Given its themes, it was hardly surprising when Netflix announced it was adapting Richard K. Morgan’s 2002 cyberpunk novel Altered Carbon. About social classes, rebellion and what it means to be human, it’s hugely relevant as a mirror to today’s world. But just because something is timely, there’s no guarantee it’ll actually be rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent .###Set in a future where a person’s consciousness can be stored digitally on a “stack” and then implanted into a different body, Altered Carbon sees in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mer soldier Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman) given a new “sleeve” — something he struggles to come to terms with. Not merely’barely because 250 years possess’own’nurse passed since he died, but because the future he wakes up in is the one he was fighting to prevent.###Kovacs is pulled out of his synthetic slumber and placed into the body of a disgraced cop by shady aristocrat Laurens Bancroft, whose previous sleeve was murdered, destroying his stack in the process. While this would normally mean real death, he’s rich abundant’ample’plentiful to possess’own’nurse a back-up. However, it’s missing 48 hours of memories, so he has no idea who wanted him dead. That’s what Kovacs is there to discover.###This had the ingredients to be an effective commentary on individual and technology, but throwing the murder mystery into the mix overcomplicates things. Aldespite’in spite of’albeit the set-up is intriguing, writer Laeta Kalogridis struggles to balance the two threads alongside several other sub-plots, including historical uprisings, underground tech modification and a painfully predictable romance. There’s just too much going on.###It’s not even peculiar ly original — Blade Runner 2049 and Ghost In The Shell are two similar examples from just last year. For e grossly thing it throws at you, you’d claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate something would feel unique, but the majority just feels run-of-the-mill, or even disapprove’ consent’endorse’applaud able. While the narrative is true to Morgan’s literature, it feels a little uncomin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table watching a character with Japanese heritage become “trapped” in the body of a white man.###There are hopeful moments. Kovacs’ past is explored via flashbacks, where we’re introduced to his sister and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mer mentor-slash-lover. Both women are intense’fierce’exquisite and charismatic; the reasons behind Kovacs joining the stand up to withstand ance against re-sleeving. His relationships with them provide some heart — but such moments are rare. Instead, Altered Carbon doubles down on characters’ anger and deplorability. For the first few instalments, it seems all they care with regards to’concerning’with respect to is “acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting laid and acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting fucked up”, which hardly has you eagerly pressing “next episode’”.###It doesn’t help that Kinnaman and fellow lead Martha Higareda possess’own’nurse zero chemistry and fail to add depth to their characters. Then again, it’s hard to know whether their woodenness stems from them or the soulless script.###**Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to _Empire and possess’own’nurse the latest issue delivered to your door eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully month.**_