as extensive as this before, but she was able to be a complete bad ass, while somehow also being cute as hell the whole time. She also had great chemistry with Smith's older self too. Benedict Wong, like his role in the MCU, plays a solid side character, with decent comic relief. I also thought Clive Owen made for a pretty believable villain too.

Gemini Man as a regular movie would be nothing special. A cheesy popcorn flick that would be quickly forgotten. It's probably still that, but the HFR 3D definitely enhanced my experience of it greatly. I actually feel like this was the closest film to mimicking a video game. Many of the action sequences, if not the entire movie, feels like one very long video game cut-scene. The exotic and colorful locales of Colombia, and the beautiful architecture and catacombs in Budapest really makes it feel like it was inspired directly by the Uncharted franchise. Uncharted, being another project that's been stuck in development hell, could perhaps benefit from using HFR too. Overall, I guess you could say I'm sold on using HFR..in a limited capacity. I don't feel like filmmakers have truly found that "sweet spot" as far as framerate goes, but with technology always improving, I definitely want to see ambitious directors like Ang Lee continuing to try it.

Story - 3/5
HFR/3D presentation - 4/5

Overall: 3.5/5 (rounded to 4 for the poll)

IIRC, Polygon had an article about how the movie was being released and said that the limited list of 14 theaters were a handful of AMC theaters showing it in 4K 3D 120FPS, while there were countless other theaters showing it in 2K 3D 120FPS. I saw it at Regal, so I assume it was in 2K, but the effect was still jaw dropping to look at.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by D00mM4r1n3

IIRC, Polygon had an article about how the movie was being released and said that the limited list of 14 theaters were a handful of AMC theaters showing it in 4K 3D 120FPS, while there were countless other theaters showing it in 2K 3D 120FPS. I saw it at Regal, so I assume it was in 2K, but the effect was still jaw dropping to look at.

I think the 14 were the only ones showing it in 120fps, and I believe in 2K, while everything else that did HFR was at 60fps and in 4K.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I think the 14 were the only ones showing it in 120fps, and I believe in 2K, while everything else that did HFR was at 60fps and in 4K.

No I don't think anyone in the US is showing the 4k version of the movie....

[erixon20]

Finally seeing this in IMAX tomorrow-can't wait.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

No I don't think anyone in the US is showing the 4k version of the movie....

Huh? No one is showing 120fps/4K, but I thought the 60fps got 4K?

Edit: Guess not. Really thought I read only the 120 fps showings were compromised. Even in 2K, it was stunning

Gemini Man was shot in 3D 4K 120fps HFR and HDR, and Paramount is distributing multiple versions including:
2D 4K 24fps
3D 2K 60fps HFR
3D 2K 120fps HFR Dolby Vision
3D 4K 120fps HFR

Apparently China will have it in the full 120/4K presentation in a few theaters.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Huh? No one is showing 120fps/4K, but I thought the 60fps got 4K?

Edit: Guess not. Really thought I read only the 120 fps showings were compromised. Even in 2K, it was stunning



Apparently China will have it in the full 120/4K presentation in a few theaters.

IMAX laser should be 4K 60fps (they create custom DCPs), but I think standard 3D showings are 2K 60

[ImBlu_DaBaDee]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Huh? No one is showing 120fps/4K, but I thought the 60fps got 4K?

Edit: Guess not. Really thought I read only the 120 fps showings were compromised. Even in 2K, it was stunning



Apparently China will have it in the full 120/4K presentation in a few theaters.

Wow. If the 60FPS version I saw was only 2K, the 4K HDR disc should be an all-timer because I thought it looked incredible visually.

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Huh? No one is showing 120fps/4K, but I thought the 60fps got 4K?

Edit: Guess not. Really thought I read only the 120 fps showings were compromised. Even in 2K, it was stunning



Apparently China will have it in the full 120/4K presentation in a few theaters.

I got to see it in HFR 3D last week, but it wasnt 4K(though it looked 4k to me, easily on par/better than the suppoed 4k iSense screen my local has)

not sure am a fan of HFR as it looks a bit blurry, like my eyes couldnt keep up.

[jbloggs]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I think the 14 were the only ones showing it in 120fps, and I believe in 2K, while everything else that did HFR was at 60fps and in 4K.

In case it hasn't been posted already...

Here’s the full list of the Dolby-equipped U.S. theaters playing 120 fps 2K 3D:

AMC Aventura Mall 24 – Miami, FL
AMC Century City 15 – Los Angeles, CA
AMC Del Amo 18 – Los Angeles, CA
AMC Disney Springs 24 – Orlando, FL
AMC Elmwood Palace 20 – New Orleans, LA
AMC Flatiron Crossing 14 – Denver, CO
AMC Hawthorn 12 – Chicago, IL
AMC Lincoln Square 13 – New York, NY
AMC Metreon 16 – San Francisco, CA
AMC North Point 12 – Atlanta, GA
AMC River East 21 – Chicago, IL
AMC Town Square 18 – Las Vegas, NV
AMC White Marsh 16 – Baltimore, MD
AMC Willowbrook 24 – Houston, TX

Source: https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/8/20...movie-theaters