The premise of 'A Scanner Darkly', based on Philip K. Dick's sci-fi novel of the same title, is that of a bleak future where drugs have corrupted 20% of the population. The drug is Substance D, or "Death". Overseas, the government wages a war against drug terrorists worldwide. Within the country, however, the government watches and records everything we do, even in the relative safety of our homes.

Robert Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is the boyfriend of Donna Hawthorne, a Substance D dealer. Robert Arctor and his housemates, Barris (Robert Downey Jr.) and Luckman (Woody Harrelson), are all heavy drug users and spend much of their time having drug-induced conversations.

However, in secret, Arctor is an undercover operative for the Anaheim Police Department. Wearing a scramble suit that disguises his identity (even from the other police officers with whom he works), his task is to uproot the dealers of Substance D in the government's increasingly disturbing war against the dregs of society.

How did I get here? The pain so unexpected & undeserved & for some reason cleared away the cobwebs. I realized I didn't hate the cabinet door, I hated my life, my house, my family. My backyard, my power mower. Nothing would ever change, nothing new would ever be expected; it had to end, & it did. Now in the dark world where I dwell ugly things & surprising things, & sometimes little wondrous things spill out at me constantly, & I can count on nothing. - Robert Arctor, 'A Scanner Darkly'

Codenamed "Fred", he is trying to get close to Donna to identify her supplier, but she's refusing his sexual advances, and Arctor's housemates are beginning to suspect the reality of the relationship.

Things begin take a turn for the worse when "Fred" is ordered by his superior, "Hank", to spy on Arctor because the police suspect Arctor is the key to busting a major drug operation. In the meantime, Arctor's housemates are becoming increasingly paranoid with the idea that the police are out to get them.

And so begins a strange cycle where the hunter is hunting himself, yet doesn't seem to realize the true nature of everything going on around him. The film centers a lot around the concept of paranoia and the effects of drug abuse, accentuated further by the fact that the entire film is rendered as an animated graphic novel. It seems like the whole world is being viewed through the eyes of an addict, and thus adds another layer of interest to the entire serving.

The ending might not be to many people's liking, but, without giving too much away, it also raises a few more interesting questions of ethics and 'doing the right thing for the greater good'. However, overall, I enjoyed the movie despite its overtly dark and depressing mood. Comic humor is provided by the inane conversations between Arctor and his housemates, as well as the idiosyncratic Freck, who's hallucinations are always a source of comedy.

Ultimately, if you're into twisting conspiracy theories or have a taste for intelligent fair like this, I'd definitely recommend this movie. Be prepared to not understand a lot of parts, though; as Arctor becomes lost in the convoluted world that becomes his reality, things might just be just as blur for you.

- saintmaverick -

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Today I'm gonna talk about a Japanese movie called Train Man : Densha Otoko. It is a movie base on a really story that was pass around in the internet chat room in Japan. It became a hot topic among Japanese that they decided to make a book out of it. Soon after they made a movie, then a drama series & latest into a manga. Since I only watched the movie, so I'm gonna talk about the movie.

The story begins with a simple but very creative intro using a computer screen view. Then we are introduced to the main character, Train Man. {He has no name because no one knows his true name in reality} We can see him wandering the streets of Akihabara also known as Akihabara Electric Town. He is what you call an otaku, a Japanese term sometimes used pejoratively to refer to people with obsessive hobbies, most commonly manga or anime.

The Train Man's story begins when he boarded the train to go back home. As an otaku, he doesn't like to talk to people & prefers to stay away from human contact. As he was busy listening to some songs, he noticed a drunkard man disturbing some of the passengers. He looked around & saw that most of the passengers were female. So the old man started swearing & began to disturb some of the women who were there.

Train Man decided it was best not to get involved & decided to increase the volume of his Mp3 player to focus on something else. The drunkard took a few steps & noticed a lady at the corner reading her book. He was pissed off & snatched the book away from her hands. He grabbed her face & started complaining about women should stay at home & take care of the house & stuff like that.

When Train Man saw what the old man was doing, he stood up & told the old man to stop it & ask him to leave the girl alone. The old man didn't seem to listen so Train Man approached him & accidentally bumped into him when the train was making a stop. The old man was angry & wanted to beat him. Fortunately the conductor of the train arrived with a few guys to stop the guy from causing anymore trouble. Catching his breath from the conflict, the lady thanked him for helping her & she admired him for being so brave.

Train Man felt in love right away but he was extremely shy & just said that it was nothing. Two other women who were on the busy approached him, thanked him & asked for his home address to repay his good deed. The young lady also decided to do the same. Train Man was nervous as he had never talked to a girl. It was his first time someone ever thanked him & he felt a little happy inside. Once he gave them his address, he immediately ran off to get back home. He didn't even say good bye to the young lady or the two women...

When he got back, he was depress & wondered if he had been more brave & less nervous, he would have been able to get to know the lady. So he decided to ask help from the net in a chat room. He identified himself as Train Man & shared his story to a group of strangers in the net. Among them are :

*Three guys who are otakus & hang out in manga/internet/game cafe


*A nurse who is trying to get over her ex

*A guy who is a hikikomori (a Japanese term to refer to the phenomenon of reclusive adolescents and young adults who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement due to various personal and social factors in their lives.)

*A woman who has relationship problems with her husband

* A guy who has relationship problems with his wife

These people will soon help him to become the man that he always wanted & get the girl. This is how the story begins.

To those who are interested in reading about how the real discussion between Train Man & the rest in the chat room visit here : project. DENSHA

Overall the movie was very nice. It shows a lot of serious social problems that are happening in Japan. It also shows how powerful is the power of love that can even change a person for the better & just how Train Man's love story indirectly influence the people around him as well. They are also a few funny scenes in the movie to keep you interested to know more. I definitely recommend this movie to those who love romance/comedy/life kind of movies. If you like the movie, I heard the drama version is even better with more twist & story lines. I'll try & post more often in the future. For R.A.N.D.T.S!!!!!!

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