The Getaway (2002) (VG)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Brendan McNamara

Writers:

Katie Ellwood (writer)
Brendan McNamara (writer)

Release Date:

21 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

The kidnapping of Mark Hammond's son leads him on a journey through London as he does jobs from the kidnapper, Charlie Jolson, criminal empire. Meanwhile, DC Frank Carter searches through the empire for answers. |

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapping | Prostitute | Bomb | Gang War | Yardie

Cast

Don Kembry	...	Mark Hammond (voice)
Richard Hards	...	Charlie Jolson (voice) (as Ricky Hards)
Joe Rice	...	DC Frank Carter (voice)
Anna Edwards	...	Yasmin (voice)
Michael Preston	...	Harry 'The Hat' (voice)
Dave Golds	...	Jake Jolson (voice)
Paul Burfoot	...	Eyebrows (voice)
Mick Oliver	...	DCI Clive McCormack (voice)
Jim Darrah	...	Grievous (voice)
Elwin 'Chopper' David	...	Jamahl (voice)
Russell Levy	...	Nick Collins (voice)
Paul Swaby	...	Liam (voice)
Vic Robinson	...	DI Joe Fielding (voice)
Wai Tsang	...	Bobby Lee (voice)
Chee Kin Chan	...	Fu Shan Chu (voice)

Also Known As:

Getaway 1 (International: English title) (informal title)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:MA | Ireland:18 | UK:18 | USA:M

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Team Soho

Trivia:

Sold Over 250,000 copies in the run-up to Christmas 2002. Director Brendan McNamara appears in a cameo as the barman at the Spotted Dog pub. Writer and Producer Katie Ellwood appeared as Mark Hammond's wife, Suzie.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the Snow Hill Police Station massacre mission Hammond goes in wearing a BT uniform. When you reach Yasmin in the interview room your outfit changes back to your suit and tie. However, the suit can be seen on the floor.

Quotes:

Mark Hammond: Where's my son you fat bastard!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#29.5)" (2003)

Not so much a game as much as it is an "interactive movie" and on that level, it works.

"The Getaway" is not a video game version of the Sam Peckinpah heist flick or even of the Walter Hill remake. It's a British gangster movie in the vein of Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels". Or is it a video game? It certainly seems like a movie, but it's not.

For years, game developers have been wanting to create a so-called "interactive movie". A product with the look and feel of a motion picture, but one where the viewer is totally in control of. For the most part, they've failed miserably, as is the case of the horrible FMV titles from the Sega CD days.

However, most recently, programmers have come close to such a thing, just play "Max Payne" and you'll realize how much game makers have evolved the concept. Still, I've never played one such as "The Getaway", a gritty, in-your-face gangster opus with characters that use the "F" word so many times that you would think Quentin Tarantino had something to with the script.

In fact, like Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction", the story of "The Getaway" is structured in a very nonlinear way. The two central characters, an ex-gangster who's been pulled back into the "life" and a rogue cop share the spotlight in telling the tale from their own different perspective.

It's us, the players, who could use some help controlling these characters in putting them to good use. As great as the "movie" is, it's the game's controls that need to be polished. Moving these two characters around is, for the most part, a chore. In the name of "realism", the makers have decided to get rid of the usual standard for video games.

There are no health bars (you look tired as you get shot), no maps of the city (London) you constantly drive in or even direction indicators (you have to rely on your turn signals). This is a bold move on part of the makers, because we gamers love games because of the very reason that they get us away from realism. We don't really care for realism in video games. At least the way it's played out in this product. It makes for a very frustrating game expierence.

The reason the "Grand Theft Auto" games are so fun and addicting is the way it constantly relys on a "virtual" world. "The Getaway" is the opposite, I know most players will look at this as a "Grand Theft Auto" ripoff, but it's far from the truth. "GTA" is a parody of recent American gangster pictures, "The Getaway" is a dark, unnerving action game that isn't comical in any way. Its a step in the right direction in bringing the "interactive movie" to life. In that way, it works, but there still is room for improvement.

I'd give it *** out of **** (Good)