2 quick movie reviews

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  • February 28, 2016 at 10:18 am #39733
    PA Ram
    Participant

    Ex Machina

    Described as a modern day Frankenstein. Yeah–kinda. But I thought that the big thing about the film and what I really enjoyed is that it’s a smart film that gets you thinking about big questions. What is “human”? What does it really mean? Is it even a good thing?

    The plot centers around a genius recluse(Oscar Issac) who sits in his remote hideaway designing all sorts of future technology. He’s a bit of a drunk too but somehow he keeps it together on some level–but clearly he’s a bit mad as well. He’s a scary individual. Anyone trying to be God is. He brings in one of his employees(Domhall Gleeson) on a “free trip” to his home and laboratory to help him perform a sort of Turing Test on an AI he has created–a very human looking robot called, “Ava”. Does she have real consciousness? Does it just seem that way?

    And if she DOES have it–what does that mean?

    There were elements to the film I thought were a little predictable but it didn’t matter. The performances were fantastic, the film looks beautiful and it kept me thinking.

    Very good film. Worth watching.

    SPOTLIGHT

    An ensemble cast is the highlight of this film about the cover-up in the Catholic church in Boston concerning its priests. While the acting is fine(Ruffallo got an Oscar nod but I kind of liked Keaton’s low-key performance better) the film plays like a documentary. It doesn’t feel much like a motion picture built to move you in any way.

    It’s cold, distanced and methodical.

    I think I would have rather seen the story as a documentary to be honest.

    If you’re interested in the story of what happened–go for it. But don’t expect to be entertained.

    I’m very disappointed in the Best Picture nominees this year. I’ve seen all but two of them and would not really say any of the ones I’ve seen are worthy but maybe it’s that kind of year.

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    February 28, 2016 at 12:34 pm #39743
    nittany ram
    Moderator

    Yeah, I saw ex machina when it was in theaters and I liked it as much as you.

    Spoiler***********

    At the end when she escapes I remember thinking how terrible that possibility would be…fully sentient non-organic super intelligent beings without a conscience set loose upon the world. It seems super intellect would need to be tempered with empathy for other beings or things could get pretty nasty for those other beings. How bad would it be if we lacked the capacity for caring about others or no longer felt a deep sense of guilt when our actions hurt someone else?

    Then I thought it probably wouldn’t be much different than it is now.

    February 28, 2016 at 4:10 pm #39749
    PA Ram
    Participant

    Yeah, Nittany. It’s a scary thought.

    I mean–even looking at the big picture and looking at ourselves as a sort of biological machine that has somehow developed this thing called consciousness–as a whole, it seems that people look after whatever their selfish interests are first and foremost(certainly not everyone). Is this a product of consciousness in general? This thing called greed, or emotions like hate and anger–especially in regard to “the other”–is that just something that goes along with the package?

    If another civilization were to spring up in a distant galaxy and developed a consciousness—would that civilization be limited to the same flaws? If a machine developed it, would the machine be subject to the same thing? Consciousness is incredibly complex and not understood particularly well–and maybe it never will be.

    But when it develops in a particular vessel(and of course I mean at a high level)would these negative traits always develop as well?

    I get the theory of Dawkins’, “The Selfish Gene” but in another life form or in a machine that didn’t share this DNA—what would happen?

    I’m rambling but anyway–yeah–it was a good film.

    And what you said is a chilling thought.

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    February 28, 2016 at 9:53 pm #39774
    zn
    Moderator
    nittany ram wrote:

    How bad would it be if we lacked the capacity for caring about others or no longer felt a deep sense of guilt when our actions hurt someone else?

    The big theme of Philip K. Dick, right there. Not just in Do Androids Dream, but much earlier in 1950s short stories like “2nd Variety” (which is in public domain and online if anyone is interested).

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