Transcendence (Wally Pfister, 2014): USA

Reviewed by Katrina Storton. Viewed on DVD.

A movie which finally shows the horrors of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) connecting to the internet and improving the world as it sees fit. Other movies have also approached the subject of a self aware AI such as 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick or I, Robot starring Will Smith. Even video games have used the idea such as System Shock (1994) or Portal (2007). However, Transcendence is the first movies to approach the idea of a scientist’s consciousness being uploaded into an AI prototype he personally created.

While watching Transcendence you learn about Will Caster (Johnny Depp) and his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall). Both of them are scientists devoted to improving technology. Evelyn is focused on making the world a better place with technology while her husband Will wants to make an AI or ‘A God”, his own god. An underground group called R.I.F.T (Revolutionary Independence From Technology) attempt and succeed in eliminating Will due to his ideas. Evelyn can’t see a life without her husband, or a world without his ideas. She has the idea to upload his consciousness into P.I.N.N, (the AI Will created) with the help of friend and colleague Max Waters (Paul Bettany). –Two Years Into The Future-‘Transcendence’ is a type of technology Will creates that can control anything it gets hold of. Transcendence resembles a type of grass looking mist, it can only be controlled by Will Caster and its powers are endless.

This movie shows the transition of trying to keep a loved one alive, to struggling to live with a power hungry AI just because it resembles someone you once knew and loved.

The idea of living with a computer, who constantly monitors you, makes new scientific discoveries hourly, and can’t interact with you like the person it once was are all shown in this film. The good and bad side to everything is shown and you the audience is put into the same position and emotions as Evelyn. As you watch Will becoming less human and more AI, Evelyn slowly becomes hostel and against the ideas of a more technological future. This movie did have a few holes, but everything came together in the end.

Johnny Depp does a fantastic job in this film; Rebecca Hall plays a small role in the beginning but then really shows her acting abilities towards the end of the film by putting on an amazing performance. Paul Bettany plays a fantastic supporting character. The ending makes you question the whole film premise all over again. Overall this film was good and had an interesting topic. However, it was not fantastic film, while watching you feel a sense of a missing factor. 6.5 out of 10 would be a fair rating, if you enjoy sci-fi films this movie might be more of a 7 out of 10 for you.

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Published:
08.26.14 / 4pm
Category:
Films