IMDb > Virtuality (2009) (TV) > IMDb user comments

IMDb user comments for
Virtuality (2009) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Page 1 of 3:[1] [2] [3] [Next]
Index 30 comments in total 

24 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Promising and Edgy, 28 June 2009
Author: remmian from United States

Twelve astronauts are aboard the Phaeton, Earth's first extra-solar ship, headed for a nearby star. When the mission was initially planned the trip was to be exploratory only, but in the interim global warming has led to Earth changes that now make Phaeton's success critical. If the star they are headed for is capable of sustaining life, it might end up being humankind's future salvation. As the ship approaches Neptune and the critical "go, no go" point, a decision has to be made as to whether the mission continues or turns back.

While there are many elements in Virtuality that we've seen before, you can say the same for nearly every movie of every genre. Writers, producers and directors all know "there is nothing new under the sun," but does Virtuality package its familiar elements in a new and fresh way? In my opinion, it delivers enough of the right stuff to carry you in and over the threshold of commitment. While I am not entirely happy with the characterization (too many of them skate too close to being cookie-cutter) the writing, acting and set design shore up the storyline, making it easier to forgive its weaknesses.

It could be that good sci-fi is so hard to come by that I'm more forgiving than I might be if we had strong contenders, but in my opinion there hasn't been a worthy sci-fi series since Voyager. While Virtuality isn't nearly as civil, friendly and amenable as Star Trek, it could be a great series if they get strong writers and the characters have a chance to develop.

We start out watching every new movie or series embarking a personal "go, no go" decision making process. Virtuality took me past the point of no return. I've been flung past Neptune and am in for the duration.

Was the above comment useful to you?

29 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
Oh dear, 27 June 2009
10/10
Author: mgdasef from United States

For the guy who hated it because it didn't have a satisfactory ending (amongst other complaints). Helllooo! It's a series and I think it left us exactly in the right place.

I was quite happy to see the entire two-hour PILOT despite the annoyance of commercials (love my DVDs). Virtual reality is a great science fiction theme. Star travel unaccompanied by starbursts as the ship goes into the (virtually) impossible FTL. Good riddance to warp drive.

I thought it one of the better efforts for straight-up SciFi on television.

I was bugged throughout trying to place the Commander, so came over here to IMDb to look it up. He played in another fun science fiction (more fantasy, but...) we enjoyed: Amsterdam.

I look forward to however much of the series they're willing to show us.

Was the above comment useful to you?

30 out of 45 people found the following comment useful :-
SUNSHINE Meets SURVIVOR Meets SOLARIS .... sorta, 26 June 2009
10/10
Author: headfella from Winnipeg, Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The first half hour hooked me. The remaining hour left me wanting for more. This was one of the best sci-fi programs on television in recent years since BSG. I watched it with the aid of my PVR and as soon as the program finished I searched the e-schedule for the next installment. But none was found. And that was disappointing since the ending was just the beginning of this adventure.

Will the crew survive their 10 year journey? Did the ship's computer/A.I. kill the commander? Or is there a PhD. wacko on board who'll kill again? (My money is on the computer) Will this mission succeed? Why will Earth's environment become hostile in 100 years?

Although VIRTUALITY contains numerous previously explored sci-fi themes and ideas, this revised treatment truly engages the viewer and invites you to stare down the rabbit hole of of your own "reality". I think this program is worth the view. I also think it would make a great 1 season 20 episode series. Well done Mr Moore, & Mr Taylor but personally I would have gone with the constant gentle nudge of an electric ion drive vice the pounding thump ("hit me") of the nuclear impulse drive. Much easier on any vessel

Was the above comment useful to you?

21 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
brilliant!, 28 June 2009
9/10
Author: Magdalena from Gdansk, Poland

reminds me of Harlan Ellison's "The Starlost", but also of sci-fi gems like "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Sunshine", "Solaris"...

first impression? Loved it!!! just brilliant! with wonderful characters that I felt deeply invested in - that by the time the gamechanger of an ending came I was left broken and demanding answers! that it just couldn't be!! I felt angry and a little bit betrayed. But mostly I wanted some explanation of what just happened. I didn't want to believe it at first. Then I understood the logistics of producing a Pilot - that sth had to grip you and sth needed to stand out amongst other new shows. On the other hand - this kind of storytelling - providing topics for discussion, for later pondering, for breaking each scene into little pieces of a great puzzle - this kind of storytelling is what I love most. I won't soon forget this little piece of art. please FOX give us more eps of this touching and ingenious new show.

Was the above comment useful to you?

17 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Virtuality unique 100%, 27 June 2009
10/10
Author: ro_ert_ba from Romania

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I think this is one of the most wired SciFi movies i have ever seen, but somehow it gets me hooked up. It makes me want more. It has the Galactica style when it comes to photography. For some people the camera shake was annoying, but it is not used so often. The visual effects are very good. Very interesting cast combination and personality. The virtual part of the show gets a very nice perspective of the human mind, transforming somehow after your own fantasies, thoughts and memories and not only, it actually can control the ship. In conclusion I can only say one thing, try it you have never seen something like it before and you may like it!

I rated it 10, but this can change in future if the show gets the wrong way. For now it is promising and it is OK to watch.

Was the above comment useful to you?

15 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
Pilot aired as a TV movie..., 28 June 2009
6/10
Author: squarecandice from United States

I have heard through the grapevine that FOX, even if it doesn't pickup a show, is contractually obligated to play the pilot on air. So of course FOX doesn't care if it is accurately portrayed or even advertised/marketed since they have no interest in the show.

I think this program is more suited for SciFi than FOX. The pilot seemed like an interesting beginning to a potentially more complicated series. Hopefully we will be able to see at least one season on another network that is more suited to the show's style.

Most of the characters were easy to relate to, even if a tad trite and stereotypical. As I said before I believe that there is potential here.

Was the above comment useful to you?

12 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Story structured like LOST should have been. Very good and unique idea, 28 June 2009
8/10
Author: huh_oh_i_c from Earth, Solar system

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I downloaded this without knowing anything (not even the genre!) about it, except that it was a pilot. By the name I figured it might be a sci-fi so the first few minutes were disappointing to me, I hate westerncrap.

Frankly, I dunno what all the negative comments are on about. This is a great idea, making a reality show out of a space journey. And it's hard SF too, which is increasingly rare these days. With the BSG makers retreating in Caprica, which is so much lacking in Scifi elements it looks more like Mad Men. It's sad when SF makers really hate SF and don't even understand it.

And can we stop being so childish about the technical scientific errors? There's such a thing as artistic license. As long as it's not as bad as adding sound effects to the WTC fly-ins, I'll tag along.

Yes, there's the gravity. The only gravity there can be is the one through rotation. And some parts of the ship do rotate, but then floors are where the walls should be and and vice versa. The only movie to get the gravity part correct is 2001 A Space Odyssey and apparently studio execs don't have the money for that kind of integrity anymore (meaning, we don't wanna cut into our personal bonusses), even with faaaaaaar more viewers and more money spent on film-making.

This is a great idea, especially the murderous villain in the virtual worlds etc. It's sorta brave, with killing off the Designated White Male Hero in the first episode. This is what LOST wanted to do, but ultimately didn't dare to do. And they have profited from it, does this mean that Virtuality will suffer for it? We don't know. Also cool: This might be the first time in TV-land that we see a mature gay relationship, although one of their lines spells doom: "I don't wanna be an interstellar punch line". Seems that's exactly what they're gonna be. So three couples, and plenty of possible other hookups, cheating. I see a lesbian relation between Sue Parsons (Clea DuVall) and Billie Kashmiri (Kerry Bishé) rearing its beautiful head real soon. It would have been better if this had developed over time, but hey. All in all, a good setup, interesting potential story lines, great developments ahead. I expected something less diverse from Fox, this looks more like an HBO production and casting. Who knew?

Was the above comment useful to you?

8 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
I Totally Want More!, 28 June 2009
8/10
Author: pianys from Sweden

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, I'm more into drama, and this pilot seemed to me like a very clever drama. Sure, it's set on a spaceship, but that's just one of many layers to this story. I can see this story developing not just in space, but in all the various virtual reality modes that the crew tunes in to. A pilot is always about setting the stage and introducing the players, and it was some good writing that had me doubting the presumed main guy for some reason, and when we lost him, it hurt but not for long. The character is obviously not gone, and I think there are endless possibilities for this to work. Peter Berg is one of my favorite directors, I could see a bit of Friday Night Lights camera work in there, some hate that style of erratic camera work, but I happen to be fine with it. Talking camera work, the VR mode sequences were beautiful, they sucked me in, really nice stuff! So in conclusion, I really hope I will see the continuing saga unfolding, this is a great idea for a TV-show!!!

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Well done!, 6 July 2009
8/10
Author: car-67 from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. There were elements of unpredictability related to the characters, their development and their interaction that brought a dynamic and a tension to the film that maintained my heightened level of interest. I enjoyed the spartan environment on the Phaeton. It conjured up memories of 2001 A Space Odyssey. I want this series to continue. There are of course - unresolved matters as yet to be dealt with.

If there's any way that the captain can be credibly resurrected without injecting smarminess into the storyline it would maintain a character in the continuing series that is especially likable and intriguing. His illicit virtual relationship with the ship's shrink's wife adds additional spice to the development of the series...assuming this becomes one. I genuinely hope that Fox or the SciFi network picks this up.

Well done!

Was the above comment useful to you?

4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Willing to give this a chance. (spoilers), 29 June 2009
8/10
Author: larsemadsen

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

While it isn't the be-all/end-all, I liked it overall. I can't believe though that the comp rating for this is 6.6 when Event Horizon gets a 6.3 and Terminator Salvation gets a 7.1 and Transformers gets a 7.4. Where's the justice in that? Anyway, I'll be interested to see what comes of this as a series. BSG had its moments that stretched into infinity, but overall the series was spectacular, so I'll give these guys enough rope to run with or hang themselves.

The infiltrated VR system is a neat hook, the idea of a possible life-after-death in VR land, the problems of whom to believe and trust as cabin fever sets in, this is all fertile ground for plot (and thus character) development. Plus, they took the entire pilot introducing you to a character who dies in the end. Gotta respect a writing team who is willing to invest in a doomed character!

True: none of the characters were dazzling, but then, have you ever watched a reality show and given a damn about anyone on it? (If so, please seek help.) A few of them at least have potential; Jensen and his simulated child, for one example.

Man up, folks. Whether you like it or not, sci fi is not always about chest-bursting aliens, "moon-based lazers", killer cyborgs (whether they disguise themselves as crappy American cars or not), or spaceships that become possessed by demons. Sometimes its just about how technology affects the way people live and interact with each other.

Was the above comment useful to you?
Page 1 of 3:[1] [2] [3] [Next]

Add another comment

Related Links

Plot synopsis Ratings External reviews
Plot keywords Main details Your user comments
Your vote history