Films I watched this week
Discussion
Ex_Machina
I've had this on DVD for a while but not got round to watching it. It was on telly tonight, though, so started watching it on telly then switched to the DVD to avoid the advert breaks.
An intriguing film, especially the implications with Google, mobile phones, neutral networks, and AI in general. I particularly liked how the science was self-consistent and plausible. And there was no techno-babble or dumbing down. Caleb, for example, didn't ask stupid questions for sake of exposition, but asked intelligent questions that a programmer would actually ask, for example.
The ending was rather shocking. I think the knife murder was even more shocking than the one in Saving Private Ryan. The way the knife was just slid in like it was cutting sashimi, without any fuss or drama, or violence. I think that made it all the more shocking as we are used to seeing knife murders as being a violent thing, always a struggle, even in the Saving Private Ryan one. The way Nathan didn't even realise he'd been stabbed the first time. Or, indeed, the second time.
Also, the fact that you don't know becomes of Caleb either was a nice touch - we're so used these days to having a neat ending with all loose ends tied up. Of course, the whole "the AI has escaped into the world and who knows what will happen now?" thing is not new. But it was done in refreshing way.
I really enjoyed it. Some marks out of a total.
I've had this on DVD for a while but not got round to watching it. It was on telly tonight, though, so started watching it on telly then switched to the DVD to avoid the advert breaks.
An intriguing film, especially the implications with Google, mobile phones, neutral networks, and AI in general. I particularly liked how the science was self-consistent and plausible. And there was no techno-babble or dumbing down. Caleb, for example, didn't ask stupid questions for sake of exposition, but asked intelligent questions that a programmer would actually ask, for example.
The ending was rather shocking. I think the knife murder was even more shocking than the one in Saving Private Ryan. The way the knife was just slid in like it was cutting sashimi, without any fuss or drama, or violence. I think that made it all the more shocking as we are used to seeing knife murders as being a violent thing, always a struggle, even in the Saving Private Ryan one. The way Nathan didn't even realise he'd been stabbed the first time. Or, indeed, the second time.
Also, the fact that you don't know becomes of Caleb either was a nice touch - we're so used these days to having a neat ending with all loose ends tied up. Of course, the whole "the AI has escaped into the world and who knows what will happen now?" thing is not new. But it was done in refreshing way.
I really enjoyed it. Some marks out of a total.
Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Saturday 25th November 22:37
techiedave said:
Saturday night is light relief night here at TD towers and today the movie of choice is Downfall
This must genuinely be one of the best war movies ever made
I didn't see Downfall until after all the memes. It was quite odd seeing the original in context. This must genuinely be one of the best war movies ever made
I agree, though. A very good film.
Spiderman Homecoming
Not really quite sure what I made of this. I love all the Superhero films being a former comic book geek I usually like all the character interaction across the movies so I expected to like it.
I probably did enjoy it and there were some funny moments in it but the Spiderman / Iron Man / Tony Stark thing didn't really work for me and that was such a big part of the movie that I felt it was a bit like some alternative Spiderman world.
Have to say tho, having sat till the very, very end of the long, long list of credits to see if there was another small bit of trailer for the next film I did end up laughing out loud at the Captain America skit on the virtue of patience.
Not really quite sure what I made of this. I love all the Superhero films being a former comic book geek I usually like all the character interaction across the movies so I expected to like it.
I probably did enjoy it and there were some funny moments in it but the Spiderman / Iron Man / Tony Stark thing didn't really work for me and that was such a big part of the movie that I felt it was a bit like some alternative Spiderman world.
Have to say tho, having sat till the very, very end of the long, long list of credits to see if there was another small bit of trailer for the next film I did end up laughing out loud at the Captain America skit on the virtue of patience.
Murder on the Orient Express.
I enjoyed it: Superb casting, well paced, nicely shot, good story of course. Perhaps Branagh put him self in a lime light a little too much, and although well paced I am not sure it gained momentum.
I did see it in my favourite screen in the local cinema in the best seats, which always helps.
I enjoyed it: Superb casting, well paced, nicely shot, good story of course. Perhaps Branagh put him self in a lime light a little too much, and although well paced I am not sure it gained momentum.
I did see it in my favourite screen in the local cinema in the best seats, which always helps.
Captain Smerc said:
ex machina , blew me away , wow !
Recorded that, glad it's good.Rewatched Oblivion instead. I'm no fan of Cruise vehicles in general but I really like the way this story is told and how you share Jacks sense of not knowing what is going on through the film as opposed to a hand-holding told by a Morpheus like character.
8/10 for hollywood, maybe 6 or 7/10 as an actual scifi flick.
Daniel1 said:
I've finally found the only other person in the world who liked dark shadows
It was different, and the original series sounds crazy. Wish there was a modern version.Goodfellas on now...a tour de force, just had the 'made man' scene, where De Niro is fantastic but for some weird reason Henry's response is 'oh' it's so flat.
Cold said:
I do enjoy Ex Machina and have seen it a number of times, including at an open air showing. But I do wonder about the pronunciation by the C4's announcer.
Machina. Like machine, but with an "ah" on the end surely?
They were calling it Mack-in-ah. That can't be right, can it?
It’s latin. Pronunciation is perfectly correct.Machina. Like machine, but with an "ah" on the end surely?
They were calling it Mack-in-ah. That can't be right, can it?
glazbagun said:
Rewatched Oblivion instead. I'm no fan of Cruise vehicles in general but I really like the way this story is told and how you share Jacks sense of not knowing what is going on through the film as opposed to a hand-holding told by a Morpheus like character.
8/10 for hollywood, maybe 6 or 7/10 as an actual scifi flick.
It's surprisingly good - you go in assuming a lightweight Cruise vehicle and get much more. The only bit I don't like is the (admittedly very nice looking) visuals of the landscapes with the ruins embedded in them because they just don't make any sense. But they do look nice. 8/10 for hollywood, maybe 6 or 7/10 as an actual scifi flick.
Story, design and so on all really good.
And a great M83 track on the end credits.
Cold said:
I do enjoy Ex Machina and have seen it a number of times, including at an open air showing. But I do wonder about the pronunciation by the C4's announcer.
Machina. Like machine, but with an "ah" on the end surely?
They were calling it Mack-in-ah. That can't be right, can it?
I prefer the other way too. Machina. Like machine, but with an "ah" on the end surely?
They were calling it Mack-in-ah. That can't be right, can it?
It's a catastrophe!....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_English_...
Terminator Genisys
I didn't really know what the plot was supposed to be before watching this. I've watched the other Terminator films, although none come close to the first one for me.
I enjoyed this though - a twist on the original film and nice to see a couple of scenes copied from that. Obviously you have to avoid thinking about the plot too much, particularly whether John Connor would even have existed in this version of reality - but as long as you do that, I enjoyed it.
A fun action film to fill a few hours on a Friday evening.
I didn't really know what the plot was supposed to be before watching this. I've watched the other Terminator films, although none come close to the first one for me.
I enjoyed this though - a twist on the original film and nice to see a couple of scenes copied from that. Obviously you have to avoid thinking about the plot too much, particularly whether John Connor would even have existed in this version of reality - but as long as you do that, I enjoyed it.
A fun action film to fill a few hours on a Friday evening.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff