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Post by stardustpilgrim on Apr 30, 2015 18:27:32 GMT -5
Friday morning I usually check for new movies starting. Last Friday I saw this new film I hadn't even heard of previously, Ex Machina. I read the synopsis and decided to give it a try, I was pleasantly surprised. In a futuristic sci-fi slowly building suspense game of cat & mouse, a very rich company owner who's also a reclusive computer genius, Nathan, builds and programs a robot AI, Ava, and invites an employee, Caleb, to spend a week on his wilderness secluded "Falling Waters" home and laboratory. The home is built into the side of a mountain and over a river with numerous glass walls, is highly secure and hundreds of miles in the middle of nowhere, reached by helicopter. The invitation is for purposes of testing quite attractive Ava to see if she is indeed conscious. I can't say much more without giving spoilers. If these elements suit your movie viewing, I can highly recommend. There is an almost minor additional element which makes for four present, a female non-speaking robot-servant, Kyoto. I guess I can also say without giving too much away, it's not a first-date-movie, and as warning, it is also an R-rated (slight spoiler) psychological thriller.
I just checked Rotten Tomatoes, critics give it 90%, viewers 89%. Critics consensus, "uncommonly engaging sci-fi". I agree.
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Post by stardustpilgrim on May 27, 2015 17:39:12 GMT -5
Ex Machina seems to be the surprise hit of the year so far. Has nobody seen this? The director was on Charlie Rose about two weeks ago, but I only caught about the last ten minutes, haven't watched the show from the Charlie Rose web site yet. (Thanks cg).
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Post by andrew on May 27, 2015 18:24:11 GMT -5
Ex Machina seems to be the surprise hit of the year so far. Has nobody seen this? The director was on Charlie Rose about two weeks ago, but I only caught about the last ten minutes, haven't watched the show from the Charlie Rose web site yet. (Thanks cg). I saw it. I found it very thought provoking, it obviously raises all sorts of questions about the nature of consciousness, intelligence and what it means to be 'alive'. Definitely engaging, but the whole thing left a sort of unpleasant taste in my mouth. I can see why it's a good movie but personally, I couldn't recommend it. I could recommend McFarland, USA. That's a movie with heart. I think I like first date movies hehe.
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Post by silver on May 27, 2015 18:33:02 GMT -5
I checked it out on Rotten Tomatoes (decent scores!) -- even though I have the same objections to many of Kostner's films, he does a decent job in The Postman as well (my favorite Kostner film) and many critics say he did well in this -- I wonder why I hadn't heard of McFarland, USA -- am looking forward to seeing it.
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Post by andrew on May 27, 2015 18:40:03 GMT -5
I checked it out on Rotten Tomatoes (decent scores!) -- even though I have the same objections to many of Kostner's films, he does a decent job in The Postman as well (my favorite Kostner film) and many critics say he did well in this -- I wonder why I hadn't heard of McFarland, USA -- am looking forward to seeing it. yeah. It's the sort of movie that plays itself out with no big surprises, and yet it's still engaging and satisfying. Just a good story, decent script, likeable characters.
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Post by stardustpilgrim on May 27, 2015 18:57:32 GMT -5
Ex Machina seems to be the surprise hit of the year so far. Has nobody seen this? The director was on Charlie Rose about two weeks ago, but I only caught about the last ten minutes, haven't watched the show from the Charlie Rose web site yet. (Thanks cg). I saw it. I found it very thought provoking, it obviously raises all sorts of questions about the nature of consciousness, intelligence and what it means to be 'alive'. Definitely engaging, but the whole thing left a sort of unpleasant taste in my mouth. I can see why it's a good movie but personally, I couldn't recommend it.I could recommend McFarland, USA. That's a movie with heart. I think I like first date movies hehe. I quite understand your reservations Andrew. In the OP I tried to give some parameters without giving anything away.
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Post by zendancer on May 27, 2015 20:49:54 GMT -5
A relative recommended Ex Machina, and it was a slick production, but it lacked the depth and believability we would have preferred. No real feelings developed for the characters--just intellectual curiosity. Harrison Ford's Blade Runner was a more interesting take on a similar theme. The movie held our attention, but was ultimately unsatisfying. In general we agree with Andrew's assessment. However, we did find the design of the CEO's contemporary hideaway architecturally interesting.
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