# Bright: Will Smith does Shadowrun **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797 "2017-07-21T13:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/41 "2017-07-26T00:45:49Z")
Shadowrun doesn’t have a patent on mixing Sci Fi and fantasy or mixing Fantasy and modern day. It’s a good short hand to give the elevator pitch for this but to suggest they’ve been ripped off or something is inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/42 "2017-12-25T20:36:10Z")
This is getting killed on reviews but I watched it and its a perfectly serviceable buddy cop in a fantasy sci fi setting movie. You know what you are getting with Will Smith, Joel Edgerton does a great job too, and Lucy Fry does a perfectly acceptable Leeloo Dallas impression. If you like the trailer you’ll like the movie, ignore the dumb reviews. Also Netflix already ordered a sequel so they stand behind their product. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/43 "2017-12-25T21:31:07Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > [So looking forward to this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EZCBSsBxko) It looks like straight up Shadowrun minus the cyberpunk stuff. I read the bad and mixed reviews, then watched it. Good enough movie for me, but it is a Will Smith movie. Thats not bad, but he seems to imprint himself within the movie, so that instead of seeing his character, I see him. Seems to be a metaphorical movie based on current climate. Magic is not something new, but has been around for at least 2k years. From what I remember no cyberpunk at all in this movie, but I dont remember reading enough shadowrun to give comment regarding that in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/44 "2017-12-25T21:49:53Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > This is getting killed on reviews but I watched it and its a perfectly serviceable buddy cop in a fantasy sci fi setting movie. You know what you are getting with Will Smith, Joel Edgerton does a great job too, and Lucy Fry does a perfectly acceptable Leeloo Dallas impression. If you like the trailer you’ll like the movie, ignore the dumb reviews. Also Netflix already ordered a sequel so they stand behind their product. [It has a huge critic-audience disparity on Rotten Tomatoes.](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bright) I thought it was fun. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/45 "2017-12-25T22:07:55Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > This is getting killed on reviews but I watched it and its a perfectly serviceable buddy cop in a fantasy sci fi setting movie. Yeah…I mean, it’s far from perfect, but it’s entertaining, hangs together, and isn’t entirely predictable (though if you’re particularly familiar with any of the involved genres (or, as Declan says, Will Smith movies) it won’t be overly surprising, either). And it has an interesting world - one of my biggest complaints, in fact, is that it sets up this neat looking world and hardly explores it…even a few things that are plot relevant aren’t expanded quite as much as I’d like, such as the Dark Lord, and Orcish culture. It would really have been better served by a series than a movie - 5-10 hours, instead of 2 would have given them room to explore the world without cutting into the story. If it’s the kind of thing you like, you’ll like it, as you say. Seems like the universe would be fun to roleplay in. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/46 "2017-12-26T01:01:44Z")
I thought it was an entertaining Will Smith movie. My husband thought it was a pilot for a series and was disappointed when he found out otherwise. He said it reminded him of the old, short-lived tv series Alien Nation, which we both lamented when it was cancelled. It would make an interesting 10 episode season type internet show. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/47 "2017-12-26T01:10:28Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I thought it was an entertaining Will Smith movie. My husband thought it was a pilot for a series and was disappointed when he found out otherwise. He said it reminded him of the old, short-lived tv series Alien Nation, which we both lamented when it was cancelled. It would make an interesting 10 episode season type internet show. Yup, I wish this was the way they had gone from the start. A sequel is already green lit at least. I imagine Will Smith wouldn’t be available for a series or that it would be too cost prohibitive, but the setting is whats interesting not his character. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/48 "2017-12-26T06:27:54Z")
I would definitely watch a Bright TV series, even if it had fewer explosions and fewer Will Smiths than the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/49 "2017-12-26T07:29:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Nor are we at the same level of corporatism. In a typical Shadowrun-style cyberpunk world, Wal-Mart’s private security forces would be more powerful than the city government’s police. Don’t move to Basel… when the CEO of Novartis catches a bug, the mayors of 24 towns in 3 countries take to their beds (well, that was 10 years ago; they may be more towns now). There is that whole culture of “if you’re with The Company you get [list of benefits], if you’re with anybody else you’re still working for The Company but without the benefits” that the keiretsus in Shadowrun had. Add Swiss views on Rules and it can get really, really frustrating and really, really scary. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s also not dark and raining all the time, and we’re not all dressed in black leather, shiny suits or punk garb. So we’re not quite Cyberpunkworld yet. Not every Cyberpunk novel took place in Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/50 "2017-12-26T14:44:55Z")
I enjoyed it, sure its not high cinema, but it was a servicable action movie in an interesting setting. Couple of things I agree with other posters on, - Will Smith is Will Smith, you’re watching him not his character. I’d be perfectly happy of be doesn’t return for the sequel. - I’d like to see more of the world. I age a series would be perfect. My impression was that the other races have always been around, but magic had been at a low point, but had been strengthening in the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/51 "2017-12-26T23:02:25Z")
I liked this. I enjoyed the background details and things they threw in the scenery and dialogue that explained the world without exposition. I would like to see more stories set in this world, or, as others said, a TV series. I am confident if enough watch it Netflix will make a series out of it (minus Will Smith certainly). ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/52 "2017-12-27T04:14:03Z")
I enjoyed the heck out of this. I also wanted more backstory and more information on the world! A series would be great! This is not Shadowrun or even Cyberpunk. I would classify it as Urban Fantasy. I didn’t think Will Smith was being Will Smith, actually. I thought he played it straight compared to his usual action fare but that could be me. My wife thinks that critics don’t like it because they don’t know Urban Fantasy. Anyone who knows Urban Fantasy, or willing to read a little, could fill in the gaps where the critics complained and be fine with it. That’s the only thing we can think with regards to the disparity. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/53 "2017-12-27T05:09:18Z")
The back-story is not too complicated: thousands of years ago was an age when magic was a big deal (today it exists mostly in history and legends, people don’t think about it more than they do about quantum mechanics and nuclear weapons, dragons are something you go to see at the zoo). The Dark Lord (nine feet tall, burning red eyes, black armor, flaming axe) held sway with the orcs at his side. By all accounts, it was a bad time. But then an orcish farmer named Jirak decided or found out that the Dark Lord meant the end of the world, Hitler-style, so he raised an army to fight him. United, all Nine Races were able to defeat the Dark Lord and end the Dark Ages. However, it is prophesied that the Dark Lord will return and initiate a second Age of Magic. In anticipation, the fraternity of the Shield of Light has been preparing, including training a new generation of magic users to be able to fight him when he returns, and also handing out flyers at street corners. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/54 "2017-12-27T10:51:46Z")
Ok, I’m really glad I watched this before getting wind of the critical response… A rating of 30% at RT would probably have been enough to dissuade me from watching, but the film really isn’t anywhere near that bad. Sure, it’s not great cinema, and the dialogue is really clunky in places, but all in all, it’s a perfectly entertaining bit of popcorn cinema. Also, I think lots of the critics get hung up on the racism-analogy—which however wasn’t really there: unlike minorities in the real world, there are real, quantifiable differences between the races in that universe, and at least at one time, the orcs did in fact take the side of evil. So the point being made is not that we’re all the same in the end, but the—to me, more interesting—point that even if we’re really different, that doesn’t mean we’re not equally worthwhile. Together with a bit of netflix fatigue—there seems to be a pattern of netflix putting out a string of highly acclaimed works, then producing something that’s only B grade, which subsequently gets dumped on by everybody who wants to be in with the crowd—I think that that’s more responsible for the critical reaction than the film’s actual merits. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/55 "2017-12-27T12:46:36Z")
I think another possible reason for the poor critical reaction is that many reviewers seem to have seen Bright at special previews in cinemas, whereas the intended audience are viewing on their home TVs, laptops and tablets. The viewing experience and expectations are very different. I enjoyed the film myself, but as others have said, it did feel a little like an extended pilot: I can easily understand how it might fall short if seen as a big-screen feature. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/56 "2017-12-27T16:37:48Z")
A friend of mine didn’t finish it because he didn’t like being thrown headfirst into the world it was building (the very aspect I liked). A lot of people I follow on Twitter seem to be attacking it because they have a beef against Max Landis. That doesn’t seem entirely fair. Personally I think we should support kind of “out there” stuff like this even if it it isn’t perfectly executed. If everything that’s risky fails, all we will get is safe and boring. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/57 "2017-12-27T17:15:14Z")
Sorry to followup my own post but it looks like Netflix has already decided to do [more](https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/20/netflix-is-turning-will-smith-streaming-original-bright-into-a-film-franchise/). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/58 "2017-12-27T17:21:59Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Not sure if the Shadowrun people responded. Most of the ones I know (including me) enjoyed it, for the most part. The line developer did a snarky live-tweet of his watching last night. (look for Jason M. Hardy and #BrightWatch on Twitter). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/59 "2017-12-27T19:44:36Z")
I went and looked at the opening paragraph of the _Bright_ Wikipedia article. I have skipped over this entire thread to post here: How much does _Bright_ owe to (a) the film _Alien Nation_ and (b) the television series _Grimm_? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797/60 "2017-12-27T19:55:31Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I went and looked at the opening paragraph of the _Bright_ Wikipedia article. I have skipped over this entire thread to post here: > > How much does _Bright_ owe to (a) the film _Alien Nation_ and (b) the television series _Grimm_? (a): next to nothing, other than a superficial similarity in the concept of “non-human cop partner” and his occasional misguided attempts to fit in. (b): even less than that. The fantastic beings in _Grimm_ are in hiding: in _Bright_, they’re out in the open and always have been. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-will-smith-does-shadowrun/791797.md?page=4)