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AWAKE during your Heart Transplant!

Written by Brown Shuga from the blog SHUGAS BLOGIWOOD on 19 Jan 2009
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Awake is a thriller (not sure if it's supposed to be a horror so I'll call it that) about a rich young guy who undergoes a heart transplant but is AWAKE during the entire procedure and can feel what they do to him, when they cut open his chest and he can hear what the surgical team is discussing.
He suffers a phenomenon called "anesthetic awareness" which leaves him paralysed and unable to move or scream to alert them to the fact that he's not unconscious like he's supposed to be.
Apparently 1 in 700 surgery patients go through this.....boy, am I glad I'm not one of them!!

The movie starts with a scene in the operating room and Dr. Jack Harper, played by Terence Howard, tells us:

"At 6:32 this morning, on Thursday the first of November, Clayton Beresford Junior died on my operating table"

He then goes on to tell us that the day had started like any normal day so what we see throughout is what led to this "supposed" death.
Throughout the movie, I'm pissed off with knowing that Clayton Beresford dies! How could they?? That is like spoiling the entire movie!
Then towards the end, the movie takes a couple of unexpected twists & turns and they sort of redeem themselves. Okay, here's a little bit about what happens......not too much spoilers, I promise!

We are introduced to the love birds Clayton (Hayden Christensen) & Samantha (Jessica Alba).
The two are obviously very much in love and Jessica is this sweet and perfect, beautiful girlfriend.
Now I have a problem with that, why is Jessica Alba always the sweet girl? This girl will never get an Oscar coz she's never required to "act". For me, whether she's in a movie or on the red carpet, there's no difference!

The only thing wrong with Clay & Sam's relationship is that it's being kept a secret from Clay's mother, Lilith (Lena Olin) because Clayton believes that his mother will not approve. Samantha is also Lilith's assistant.

Eventually, Clayton gathers enough strength to tell his mother and the news are not well received but he decides to go ahead and marry Sam.

Clayton also insists on having Dr Harper operate on him, instead of the "A" list doctor his mother has chosen....

"He's my friend, Mother, I trust him, I really wish you'd start trusting me"

On the wedding night, he gets called to the hospital....a donor has been found so he's getting a new heart! That's when the drama begins.

Clayton being carried to the operating room....there is something about this scene. You see it for the first time and it looks normal, until they show it to us again. You almost want to slap yourself for not having noticed something......watch the movie to see!

Clayton in theatre....he's not under....he's awake!

From here onwards, we hear him trying to alert them to the fact that he's awake....they can't hear him, we can!

Quote:
"Wait! Am I suppose to be asleep right now? Hold on. Guys I-- I can still hear you. Am I suppose to be able to still hear you? Wait..wait..wait somethings wrong. "

This is Clayton's out of body character who takes us through what is "really" going on & why he ended up on the operating table when he did.

It is all totally unexpected and there is a bit of suspense, gross moments during the surgery & you will scream with him when he actually feels his heart being removed from him. The love/hate relationship we have with his mother, whom I suspected of being in love with her son.

It's not a perfect movie but it's definitely worth seeing (even if it is just so that you can criticise it) so please check out the trailer below and hire the DVD!!!

My overall rating: 3/5
The movie's ending is a bit of a let down.
They could have explored it further and had awesome explosive moments but they seemed to be in a bit of a hurry to end it.
The producers had an opportunity to push the "acting" out of lazy Jessica Alba by revealing how she and Clayton deal with "the truth" but instead things end way too sooner. Okay, I'ma shut up now, go get the movie!

P.S. Please.

23 Comments

Paralyzer
18 Jan 2009 10:51

I actually saw this at the cine and i agree with you bout the ending. I wud also give it 3/5 (mayb an extra 1/2 for jessica's all round hotness,lol). BS, plz pm me what u talkin about the scene where he's carried 2 operating table, it's gona drive me insane coz i cnt remember!

Paralyzer
18 Jan 2009 10:56

Since we blogging bout movies we should start our own 'barry ronge' club and trash n rate movies i.e.'a tantalizing 8' lol?

Paralyzer
18 Jan 2009 11:03

I also wana watch the bank job, im sure i hav it somewhere on my pc!

mjj
18 Jan 2009 12:36

ok......I'll check it out on friday night.......

Paralyzer
18 Jan 2009 13:39

Just watchd the bank job! Excellent, fast paced 4rm start to end!

Brown Shuga
18 Jan 2009 14:17

I went to get it Pizniz, will watch it after the game!

belz
18 Jan 2009 16:31

The producers had an opportunity to push the "acting" out of lazy Jessica Alba by revealing how she and Clayton deal with "the truth" but instead things end way too sooner.>>> LOL, you are right about her being sweet, but she's so preety maan. You wont regeret the Bank Job BS, i promise.

Im going to fetch this movie after soccer.

Brown Shuga
18 Jan 2009 18:09

Haikhona Belz & Pizniz...I'm on the 8th minute of The Bank Job......
Heavy British accents, Jason Stathan isn't shaven....this is not looking good....!

belz
19 Jan 2009 08:11

LOL!!!!! BS. I told you that 8 minutes is too early for you to start judging, i love those accents mina.

felfel
19 Jan 2009 08:25

I've seen this movie and i was very curious about it but found it to be rather dull and very slow...............

Ms. Jay
19 Jan 2009 08:45

I just love Jason Stathan...he is a good actor. Will get both and see,

ngwana
19 Jan 2009 16:57

I thought The Bank Job was good. But as much as love Jason Stathan the is no way I am watching Transporter 3. Why couldnt they just stop at 1.

The only reason i watched Awake was because of Terrance Howard and it was a major let down. Luckily I had also hired August Rush - now that is a movie everyone must see.

Ms. Jay
19 Jan 2009 17:01

August Rush is inspiring - Ok only if you lahv musik the way I do - the music in that movie is something else! otherwise its tooooooo fairy tale like - hayi khona there is no way that happens in real life.....son finding mum and dad liek that..........

Transporter 3 looks good - will give it a shot Jason is just plain brilliant! Try Death racer - sorry to go off topic BS

Paralyzer
19 Jan 2009 18:07

But there are those movies u watch and dnt expect a coherent storyline, like the transporter but stil entertaining! BS i luv those british accents! And how cn u follow a movie while blogging,lol! It's nt the best movi ever, but pretty good!

belz
19 Jan 2009 18:21

Will check out August Rush ngwana. Nami i dont understand this Transporter 3 thing, i dont get the whole numbering of movies, it should just end at 2, not three or 4 like Die Hard, though i must say i enjoyed it.

Jael: What is death racer all about, i love getting an appetiser b4 i watch a movie.

Brown Shuga
19 Jan 2009 18:34

Pizniz, the thing is Belz gave the movie 5/5 and that is what disappointed me...
I'd give The Bank Job a 3/5 Belz....and Pizniz, it's NOT fast paced from start to end....plus they have those accents!
I have to admit though that it was a good movie...and ja Jason is a good actor and I always make sure that I watch his movies, that's why I'll watch Transporter 3 mara Belzito my friend, an Oscar??? He will first have to act in a movie where he's actually a human being with feelings. I want him to laugh, cry and play around...or act as a crazy, kind or poor man...be in love, something that requires some emotion from the brother...he's too cold maan. Mara ke I still dig him.

What I've learnt from this movie though (BJ) is that just because I think a movie is awesome doesn't necessarily mean that the next person will think so...it's all about taste.

Brown Shuga
19 Jan 2009 18:37

Die hard 4 rocks yho!! Did you watch Hostage Belz? I love Bruce Willis movies too.

<<<Jael: What is death racer all about, i love getting an appetiser b4 i watch a movie>>> LOL and I get so disappointed if I rent a DVD and the movie's trailer is not there..

Tjo guys and what is this about these movies not having SUBTITLES these days??? I want to have my subtitles on when watching a movie!!

belz
19 Jan 2009 22:07

He will first have to act in a movie where he's actually a human being with feelings>>> LOL!!! You know The Bank Job is the only one of his movies that he actually tries to be a person, i mean he had a wife and he showed a bit of love, a bit of not ntohing at all, lol. But he's good man, he must win something, even if its runner up.

HALLELUJAH on the subtitles, i dont get it maan. what is the problem kanti, does it cost extra money to put subtitles. Sometimes these people swallow words and you need subtitles, i dont like imagining what whoever might have said.

Cnglemother
19 Jan 2009 22:26

Now i feel normal after that subtitle comment i thought i was the odd one out.my engrish runs sumtimes and subtitles help lol!

felfel
20 Jan 2009 10:34

I recently watched Crash, its a must people, i ejoyed it thoroughly.

Death Race is also nice but boys would probably enjoy it more...

Ms. Jay
20 Jan 2009 11:07

Ok sorry for the silence guys - death race is good esp if you like fast moving cars - heres the thing Jason works a low paying job and gets himself into something at the beginning of the movie- don see what exactly coz I was drooling ova him at the beginning, then he gets home to his wife and kid who get killed by a masked man who hits Jason and frames him. Jason goes to jail and the Snr warden (what to call her - my engligh sucks namhla) is the organiser of a mega dollar empire of selling this "game" where inamtes race against each other to win a chance to freedom - the more racers are killed the higher the ratings and the more $$$$$$$$$$$ she makes.

Jason was brought in coz this masked guy - who died in the start of the show - no one knew besides her, her cronies and the guys who fix his car; to be him in the next races -

You have to watch the movie - least we have a blog within a blog - sorry BS my babes!!

Toxic
21 Jan 2009 11:56

reminds me of a stephen king novel....

Kakapana
06 Feb 2009 19:50

watched the movie last weekend and i was pleasently suprised...although at the beginning Miss Alba potrays her often miss " goody too shoes" image, i was impressed with how things turn out and how shes not the little angel we are made to believe she is.
what Clay mother does for him at the end is love beyond any measures...and to think he didnt listen to her...

there is something about this scene. You see it for the first time and it looks normal, until they show it to us again. You almost want to slap yourself for not having noticed something

ayike mina i looked and looked and rewinded and rewinded and paused and paused but i still couldnt see anything....

Wait! Am I suppose to be asleep right now? Hold on. Guys I-- I can still hear you. Am I suppose to be able to still hear you? Wait..wait..wait somethings wrong. "
tjoe this killed me, i felt what he was going through...just imagine nje....

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