Transcendence

[wayfriend]

I am intrigued.

Trailer 1
Trailer 2

It reminds me of Nicolas Daru Ede, from Neverness, who vastened himself by carking his mind into a computer.

It reminds me of P1, from The Adolescence of P1, too.

Then again, this may be another Virtuosity.

[Vraith]

It reminds me of P1, from The Adolescence of P1, too.

OMG, I think you are the only person besides me who's read [or at least remembers reading] that book.

Anyway...I like Depp generally [despite some bad choices, and blatantly "called it in for the paycheck" performances] and this seems like the kind of thing I like him best in. Looks like a pretty strong cast across the board.

What I DON't see, so far, is a single idea that hasn't been around since the original twilight zone period. It looks worth watching...but not groundbreaking [though perhaps, unlike most films for decades, they're keeping the best stuff hidden instead of the trailer revealing all the good stuff there is...and great performances/direction/cinematography/etc. can overcome terrible or cliche ideas]

[I'm Murrin]

Seen the trailer for this the last couple times I went to the cinema - I'm intrigued, but always wary of films that show the entire plot in the trailer.

[wayfriend]

What I DON't see, so far, is a single idea that hasn't been around since the original twilight zone period.

Interestingly, when I was trying to remember the name "Virtuosity" through google, I came across Mind uploading in fiction in Wikipedia. There are traces in literature back to 1955, which is interesting because computers still used vacuum tubes. In movies, 1962.

(And it's perhaps apropos that I augment my memory with google.)

So, yes, it's not new. However, what intrigues me is the possibility of a thought-provoking morality play on the subject.

And, Vraith, when you post without color=purple, is that like going outside without pants?

[Vraith]

And, Vraith, when you post without color=purple, is that like going outside without pants?

Yea...only worse, cuz I didn't notice till I came back. Waking up, without pants, in the front yard.

Anyway, just a few weeks ago, I THINK on this thing called "THIS" network, or maybe it was "METv"...one or the other or both show old thriller and night gallery and twilight zone and such...anyway, they uploaded a "crippled" astronaut/scientist's brain into a machine so he could go on the mission he'd basically invented...and he went nuts and started killing folk. [They didn't actually upload him...they put his brain in a jar and hooked it up to the hardware]. It was all in black and white...at least mid-60's I'd guess, maybe a little earlier.
Anyway, I'll probably see it, I'll hope for some plot/character/drama twists...but the whole """AI's and/or Cyber/Digital folk go crazy/are power-mad/think people are evil and/or a plague''''...getting old, man, getting old.

[wayfriend]

Oh. Yeah. Never put a brain in a jar. That never ends well.

[lucimay]

Oh. Yeah. Never put a brain in a jar. That never ends well.

I'm interested. not intrigued cause, you know, what everboddy else said upthread...but interested nonetheless.
depp has been getting on my nerves lately, he's just gone too johnny depp on himself and it's annoying. he's sooooo johnny deppish.
not to mention the fact that he divorced Vanessa Paradis.
what an idiot, right?
but before he got so johnny deppish, I liked him and I'm willing to give him another chance to be good.
or...less deppish.

[I'm Murrin]

Well, he's not wearing a silly costume and putting on an odd accent, so that's something.

[peter]

I only ever saw one JD interview and he came across as rather humble and nice. Maybe this was an act - he is an actor after all, he could be the reincarnation of Stalin for all I know - but it was well done anyways.

But to the film - alas Johnny Depp is somewhat 'typecast' into wearing silly costumes and using silly accents; it's what he does best. Outside of this setting I wonder if he has the 'force of personallity' to make a role work. Trancendence will hopefully prove my fears unfounded.

[I'm Murrin]

I saw this film on Sunday. It was alright. Couple dumb things (wrapping everything in copper mesh to keep the AI out; modified people who function like mind-controlled zombies; the last-minute "maybe he wasn't so bad after all!"), but other than that it was fine.

You don't see this kind of sci fi much in movies.

I'd been watching Criminal Minds all weekend, so I found the presence of JJ's husband in the film distracting.

[wayfriend]

I'm glad for you it was all right. Reviews of this have been very negative.

[I'm Murrin]

Yeah, saying it's "alright" is what we call damning with faint praise.

[Rau Le Creuset]

It is definitely better than the 20% it got on Rotten Tomatoes. Sure the idea has been used before, but this time it has been presented in a way we haven't encountered. It almost brought up the old Thomas Covenant question; Can good be accomplished by evil means?

[peter]

I saw a film review show a few days ago where a film was reviewed and the reviewer said "If you are real fans of the leading cast members and you haven't got anything better to do then it might not be a complete waste of time." - now *thats* what I call damning with faint praise!

[wayfriend]

"It's more fun than a tooth extraction, but only just."

[peter]

[peter]

[Sorry about the DP { } guys, but I think enough time has elapsed]

Finally got around to seeing the film and it's not that bad. Thing was, I kinda' liked what the guys were doing and couldn't quite see the reason for attempting to bring 'em down. Seems I may have been right.