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:

28 Square miles of London were digitally recreated. Boroughs included are: Marylebone, Chelsea, Mayfair, Islington, Paddington, Bethnal Green, Southwark, Whitechapel, Knightsbridge, Soho, Hoxton, Shoreditch, Brompton, Westminster, Lambeth, Vauxhall and The City.

Goofs:

Continuity: Joe Fielding initially gives his rank over the police radio as D.I. (Detective Inspector), yet later when Carter is about to take him to hospital, and when Carter later visits him there, he is referred to as D.C. Fielding (Detective Constable).

Quotes:

DC Frank Carter: [on phone] Right Hammond. You go for the boy - I'll go for Jake and the detonator.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (VG)

Why should games be realistic?

The Getaway, says Sony, is a perfect combination of both movie and game. You, the player, have to complete missions implemented in a storyline told by several cut-scenes. On-screen information like health bars, hints and directions simply don't exist: you have to rely on your car's turn signals to find your way through the faithfully remodeled city of London. Realism is the keyword here.

And it's the realism that makes this game hell to play. I am a big fan of the 'cartoon' approach that Rockstar uses in its brilliant GTA games. Unlike Grand Theft Auto, The Getaway wants to be taken seriously. Example: killing pedestrians in GTA is fun. You get money for doing so and if you wait a few seconds, an ambulance will arrive to undo the damage you've done. Whereas driving over pedestrians with your vehicle is ludicrous in GTA, it's a rather uncomfortable business in The Getaway. The sickening thud and the screaming of the person you just hit make this quite horrible. And you'll have to kill a few peds in this game, believe me. London folks appear to be suicidal, which means they'll regularly walk into your car. Same goes for the innocent people who get killed when they walk stupidly into your line of fire.

Telling the entire world that your game is ultra-realistic sheds expectations. People don't expect crappy animation, cheesy controls and abysmally behaving cars in a 'realistic' game, and neither did I. This game should have set a benchmark, and it did: The Getaway is the world's first ánd worst movie-game combo ever! A brilliant idea, good storyline and seedy atmosphere are worth nothing thanks to the ruddy gameplay. Games shouldn't be realistic, they should be fun. Ironically, The Getaway is neither realistic nor entertaining. A lousy 5.5/10 is even more than they actually deserve.