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Ex Machina (1 Viewer)

Nelson Au

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Guys,


Thought I'd chime in 4 months late. I just watched the blu-ray last weekend, so its the first time I'd seen ex_machina.


I had avoided all spoilers and only knew it was about a guy invited by a wealthy man to check out his creation. I'd also read that it was a much more in-depth exploration of an idea proposed on Star Trek TOS, What Are Little Girls Made Of.


So I was also rather engrossed in the story. I thought it was a great film! The ending didn't bother me either and was such a nice surprise. The thing where Caleb and Nathan not really trusting the other played well. I figured Nathan was a step ahead of Caleb the whole time, so I was surprised that he had footage of Caleb sneaking into his private office. But the ending was the nice surprise where it was Ava who manipulated them both.


I didn't fell the end was that much a downer. Nathan sort of got what he deserved, though that was a surprise! And the plan so backfired for Caleb. I felt more a Frankenstein vibe in the ideas. Certainly there is a sterile vibe that has a bit of Kubrick to it.


I want to see it again after a while away from it and look for more things. The telling thing was Nathan says early on that the future of Man will be that of the Artificial intelligence looking back at humans like we look at fossils. that sort of told you the ending. It's a bit of a classic theme that Star Trek TOS explores, except that Man won't and can't let machines take over our lives.
 

Lou Sytsma

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I just got around to seeing this and echo the thoughts of others here that loved it and loved the ending too. I didn't find this a downer of a movie at all.


Brilliant stuff all around. An engrossing, well written, acted, and produced truly SF movie. The SFX for the robot forms was awesome.


Thought provoking stuff.


PS - Gunter loved it too! ;-)
 

Tino

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I thought it was ok. Not as good as I had hoped.
 

Winston T. Boogie

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When it comes to science fiction films, a genre I really like, I appreciate intelligent storytelling, great atmosphere, and great acting. For me ex machina delivers in spades on all counts. It is also beautifully filmed which is another item I really like in a science fiction film.


This is not what I would call "gimmick" sci-fi where special effects, action sequences, and alien creatures are the main reason the film exists. This is science fiction that actually makes you think about the future, technology and how mankind interacts with it and depends on it. So, this is the kind of science fiction I really love...the kind that makes you think not just attempts to dazzle you with action and effects.


There has been a resurgence of this kind of picture and I hope the popularity of this film continues that trend. I think this would make a great double feature with Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin as both films feature a very unusual and mysterious female at the center of the story. They both toy with the audience in how we perceive women and the female form as well.


These are very nuanced and multilayered works that give you much to chew on long after the picture ends and I think will keep audiences returning to them to find more than they did on their first watch.
 

Tim Glover

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Tino I thought you would've liked this one more...I was really enthralled by it. Was methodically captivating....and intense. I was unsettled the whole time. Need to see again on blu-ray.
 

Tino

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Don't get me wrong Tim. I liked it. More than ok. I just wanted to love it. I would give it *** out of ****. Will revisit soon. Loved the performances. Idea was great. Just a bit let down by the execution.
 

Tim Glover

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you know I wonder how a film like this will play out on a second viewing. I bought the BD. May watch this weekend in between football :)
 

Citizen87645

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We watched this last night. What an uncompromising ending that haunts your thoughts.

I feel like Nathan perfected the AI long ago and kept the "research" going past the point of being ethical or moral. What is a greater sign of sentience than the desire for freedom? The serial killer / kidnapper motif with his storage closets was certainly no coincidence. So Nathan got what was coming to him, but Caleb was an unfortunate casualty. While it's easy to blame Ava directly for what happened to Caleb, Ava wouldn't have done that without Nathan's influence.
 
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Aaron Silverman

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IMO Caleb's fate was a statement on the nature of the AI -- it was a close behavioral approximation, but still missing something -- a sense of empathy, or connection, perhaps -- that makes us human.
 

MarkMel

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Just saw this as well on Amazon Prime. What a fantastic film. The effects were great but it was story that made the movie.
 

Citizen87645

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IMO Caleb's fate was a statement on the nature of the AI -- it was a close behavioral approximation, but still missing something -- a sense of empathy, or connection, perhaps -- that makes us human.
I can see that, but I keep going back to the question of what did she learn from her creator? Empathy sure wasn't one of them. At the very least, he seemed to overlook giving her the three laws of robotics. I could see him saying, "screw that sh*t" out of pure arrogance.
 

Johnny Angell

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IMO Caleb's fate was a statement on the nature of the AI -- it was a close behavioral approximation, but still missing something -- a sense of empathy, or connection, perhaps -- that makes us human.
That sounds like the definition of a sociopath. I need to watch this again.
 

Ushabye

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I seem to be in the minority judging by some of the ecstatic reviews, I found this to be the most over rated movie of last year. It was fine as far as it goes, but no better than a decent episode of the Outer Limits.
 

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