Hardwired | |
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![]() DVD cover | |
Directed by | Ernie Barbarash |
Written by | Mike Hurst |
Produced by | Christine Haebler Kirk Shaw |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Stephen Jackson |
Edited by | Gordon Williams |
Music by | Schaun Tozer |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $5 million[ citation needed ] |
Hardwired is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by Ernie Barbarash, written by Mike Hurst, and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Val Kilmer. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on November 3, 2009. [1]
In the not-too-distant future where corporations control nearly every aspect of human life, a man named Luke Gibson is involved in a car accident that claims the life of his wife and their unborn child. Luke has severe brain damage, but Hope Corporation agrees to implant a chip into his brain to save his life. He discovers that this chip also constantly sends advertisements until either the person obtains the product, or they go insane. While trying to figure out why they did this to him and who he is, he finds out that the chip is a test product with a fail-safe that could kill him. He succumbs to the effects but the Corporation fears that their test might be discovered, and they decide to activate the fail-safe. Just before it goes off, a group of underground hackers led by Hal and "Keyboard" hack into the chip and save his life. After using the chip to guide him away from Hope Corp. pursuers, they agree to try to help him remember who he is in exchange for assisting in their fight against Hope Corp. They show him that his accident was no accident but actually planned by Hope Corp. so they could use him as a test subject. He agrees to help but is captured during the attempt and taken to a facility controlled by Hope Corp. Luke, with the help of Punk Red and Punk Blue, manages to fight his way to the leader of the project, Virgil Kirkhill. Virgil is killed after a short confrontation, and Luke escapes. He meets up with "Red" and "Blue" (the only remaining members of the underground group). Together they vow to continue the fight until Hope Corporation is destroyed.
Ironside was originally offered Kilmer's role, Virgil Kirkhill, but he declined, as he wanted to stretch his acting beyond playing imposing antagonists. Ironside said that he was originally drawn to the script based on the Matrix -style themes. [2]
David Nusair of ReelFilm panned the film, stating, "Hardwired inevitably establishes itself as just another sloppy, run-of-the-mill direct-to-video actioner – with Cuba Gooding Jr's presence in the central role ultimately more sad than anything else." [3] Scifi Movie Page also negatively reviewed the movie, writing that "Hardwired is cheesy, seriously cheesy." [4] Steve Power of DVD Verdict wrote, "Amazingly, Hardwired isn't completely terrible." [5]
Batman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The third installment of Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series, it is a stand-alone sequel to Batman Returns starring Val Kilmer, replacing Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, alongside Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O'Donnell, while Michael Gough, and Pat Hingle reprise their roles. The film's story focuses on Batman trying to stop Two-Face and the Riddler in their scheme to extract information from all the minds in Gotham City while adopting an orphaned acrobat named Dick Grayson—who becomes his sidekick, Robin—and developing feelings for psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian.
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, he found fame after appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), as well as the military action film Top Gun (1986) and the fantasy film Willow (1988). Kilmer gained acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991). He was cast as a main character in critically acclaimed films such as the western Tombstone (1993), and the crime dramas True Romance (1993) and Heat (1995). He portrayed Batman in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995), and continued to star in films such as The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), The Saint (1997), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Alexander (2004), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), and The Snowman (2017). In 2022, Kilmer reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
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The Doors is a 1991 American biographical film film directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stone and Randall Jahnson. It is based on the history of American rock band the Doors and their influence on music and counterculture. The film stars Val Kilmer as singer Jim Morrison, Meg Ryan as Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson, Kyle MacLachlan as keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as lead guitarist Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as drummer John Densmore, Billy Idol as Cat and Kathleen Quinlan as journalist Patricia Kennealy.
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Knight Rider is a 2008 American made-for-television action film which was created to serve as a backdoor pilot for the new Knight Rider television series, a revival of the 1982–1986 series of the same name. This film makes no references to either the Knight Rider 2000 film or the Team Knight Rider television series, instead as a reboot.
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