When he is mysteriously and anonymously delivered an ultra-advanced cell phone, I like the way his inner geek overrules the ominous caution he really ought to be feeling. AKA: , 735,079,604 bytes, Echelon Conspiracy [Edited by VeRdiKT], The Gift. Name and both e-mail fields are required. Either way, thoughsame point.). Dangerous security operatives chase the engineer across the globe, while a powerful government official pursues a mysterious agenda . plus a strong politically correct ending; 10 obscenities . I believe that after Aaron was murdered, the Tarsus Club threatened Jim into making the ending of the film the way it was, with the interviewees concocting lies on the camera to drive away conspiracy theorists. Genre: Action, Mystery & thriller Original Language: English Director: Greg Marcks Producer: Alexander Leyviman, Steve Richards Writer: Kevin Alyn Elders, Michael Nitsberg Release Date (Theaters):. a computer login procedure! This may be his way of overcompensating in a role thin enough to be entirely defined by the photo of George W. Bush hanging prominently in his office. Crazy right? Twisty scenario by scripters Michael Nitsberg and Kevin Elders focuses on Max Peterson (Shane West), a computer security analyst who receives a state-of-the-art cell phone from an unknown benefactor while on assignment in Bangkok. Max Peterson is a globe-trotting techno-whiz who installs security systems on computers. All Rights Reserved. The basic premise was interesting, and then this film bogged down in a pedestrian mire of contrived, trite, formulaic caricatures and cliches. The Plot. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Distributor: After Dark Pictures Run Time: 1:45 U.S. Release Date: 2009-02-27 3 Sponsored by TruthFinder Token theatrical run wont generate much interest, but viewers might be pleasantly surprised when this globe-trotting techno-thriller reboots as homevid and cable fare. They directly oppressed the people of Eastern Europe, and held the free world hostage to nuclear weapons. But, really, all the plots and counterplots exist solely to keep characters racing from one country to the next Russia, Bulgaria and the U.S. also are on the itinerary so they can shoot and be shot at, drive and/or crash cars at dizzying speeds and, periodically, cast anxious glances at computer screens while frantically clicking at keyboards. Echelon Conspiracy 26 Metascore 2009 1 hr 45 mins Suspense, Action & Adventure PG13 Watchlist An engineer becomes the target of a deadly international plot after receiving mysterious cell-phone. Even the action is hackneyed and boring. 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Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? Max asks the computer about its primary purpose, and it replies that it aims to defend the US as defined by the Constitution. Classical music stars lead surprisingly monotonous lives. Soon, though, government agents pursue the young engineer receiving them around the world. But after the phone convinces him to change his flight booking to avoid a doomed plane, then starts feeding him stock tips and advice on how to cash in at slot machines, his lack of suspicion or even question about why or how this might be happening to him is laughable.He is surrounded by questions he is determined not to ask lest they undermine the plot. For most of a century, the Soviets incarcerated, exiled or murdered those who spoke out against the government. Mysterious cell phone messages promise a young American engineer untold wealth - then make him the target of a deadly international plot. Eagle eye clone but this has some terrible plotting. . The concept of computer self-awareness is a rich and varied subject that has provided the backbone of countless science fiction stories. Its silly, but I dont have a problem with silly. But comparisons are as inevitable as they are unflattering, even though the After Dark Films release can be enjoyed on its own merits as a briskly efficient B-movie. Ever since he was a kid, he heard his grandmother talk about his "Pop-Pop's" fiddle. An action packed thriller with an all star cast, Echelon Conspiracy will have you on the edge of your seats from start to finish. A young American computer engineer (Shane West as Max Petersen) acquires a mobile phone that receives strange text messages. Bobby Tahouri composed the thunderous musical score, and it, too, is very loud. If Eagle Eye borrowed freely from 2001: A Space Odyssey and North by Northwest, Echelon Conspiracy ups the ante with additional pilfering from WarGames note the climactic scene in which Max delivers a civics lesson to the rogue super-computer and two or three Jerry Bruckheimer action-adventures. Previous recipients of similar windfalls have ended up dead. Or whether that stunning woman (Tamara Feldman) he keeps running into at the casino is really so eager to invite him back to her place just to show off her cooking. Grant, who now receives threatening texts, asks Max to help to stop Echelon. Would of enjoyed this more if the lead role wasn't so miscast. Someone has commandeered the NSA's top-secret global surveillance system, Echelon, to track his movements, and they send instructions: Don't shut off the phone or we'll kill you. Here's the ending, explained. We've seen movies about technology going awry before. he cryptically adds, turning off his mobile phone. If Eagle Eye borrowed freely from 2001: A Space Odyssey and North by Northwest, Echelon Conspiracy ups the ante with additional pilfering from WarGames note the climactic scene in which Max delivers a civics lesson to the rogue super-computer and two or three Jerry Bruckheimer action-adventures. The Echelon Conspiracy has less money, less creative talent, and less dazzling action than last year's thriller Eagle Eye. Ving Rhames is once again stuck playing the tough-guy-with-a-heart-of-gold part. Although the lead role is played by the relatively anonymous Shane West, who at times seems to be channeling Neil Patrick Harris, nearly everyone else has some kind of resume. Hey, Echelon guys: Heres some history for you: Between 1917 and 1991, the leaders of the Soviet Union killed about 20 million people, give or take a mother or son here and there. Produced by Steve Richards, Alexander Leyviman, Roee Sharon Reed.. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Once again, Hollywood displays a blatant ignorance of the capabilities of modern computers by providing a "God machine" that seemingly has no limits, except when it comes to the simple things. At first, the strange phone messages promised great wealth. I expected the credits to play over a denouncement of anti-Semitism delivered by Adolf Hitler. Synopsis (1) Summaries At first, the strange phone messages promised great wealth. Helmer Greg Marcks does his level best to keep everything moving faster than the speed of thought, so auds will have little time or inclination to note gaping plot holes and inconsistencies of character. Max and Reed don't agree but flee when more armed men arrive at Yuri's apartment. (The filmmakers seem to think that the latter is far worse than the former, never mind the casualties.) In the final scene, back in Moscow, the techie Yuri is unveiled as a Captain in the Russian Security Service. [more review to follow]. (In fact, it's the basis of Battlestar Galactica, arguably the best science fiction program currently on television.) ECHELON CONSPIRACY is a B-movie thriller about a National Security Administration computer gaining access to all computers and surveillance cameras in the world for malicious reasons. After arrival, the group finds a sealed-up bunker-like structure with a cache of servers and a high-end computer system that Max helped install years earlier and is revealed to belong to another victim of Echelon's messages - the same person whose credit card was used to send Max the phone. Burke recently lost a battle to pass a bill in Congress to allow Echelon to be upgraded by being uploaded into personal computers worldwide. Soon, though, government agents pursue the young engineer receiving them around the world. He first wins one-hundred thousand euro on a slot machine and bets the entire amount on a hand of blackjack, which he wins. FBI Agent Dave Grant (Ving Rhames) interrupts the chase and handcuffs Max to interrogate him about the phone. Cinemark Twisty scenario by scripters Michael Nitsberg and Kevin Elders focuses on Max Peterson (Shane West), a computer security analyst who receives a state-of-the-art cell phone from an unknown benefactor while on assignment in Bangkok. An actress named Tamara Feldman is on hand to provide a little eye candy. Echelon Conspiracy (232) 5.7 1 h 45 min 2009 X-Ray PG-13 Mysterious cell phone messages promise a young American engineer untold wealth - then make him the target of a deadly international plot. Shane West - no Matt Damon - plays Max, a traveling IT geek who gets a new touch-screen phone as an anonymous present and soon finds himself the pawn of a mysterious conspiracy. The semi celebrity is forced to run for President of the United States. A brawl in Prague, a car chase in Moscow, and then it's back to an abandoned bunker in Nebraska for a final showdown with . Coming Soon. It stars Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, Jonathan Pryce, Tamara Feldman, and Martin Sheen. Wander ends on an emotionally satisfying note, positing the triumph of truth & justice amid a conspiracy-laden world. By creating an account, you agree to the All rights reserved. Aside from that it's a fun film to watch. (Or maybe the Russian Army. and the Agent Grant calls Burke at the NSA to inform him; nonetheless, Burke wants the Echelon in the global network in the interests of US national security. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Echelon Conspiracy has something to do with Maxs ensnarement in a scheme to make an unauthorized expansion of NSA surveillance capabilities, and something else to do with a super-duper NSA computer that may be acting as a rogue agent with a hidden agenda. To be upgraded by being uploaded into personal computers worldwide you 're having issues with commenting techie Yuri unveiled... 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