Restore Point (2023) User Reviews

Nice looking, good actors, little effort to sell the concept

[imdb-23821 · 5/10 · 18 February 2024]

A nice looking film, decent performances from the actors and a story you've heard before. Cop's life partner is killed and she's driven on a mission to stop a terrorist group. In this instance it's "tree of life" which seeks to stop restoring people's lives back to where they were before, perhaps their memory is restored - and this is never explained.

The problem I had was right from the beginning. A terrorist puts a gun against the back of a man's head and pulls the trigger, instantly splattering the contents of his head inside the bag that was pulled over his head. Exactly how was his life 'restored' when his head was in pieces? None of this is explained at all. There is just a timer device inside everyone's pocket that indicates how much longer you have to be 'restored.' One effort to explain it is in the hospital where a boy is 'restored' and a door is opened showing the boy waking up after a car accident and looking as if nothing has occurred.

Regrettably, this film because it doesn't even try to sell the science of the science fiction at all. It might be a technical triump for the Czech film industry and I do applaud the effort. But this film represents a learning experience.

Revolutionary movie for a Czech movie industry

[pidala-68459 · 8/10 · 22 September 2023]

It's really hard to review this movie objectively beying Czech, it doesn't look really comparable to Hollywood movies with massive budgets (and you have to know that before you visit cinema, don't expect Blade Runner with massive long shots to cyberpunk cities), but it's welcomed change here in our country, you have to consider how cheap this movie was (less then 2 milion eur).

Also you have to consider what kind of movies we normaly do, this is our first sci-fi after like 60 years! And after 2022 Jan Zizka (Medieval in English) this is the second try to do something more worldwide looking after many years, our film makers normaly don't even try, they make just TV movies targeted to a Czech viewer or fairytales or stupid comedy movies which are really low quality (which is sad, because our old comedy movies are really good), but Medieval had 10 times higher budget and looks worse than this super cheap movie.

Movie is just detective story from cyberpunk future, nothing too complicated, there are some nice ideas and moral dilemats, creators say that they worked on that for 9 years, so people who say it's stealing from Altered Carbon should consider that it's just a coincidence, the same asi similarities to Cyberpunk 2077.

Movie takes place somewhere in "central Europe" and names and places are selected on purpose that you don't exactly know where it is, some names are Czech, some Polish, some sounds German and city is mix of Prague, Warsaw and few other cities, but due to low budget, the vast majority of shots is very short and places where something is really doing on are small, similar to TV movies or theater, which is logical with that budget, part of movie takes place in comunity of people who deny technology, which is a logical way to save money, but I noticed that a lot of people hate the movie for not beying enough sci-fi and Cyberpunk, they have to know the budget! It's a miracle what they did with that money and it's just a start, if it earns money, they have big plans with this universe, so please support this movie made by new young creators with mostly new actors and actresses and you will get more in the future.

American look-alike

[corinka01 · 4/10 · 2 February 2024]

I love sci-fi and post-apocalyptic and existencial, and this tries to look exactly like that. The problem is it is just a make believe. The characters are not interesting, you don't care about them, because there is nothing to like them for or hate them for, for that matter. The dialogues are unnatural. Like translated from another language (I viewed the original Czech version), the characters names and organization names are unnecessarily complicated, hard to remember or make sense in the first place. It could have been a good movie if it was not trying too hard to look like something else. Too bad.

Wow!

[ichsachmalso · 8/10 · 14 September 2023]

The special effects and world building in this film were superb! I love how all the sci fi elements were a natural part of that society, even though it was so similar to ours. A lot of things were so subtle.

The story beats weren't anything new and some of the scenes dragged on a bit (probably didn't help that they were showing the film really late and everyone's eyes struggled to read the subtitles nearing midnight) but overall I found watching Restore Point a very enjoyable experience.

More of this type of world building please! :) Big studios really have no excuse for their substandard cgi if yours can look this good.

Very solid cyberpunk detective story

[ztwvmkj · 8/10 · 28 December 2023]

This for me was very solid detective cyberpunk story, one which i really didnt expect from our czech movie production. This movie compares well even to other movies in scifi genre.

Story is really solid with some juicy futuristic ideas, and the effects are good enough to immerse you in this future world.

The acting was professional, if little stiff sometimes, and story rushed too fast in some parts, but there were no major issues, nothing that would really detract you from enjoying the story.

Plus the pumping music in the credits rocks, wait for it.

Overall pretty enjoyable movie, especially if you like cyberpunk settings.

Backup

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 20 September 2023]

No pun intended - you could make the case of police not waiting for others to arrive! This is not the first movie to have the main character being way too anxious (not always with apparent reasons - the first incident ... it makes sense she wants to go in, not wanting to wait ... second one? Well I reckon in the end it makes sense, but she can't know that - also .. "baggage").

All that aside, the movie has quite a few things it does bring across. Having the chance to do things over, is not always the best thing for humans. It may feel like a security blanket ... but we know how this works. There are things, that I am not sure how they ... actually make sense and happen (I reckon technology is involved), but in the end, how much do we remember? How much is true? If we don't remember, did it happen? And are we a different being all of a sudden? A lot of existential question and .. angst as you could say ...

Worth watching

[xzhqcbpth · 10/10 · 4 October 2023]

After a long time , a really good movie made in Czech and Slovak Republic.

The story was something new , not heard of, and it really caught your attention. Camera work and music was amazing too.

This is a proof that you don't need millions and millions of dollars an CGI to make a good movie if you have a talent.

This movie easily has a potential to be a competition even for a Hollywood movies , because sometimes the simplicity and good story is more than hundreds of special effects , that try to cover nonexistent story.

I hope this is the direction Czech and Slovak movies are going to. Good work!

Best Sci-Fi in Years!

[darweb-68191 · 10/10 · 20 November 2023]

OK, other than Denis Villeneuve's Dune. Restore Point is the best sci-fi movie I have seen in a long time. Saw it at the After Dark film-fest, where director Robert Hloz was there in-person talking about the movie- what a treat! The movie was very well written - I loved the way the plot played with a few concepts around the idea of "backups" - made the film more than just a cop action movie set in the future. Too many sci-fi movies rely on special effects rather than story. The acting was excellent, world-building, cgi, sound - I really can't say anything bad about the movie. See it if you get a chance.

AMAZING SCI-FI NOIR

[Filiplovesmovies · 10/10 · 7 October 2023]

My hopes have just been restored that in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it's possible to create an amazing film that can hold its own and easily surpass many of the Hollywood movies with budgets 150,000 times higher.

"Restore Point" had beautiful visuals, a great soundtrack, and exceptional camera work. It reminded me of cool sci-fi films like "Blade Runner," "The Island," and "Upgrade."

It was finally something fresh, with an intriguing story and the outstanding lead actress Andrea Mohylová. She played her part perfectly and had a great look for a cool female cyberpunk detective. "Restore Point" explored many interesting themes about our attempts to back up consciousness. It brilliantly incorporated the new technologies of 2041 and avoided many of the mistakes made in famous sci-fi films. One common mistake in many sci-fi movies is that they are set in the near future, but the technology depicted is far too advanced for the year it's supposed to be, which makes the film less believable. In "Restore Point," I loved the setting and the powerful noir atmosphere it created when depicting the futuristic city in contrast to old, abandoned places.

It was very intense, had great music and amazing visuals. Restore Point serves as a proof that you don't need a high budget to create something fresh and visually stunning. It's a reminder that innovative storytelling and skillful filmmaking can transcend budgets and borders, leaving a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.

One of greatest sci fi I've ever seen !

[avisarasoolismartech · 10/10 · 8 February 2024]

The movie is so good ! It has a really compelling plot that you wanna watch , the performance is great . I really enjoyed the way they pictured future , this movie is intelligent!

Honestly I would have mentioned a flaw but I really couldn't find any . I don't know how did they found this idea , but I congratulate them . Because it was great ! Their plot is so perfect , i was stunned , there was also a lot of surprises and unpredictable events.

The filming , oh it was delicious . The cameras angle was exactly were it should , showing the best brew and giving you the emotion of the scene .

I want to also congratulate the actors, for their great performance through the film , didn't know any of them but still got me !

And songs were great and suited , also the CGI ? Was so realistic .and it everything made sense and it felt believable , like 2041 will be actually like yhe movie shows .

I really enjoyed the film , and I'm sure anyone in their right mind would feel the same. I don't usually rate films that high but this film definitely deserves the bests for its great work !

What a nice surprise, quite impressive.

[Wal_Kay · 8/10 · 5 April 2024]

Good storyline, very well executed, convincing cast. For a none Hollywood movie and I assume no gazillion Euros budget either, that is quite an impressive and enjoyable movie.

Big respect to Robert Hloz who did a great job, I am sure we'll see more of his work in the future. You could tell that he is a big fan of Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049", although the similarities are not imposing, but you could feel that we are not far from that reality, in a brighter and less gloomy future compared to Blade Runner.

I like very much the new everyday technology of 2041 and the performances of the cast and the casual way they were interacting with it, presumably most of it is CGI, but still it was quite convincing and a kind of a glimpse into the not so far possible future.

Very solid performance from all the cast but surely top praise to the lead character played by Andrea Mohylova.

I love it when a movie I know nothing about surprises me the way this movie did, quite a joyful gem.

Enthralling

[BatteryLifeAbysmal · 9/10 · 17 February 2024]

Restore Point is an enthralling narrative that artfully blends the allure of cutting-edge technology with the eternal intricacies of moral decision-making. From the beginning, the story catapults readers into an extraordinary reality: what if the 'restore points' used to safeguard data in our digital devices could be applied to our very existence? This ingenious concept lays the foundation for a storyline brimming with ethical tensions that captivate and retain your attention to the last page.

At the center of this narrative's tremendous pull are the decisions thrust upon its characters, decisions that cut right to the heart of their principles. The power to rewind life's moments kindles introspection about consequences, the weight of our experiences, and the perennial debate between destiny and free will. Witnessing the characters contend with altering their histories, eliminating cherished moments or amending past errors, rivets you with its poignant and intricate portrayal. It applaudly reflects the creators' proficiency in creating relatable moments that strike a chord through the veil of futuristic science fiction.

These moral puzzles are not just window dressing; they compel us, the audience, to scrutinize our own lives. What choices would we make if we could rewind and rewrite our missteps? It's a confrontational inquiry: do we undo our acts, risking the essence of our identity, or do we embrace everything that has shaped us, including our imperfections? "Restore Point" boldly illustrates the repercussions of these pivotal choices through captivating narrative consequences that will linger in your thoughts well beyond the conclusion.

Beyond its philosophical richness, the story thrills with its well-crafted plot - every scene packed with relevant action and deft suspense. The story's clever pacing results in narrative acrobatics that bounds through surprising twists, ensuring that the tale grips not only the viewer's attention but also their intellect.

In summary, I'd say Restore Point surpasses the run-of-the-mill storytelling, by breathtakingly merging its science fiction roots with a profound study into the depths of human qué- morals. This piece is much more than a simple speculative exercise - it educates as it enthralls. Left in the wake of the moral quandary or the thrill ride of the plot, it makes for an unforgettable experience, ideal for those seeking intellectual stimulation nested within their entertainment.