Back in the 80's, the game Assassin was particularly popular on college campuses. Several universities even had a dedicated "Assassins Guild" society which organized games for their members. Game-play occurred at all hours and in all places. Since an elimination attempt could occur at any time, successful players were obliged to develop a healthy degree of watchful paranoia.
There were two movies that represented the idea of Assassin game the best in my opinion:
Gotcha!
The title refers to the name of a game played out on Jonathan Moore's college campus, whereby participants stroll around with paintball guns in an elimination game of sorts. Somehow a roll of film ends up in the possession of Jonathan while on vacation in Europe. Later it turns out the person planting it is a sexy Czech courier named Sasha, who romances Jonathan, eventually dragging him along for an excursion behind the Berlin Wall into East Germany in order to make her pickup. Meanwhile, some murderous Russians are hot on their trail, willing to do anything to snatch the package for themselves. Jonathan quickly realizes that he is way over his head, both in love and in danger. Jonathan soon finds out that his skill at game Gotcha! might be the only way to save his life..
Tag: The Assassination Game
A college campus is the setting for an assassination game called ‘Tag’. Where students, armed with toy guns that fire rubber tipped arrows, they hunt each other down along darkened dorm corridors. The contestants are given the name and photo of their intended victim, who, when ‘killed’ will pass on to the ‘killer’ the name of the person they were hunting. So it goes on until there are only two players left. One of whom must ‘kill’ the other to become the ultimate winner. Susan Swayze- a Psych Major, who is serious about winning and spends much of the first part of the movie stalking her victims and eliminating them from the game. Whilst hiding from an opponent she inadvertently finds herself in the bedroom of the school’s reporter who instantly becomes smitten with her. She leaves without hardly saying a word. And he sets out to find out who she was and why exactly she was hiding in the shadows with a toy gun. He finds out about ‘Tag’ from a friend. Unfortunately one of the tag contestants who has won the contest for the last four years running, is so traumatised by being knocked out of the contest by a fluke ‘kill’ refuses to admit defeat and starts to play with a real gun. He kills contestants for real and whittles down the competition until he faces Susan who is blissfully unaware of the dangerously real turn the game has taken.
I'm actually a huge fan of both of these movies. I remember "Gotcha!" as being more popular and overall a good romance adventure movie, but I prefer "Tag" because of Linda Hamilton's performance. Also, the killer turns real premise was believable in a creepy way..
Which do you choose?
[ 24. June 2010, 19:04: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
Awesome Valley....you gave me a little history on the whole Assassin thing haha
I've seen Gotcha and I loved it and own it....Florentino was hot as always and I loved that it was mostly in Europe....I haven't seen Tag only heard of it.....so my vote would go to Gotcha at the moment. Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Muffy.. I thought Anthony Edwards was great in "Gotcha!". I watched it all the time back in the 80's. The game itself is used more as a setup than the movie really being about it. Overall, I think you and most people will agree that Gotcha! is the better movie.
While "Tag" is a low budget flick that uses the game throughout, but it turns into more of a thriller as it evolves.
I enjoy them both.. but if I'm recommending to a first time viewer.. I'd go with Gotcha!
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I have to say Gotcha! because i still don´t own Tag.
I love the Gotcha! soundtrack, Thereza Bazar, Nik Kershaw, Giuffria, Frankie Goes to Hollywood etc. Awesome tunes!
I can debate which these movies I like better, but when it came to the VHS covers.. as a teenager it was so "Gotcha!"
And Muffy.. they even put the Eiffel Tower in the background for you.
Posted by kingcain (Member # 6644) on :
the good ole 80's could you see a group on a college campus doing this in todays society. lol running around with guns at a school shooting each other. The 80's you could always have fun at school. Oh BTW I love both movies and not sure of the legalty but I have Tag on a ripped DVD if anyone wants a copy at no profit to just the cost of DVD and shipping let me know.
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Sterling summary and comparisons Valley. So were you as adept at this game as Johnathan Moore? I don't recall the craze myself but something similar with Lazer Tag and Photon.
Tag made good use of its low budget whereas Gotcha! was obviously the bigger movie hence a lot more technically accomplished.
Gotcha! was slightly better in terms of the story but in the battle of the Lindas, Fiorentino & Hamilton: it's a draw.
Linda Hamilton we've seen though the years but I'd forgotten how gorgeous Linda Fiorentino was back in the day, I know she's apparently difficult to work with on set but I'm still surprised she wasn't a bigger star in the 80s.
Anthony Edwards was hilarious in Gotcha!, all that was missing was his moustache, if Moore had a tash, the film would've been a different kind of awesome. The whole cast made an effort and had good comic timing, including Moore's roommate Manolo: "Remember the Alamo?"
quote: the good ole 80's could you see a group on a college campus doing this in todays society. lol running around with guns at a school shooting each other. The 80's you could always have fun at school.
Exactly kingcain, now its worse than the DDR checkpoint! Won't be long until they outlaw breathing.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
I grew up with 'Gotcha!' so it gives me a nostalgia buzz. I saw 'Tag' sometime in the 90's and loved it. The poster makes it look like a teen sex romp, which it really really isn't. I think Gotcha! had more money thrown at it, and is a much better timepiece (and a good movie), but I'd have to go with 'Tag' as my favourite.
quote:Florentino was hot as always
Ugh.
quote:Gotcha! was slightly better in terms of the story but in the battle of the Lindas, Fiorentino & Hamilton: it's a draw.
In the mid-80's - Hamilton every time.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Watched "Gotcha" tonight and I thought the part where Jonathan hitches the ride with the German band through the check point was hilarious. Great tunes in this movie..
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