So, is the anti-tech sci-fi film like the ultimate bad boy of science fiction?

In a parallel universe of the now in “Surrogates,” everyone has an avatar robot (surrogate) of themselves. Think of it as “Second Life” in a robot world.

Ugly people can be as beautiful as they want, and everyone can screw, fight and riot to their heart’s content via their avatars. There are virtually no more STDs or homicides. That is until someone creates a weapon that can kill people via their avatars.

When the son of the inventor of surrogate robots gets assassinated, FBI Agent Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) is on the case.

He finds the assassin without much trouble, but the conspiracy behind the assassination is much greater than the murder.

More than 90% of the world’s population uses a surrogate, but a small marginalized society of humans live as themselves. In Boston, they are led by a man called The Prophet (Ving Rhames). He’s planning an anti-surrogate revolution.

Corporate bad guys have their own motives.

Even retired surrogate inventor Lionel Canter (James Cromwell) seems to have his own motives in the conspiracy.

Greer has his hands full already, and then his surrogate gets shredded. Suspended by the FBI, Greer is forced to leave the house for the first time in years in his old human body and sort out what is really happening.

It’s sci-fi with a mystery and some action. It doesn’t rate an “Oh, daddy,” but I liked it.

If you think about it, it really speaks out against the internet age. Get out from behind your electronic masks and live in the real world. As if!

It borrows loads of ideas from “Demolition Man,” “I, Robot,” “1984,” “Minority Report” and a slew of cyber punk stories.

It’s a slick flick, but having just watched “Avatar” in IMAX 3-D, my standards for sick FX have just been rewritten for A-list movies.

The biggest question it poses for me: Is a kickin’ sci-fi action flick with an anti-tech flavor the ultimate in modern rage against the maching or a bitter old skooler’s rage against progress in techie-cool wrapping paper?

I sure ain’t sure, but I liked it.