Awake | 
| Director: Joby Harold
Actors: Terrence Howard, Fisher Stevens, Arliss Howard, Hayden Christensen, Sam Robards
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Category: DVD
List Price: $28.95
Buy Used: $1.80
You Save: $27.15 (94%)
New (52) Used (78) Collectible (1) from $1.80
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 11765
Format: Ntsc, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: WEID81067D
UPC: 796019810678
EAN: 0796019810678
ASIN: B0010X740A
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
There's a hint of classic noir in the twists and turns that make up Awake, a medical thriller that hinges on an alarming real-life condition known as anesthesia awareness, which keeps surgery patients awake but immobile during surgery. Hayden Christensen is top-billed as the scion of a wealthy banking family in desperate need of a heart transplant. Seconds after the operation commences, he discovers that he is fully conscious, yet unable to move; and what's worse, the entire procedure is slated to fail in order to claim his considerable fortune. Once the scheme is set in motion, Awake moves into high gear, and the stock characters established in the exposition-heavy opening show their true (and decidedly scurrilous) colors. Unfortunately, the suspense is undone by Christensen undergoing what appears to be a confusing out-of-body experience, and a conclusion that begs for more suspension of disbelief than most audiences will be able to summon up. Christensen and Jessica Alba (as his new bride) are attractive but bland; instead, it's Howard who delivers as the film's conflicted antihero. The supporting players, including Lena Olin as Christensen's overprotective mom, Christopher McDonald, and Arliss Howard also lend considerable credence to the material. -- Paul Gaita
Description
AWAKE is a sexy, psychological thriller about a common occurrence called "anesthetic awareness" a horrifying phenomenon wherein a patient's failed anesthesia leaves him fully conscious but physically paralyzed during surgery. The patient's charming new wife is forced to struggle with her own demons as a terrifying drama unfolds around the couple.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 38 more reviews...
 Great Idea, Fumbled By Stupid Writing March 16, 2009
Triforce Of Power (The Heart Of Evil)
man. I love Hayden Christenson. He was so good in Shattered Glass. And as good as a Star Wars actor can be in, well, Star Wars. So the only reason i bought this movie was because Hayden wouldnt do a terrible movie.
Maybe the script read better than the final product turned out to be. I will spoil the movie.
Here goes. The idea of open heart transplant surgery and being awake but unable to do anything about it is cool. I thought that part was totally gruesome-awesome. After that, movie does a sharp nosedive south.
They decided to make this whole lame whodunnit mystery that he kinda starts to hear about while hes being operated on. Couple that with this idiotic sequence where he has an out of body experience and starts going everywhere and seeing everything in other rooms going on around him. Ludicrous. Just painfully absurd. He finds out he was conned by his new bride. Blah. And its all something really trite and stupid about a hospital staff needing money to pay off malpractice settlements.
Read that last line again. The whole movie's conflict is about PAYING OFF MALPRACTICE SETTLEMENTS. Like that corny game operation. What the hell were they thinking????
You say to yourself "this movie cant get any dumber from here on". But it does. His mom just spur of the moment calls an expert surgeon and tells him shes gonna OD on pills in the cafeteria so her son, who is about to die, can live. Nevermind the ethics or realism here. Then his mom has an out of body experience (i know i know. what is going on) and they decide to throw in another really stupid and TOTALLY IRRELEVANT twist about how his mom killed his dad when he was young. At this point, nobody cares anyway.
What should have happened, is Hayden Christenson should have stayed in his body and brutally experienced open heart transplant surgery while conscious and immobile. Bam. that should have been the movie right there. That was the most entertaining portion of it. Maybe throw in some post traumatic stress and gory flashbacks or something, i dunno.
The only other good part of the movie was Jessica Alba in a tight white tanktop that goes totally transparent when hayden pulls her in the bathrub. Thats prob. the most on screen nudity youre gonna get from Jessica Alba, so enjoy it. Wasnt even that great, honestly.
Movie was awful.
 Cool flick... March 3, 2009
B. Willis (N. Richland Hills, Texas United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Do not listen to the "movie reviewer's" who thought it was awful, because it was not the perfect OR procedures. They forgot it was just a movie, not a documentary. Who cares if it isn't perfect. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the characters. "Who do you trust?" Come on people lighten up.
Like the movie stated "Everyone want's to go to heaven, but no one want's to die". Even so the mom made the ultimate sacrifice for her son. I liked this movie. "Not bad,not bad at all."
OK(spoiler in there)! December 31, 2008
Madiha Khan
this is an ok movie..it was kind of boring in the beginning but as the movie progresses..it gets interesting. I liked the twist of jessica alba being one of the people who want to kill him..although i wish she wasn't evil and they ended up together( i am a HUGE romantic)..but overall good movie to watch once in a while..
Keeps you awake but leaves you wondering.. November 12, 2008
Paul M. Varga (San Francisco, CA)
Hayden Christensen plays a company exec who goes to the hospital for a heart transplant. He's given the anesthetic but doesn't go completely under. He can still hear and feel but cannot move. What he hears is a plot to kill him organized by his doctor, played by Terrence Howard.
Now, I can understand the plot concept. What I don't understand is how someone with a bad heart can logically be able to have sex several times with Jessica Alba. I mean, come on people, put at least a little reality into it. Christensen's character's out-of-body experience helps him decipher the plot against him.
The acting was good. The writing was so-so.
Movie warnings: blood and guts surgery shots, partial nudity (Jessica in a see-through soaking wet tank top), and profanity.
The dvd bonus includes a pretty good blooper reel. Acting and running at the same time? Not Jessica's strong suit. :)
Question to think about during the movie: How can someone be a chain smoker and have a good heart?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... October 3, 2008
H. Jonathan Lawson (St. Louis, MO USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In order to enjoy any movie, one must employ a suspension of disbelief. But this movie expects the viewer to be an idiot. The story is well-intentioned but doesn't play by any of the rules of reality.
Hayden Christensen, in his first starring role, continues to suck at his chosen profession. He is basically the kiss of death to whatever production he's a part of. He was out-acted by C-3PO and R2D2 in the "Star Wars" movies. I really don't understand how he continues to get roles. Keanu Reeves looks like Heath Ledger next to this guy.
Terrence Howard, one of the best actors on the planet (check him out in "Hustle and Flow", "Crash" or "Iron Man") does the best he can with his role, and Jessica Alba gives her best performance to date. But neither can save the movie from its terminally flawed story. I won't give any of it away, but it starts out with a promising premise and descends into incoherence about a third of the way in. It's like a lame Twilight Zone episode that's been drawn out way too long.
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