So, I just finished watching this movie called Paycheck.
It was just showing there on my Netflix homepage—a sci-fi flick starring Ben Affleck.
It looked kinda interesting. So, I figured, why not?
Actually, I’d been noticing it for a while now.
It kept showing up every time I opened Netflix. Morning, lunch, dinner—whenever I turned on the TV while eating, there it was.
And yet, every single time, I scrolled right past it.
You know that weird habit?
You open Netflix to watch something while you eat, but instead, you end up scrolling endlessly.
And then, before you know it, you’ve finished your food and you just give up and watch some 5-6 minute random video on YouTube instead?
Yeah, that.
I don’t even know why I do it. It makes no sense.
But today was different.
I brought my food, saw Paycheck again, and just hit play.
No second-guessing. I’d already seen the preview a few times during my earlier food-scroll sessions, so I kind of knew what I was getting into.
And honestly, the movie was pretty good.
The one question that kept popping into my mind while watching it was: How the heck did they have such good graphics in 2003?
Seriously. 2003.
Meanwhile, it’s 2025 now and Bollywood still can’t figure out proper CGI.
I have a reason which I tell myself though: Bollywood budgets don’t go into effects.
They go straight into celebrity pockets. Which explains a lot—bad graphics, mediocre storylines, lazy execution (well, in most cases).
Feels good to blame someone, doesn’t it? Just dump it all on the industry.
(Instant relief)
Anyway, back to the movie.
The story is about this contract engineer who basically copies a competitor’s product, builds a better version, and hands it over to the rival company that hired him. They then wipe his memory (for obvious reasons) and hand him a massive paycheck.
Only, things go sideways—and suddenly, he’s caught up in a whole mess with no idea what he’s even built.
Solid premise. Definitely a one-time watch. And don’t worry—I’m not spoiling the whole thing for you.
One fun (and mildly annoying) realization I had while watching: a lot of scenes from Paycheck feel eerily familiar.
Like I’ve seen them before. In Bollywood movies.
Yeah, no surprises there. It’s become standard practice to copy scenes (in the name of inspiration) and sequences.
And I know I sound bitter—but I can’t help it.
Hollywood delivers, and Bollywood copies. (mostly in action movies)
I rant, and they keep giving me reasons to rant.
So yeah, a great movie—watch it and enjoy!