Synopsis: During surgery, more than 60,000 people domestically each year experience "anesthetical awareness," a condition when anesthesia fails during surgery, leaving one completely conscious and feeling every incision, but paralyzed and incapable of doing anything about it. This is what happens to Clay.

Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba and Terrence Howard star in this psychological, out of body, murder mystery thriller. This movie is very cerebral and goes against the standard recipe that most Hollywood movies have… there's no action, explosions, comedy, dumb characters, etc. So moviegoers who are looking for the standard silver screen schlock are going to be sadly disappointed, but those looking to sit back, relax, unplug and just allow "Awake" to tickle their brainstems will be pleasantly tickled. It's sort of a hard movie to categorize or summarize, but for me it was an enjoyable cerebral flick… plus you get to see Jessica Alba being all adorable and half naked for most of the movie (but you never get to see the goodies… she's SUCH a tease). Anyhow… overall this movie was worth watching once, but probably not again. 

All in all, I'd give this movie 3 Anesthesiologists (out of 5). Re-watch value: LOW

So the movie was not what I had expected when I first sat down.  I had not seen a trailer and I had not read the synopsis, so I really knew nothing about this movie other than the opening words scrolled on the screen.  "During surgery, more than 60,000 people domestically each year experience 'anesthesia awareness,' a condition when anesthesia fails during surgery, leaving one completely conscious and feeling every incision, but paralyzed and incapable of doing anything about it."  Well as it turns out the movie is about someone who is awake during a murder, but under anesthesia, as the mystery unfolds we find out who the true friends and the not so true friends are.  I was not surprised by the ending; however I was a little taken back by the story.  The movie has a descent plot and story but if you go in expecting a hospital drama then you are in for a shock, as it really has nothing to do with "anesthesia awareness."  Overall I thought the star packed movie was OK. It didn't really throw me over the edge with the mystery and it didn't make me want to puke, so it was worth watching once and not a complete waste of time. 

Overall Rating: 2.5 Anesthesiologists (out of 5). Re-Watch Value: Medium (I might watch it again since I now know what to expect from the movie.)

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