6TH DAY, THE

SYNOPSIS:
Adam Gibson (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a decorated fighter pilot and old fashioned family man whose life (and wife) is thrown into chaotic danger when he discovers he’s been cloned. By mistake . . . The billionaire behind human cloning, Michael Drucker (Tony Goldwyn) sends his top thugs Marshall (Michael Rooker) and Talia (Sarah Wynter) to find him. They, too, are clones of their former selves, examples of how cloning can get out of hand.

"To clone or not to clone, that is the question in The 6^th Day, a futuristic action spectacular with not one, but two Arnies. So if you're a fan of the square jawed Ken doll with pecs and charming accent, you'll be doubly impressed. Set in an age when the fridge tells you to stock up ‘cause you're just about to run out of milk, you can drive your car or plane by remote control and hey, you never need worry that your precious pet might hit the dust - Repet's the way for cloning today - society's woes are somewhat different. Originals are hard to come by and in this world of selective morality, playing God and creating tailor made people in just two hours for 1.2 million dollars each is par for the course. Like Arnie, the stunts are big – buildings explode, glass shatters, water falls and flying machines provide thrilling chases through striking snowy canyons and vistas. It's stylish, high tech and action all the way. The premise takes a whiff of Total Recall and like Bicentennial Man, the film touches on the true meaning of humanity. But it's mostly predictable Hollywood action with a trite script whose lines like 'Try staying dead next time' emphasise the plastic nature of the characters. But after all, they are mostly clones, so plastic is on the cards. Arnie is – well – Arnie, and while we are told he does all his stunts (and they are convincing), his performance lacks the depth shown in his last outing End of Days. Will his next film be titled The First Day, I wonder? Sarah Wynter looks abfab in her blue wig as she scowls a lot, kicks butt and is chronically aggressive, but there's not much opportunity to show much else. Robert Duvall adds credibility – his and Wendy Crewson's characters are the only ones that are real. Visually striking, The 6^th Day impresses with its superb production design and dazzling non-stop action, even though it's too long, too shallow and often too loud. But if big bangs is what you're after, this is definitely the ticket."
Louise Keller