DVD | Manchurian Candidate

Conspiracy thriller The Manchurian Candidate started out as a book, then in 1962 got made into a movie. Back then it was all to do with the Cold War.

Now we have Jonathan Demme’s re-make.

This time round the commentary is that of the post 9-11 world, where the American government manufactures fear to keep the population sedated. But as we all know, the government is controlled by big business.

Manchurian Global have discovered a way to brain wash people by inserting chips in their brains. They discovered this through using guinea pigs – US soldiers on a covert mission during the Gulf War.

One of these candidates is now in the running for Vice Presidency, the other is loosing his mind – or so he thinks.

Denzel Washington plays a very convincing, highly respected career soldier who is slowly loosing his mind through recurring dreams. He becomes obsessed with his fellow squad member who is destined to become Vice president and unwittingly plays into the plans of the conspirators.

Will Manchurian Global be successful in their planned bloodless coup? Or will Denzel regain his sanity in time to save the world?

I’m not telling (though this is Hollywood, so take a guess). What I will say was that this was an entertaining little thriller. It could have ended about 5 minutes sooner than it did – why do producers think they have to make an ending that spells EVERYTHING out to you. Why not leave some mystery?

Click here for the DVD cover.