He has Low Artificial Intelligence. He’s
the…
Vidiot
Week of July 24, 2015
Being a robot means you don’t have to wear
pants. First up…
Ex Machina
All of our advancements in cybernetics have
solely been for one purpose: creating sex-bots.
Happily, the reclusive genius in this
sci-fi film has come close.
When the CEO of the search engine company
he works for selects Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) to join him in his mountain
retreat, the young programmer is apprehensive.
Caleb is welcomed to the compound by the
eccentric scientist (Oscar Isaac), who is excited to have him there to conduct
a Turing test on the female robot he has made: Ava (Alicia Vikander).
Believing he’s just there to prove the
machines A.I. capabilities, Caleb soon learns that his host wants him to prove
that Ava is capable of something more than just convincing conversation.
Visually striking and mentally challenging,
Ex Machina is an important benchmark in cyborg cinema with thoughtful
performances and an engaging script.
Furthermore, when the sex-bots breakdown
they can always be repurposed as war-machines.
Green Light
The Longest Ride
Animal rights activists would have a way
better time at bull riding competitions if they would just root for the bull to
paralyze the rider.
However, the art student in this romantic
movie is cheering for the rider’s safety.
Catching the eye of North Carolina coed
Sophia (Britt Robertson) when he is tossed from a bull at a local rodeo, Luke
(Scott Eastwood) bestows her with his cowboy hat.
The pair later goes on a date. On their way
home, they rescue an old man (Alan Alda) from a burning car who turns out to be
an art collector with a troubled love story similar to Sophia and Luke’s
ill-fated relationship.
Based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel, The
Longest Ride is no departure from the lovelorn author’s cinematic schmaltz,
thanks to its preposterous ending and ham-fisted acting.
Incidentally, bull-riders believe lasting
for 8 seconds in the bedroom is also an accomplishment. Red Light
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The hardest part of running a hotel in
India is convincing tourists they won’t be gang raped when they visit.
That said, the hotel operators in this
romantic-comedy want to open a second inn.
Determined to open a sister site to their
successful sleeping lodge, Muriel (Maggie Smith) and Sonny (Dev Patel) travel
stateside to get investors.
Informed an inspector would come to
appraise the value of the venture, Muriel and Sonny return to India to prepare
for the unknown overseer.
Back home, a mysterious American (Richard
Gere) checks into the existing hotel, and begins romancing Sonny’s mother
(Lillete Dubey).
Meanwhile, longstanding guests (Judi Dench,
Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton) deal with their own issues.
With too many romantic subplots tied to a
flimsy mistaken identity storyline, this second stay at the Exotic Marigold is
wholly unsatisfactory.
Fortunately, in lieu of mints, Indian
hotels do leave chicken vindaloo on your pillow. Red Light
***A Stitch-Face in Time***
Frankenstein Unbound
The upside to Frankenstein as your doctor
is that 6-months after he diagnoses you as terminal he can bring you back to
life.
But as this sci-fi/horror movie
encapsulates: resuscitation isn’t always the best option.
Thrust backwards to 1817 via a portal
created by a laser he invented to end war, 2031 native Dr. Buchanan (John Hurt)
is stunned to meet Victor Frankenstein (Raul Julia), whose nanny is on trial
for murdering his brother.
But many villagers, including writer Mary
Shelly (Bridget Fonda), feel that the real murderer is the monster living in
the nearby woods.
Further investigation discloses that the
monster is blackmailing Frankenstein to make him a mate.
With capable acting, passable special
effects and a fascinating premise, schlockmeister Roger Corman tempers his
trashy tendencies in order to bring the novel to life.
Incidentally, if the monster is looking for
someone as ugly as him there’s always Match.com.
He’s a Frankenstein Hoist. He’s the…
Vidiot
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