Monday, January 19, 2004

GATTACA



This is definitely one of the best sci-fi I've ever watched, and a very unsettling one too. Imagine this: In the not-too-distant future, all the gentic code of the human genome are decoded. Babies are conceived in lab b4 inserted into the mother's womb, with their genes carefully selected and enhanced, such as disease-resistant, high IQ, physically fit, and even gender, eye colour, height etc can be pre-determined. Of cuz, there are still a minority who prefer to let random chance and nature takes its course, and the protagonist Vincent is such a man. Unfortunately for Vincent, who live in a world where almost everyone has superior genes, he is an "in-valid", and a victim of genetic discrimination.

Since he was a child, Vincent always dream to become an astronaut. Tough, cuz in a society with an advanced gene pool, only people who have the perfect genetic makeup can successfully join the elite. It's kinda disturbing to see that in the world of Gattaca, one's status isn't determined by his wealth, position, or ability, but his genetic makeup which are determined even b4 birth. Many of those who are born in the natural way ended up as pariahs, and only able to be janitors or toilet cleaners for their entire life. Vincent, of course, can't succeed with his inferior genes, but he is determined not to give up. Thus he starts a fight against the system, never giving up.

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