"Here And Now" Oscar Buzz by Roy Bitterman

Hi, everyone, it's me, Roy Bitterman, the Syndicate's resident movie critic. You're all probably already aware of this, but I thought it was really cool so I figured I'd show it to you. There's a new movie that just came out entitled "Here And Now" which is supposedly an incredible experience, and very realistic and stuff like that. There's been a lot of something called 'Oscar Buzz' around this movie, and even though I'm not sure what that really means, it sounds pretty impressive, and I assume it has something to do with the Academy Awards, which I plan on watching at least 20 minutes of.

Here And Now is advertised as the 'first Reality-movie', and has little or nothing to do with the Reality Syndicate, despite its title. I'm not sure of the plot of this movie, or if there even is one, but I do know one thing: The special effects are supposedly the most realistic anyone has ever seen in any movie, ever!

At a sneak-preview screening of "Here And Now", the audience is both mesmerized and impressed by the incredible MIRROR system's special effects.

Here And Now implements the startlingly realistic and confusingly impressive MIRROR technology, which has been in development for thousands of years or something like that. MIRROR stands for "Multi-Image Reflection/Refraction Object Rendering", and the results are amazing. In fact, Here And Now is what can be called an 'interactive film': the experience is tailored to every individual movie-goer. When I went and saw it, I could actually see MY OWN FACE up on the screen! It was incredibly realistic, too, I could have sworn I was staring into a mirror or something! Well worth the hefty $38 ticket price.

As I continued to watch, I could even see people sitting next to me in the film! I glanced to my left and noticed a man with red hair, dozing loudly. When I shifted my gaze back to the incredible effects of the movie, I could ACTUALLY SEE the SAME MAN sitting next to my digital avatar in the film! Even the hawkish, frightening old woman to my right was there! As the 7th grader with an unusual amount of stubble behind me poured his popcorn over my head, I watched in amazement as hundreds of pieces of virtual popcorn cascaded down my twin's head with incredibly realistic physical simulation, and what looked like coagulated popcorn butter dripped slowly down his (and my) shirt!

Some people may be put off by the complete and total lack of any music, sound effects, title screens, credits, or actors that are common fare among modern films. However, in my opinion, this starkness adds to the bleak, eerie atmosphere of what may well be the highest-grossing movie in history. You simply can't imagine the level of interaction with this film until you experience it for yourself... when you smile, your character smiles! When you laugh, your character laughs! When you cast yourself into a deep, existential despair, your character gets that same bizarre, trance-like look on his or her face, too!

Look how much fun this kid is having brushing his teeth! You could be having this much fun too!

The creators of Here And Now and the MIRROR technology are currently undergoing negotiations with several major corporations, in an effort to bring the incredible MIRROR experience straight to your home! Imagine being able to watch a digital duplicate of yourself mimic you every morning while you brush your teeth, as this jaunty yound lad is doing in the artist's rendition to the left!

I'd give practically everything I've got for that sort of technology, and the same would be true even if I possessed anything of real value! Speaking of which, I was planning on reviewing all the movies currently out, but after buying one ticket to "Here And Now", I am gloriously broke! At least I can sit on my couch and remember all those amazing moments when I stare into the reflection of my TV screen... but it's just not the same...

Roy Bitterman
Syndicate Movie Critic