I am sorry
Transcendence, but you seem doomed to
be ridiculed and scorned, because I liked you. My favourite films of the past two
years all suffered the same fate. Last year it was Oblivion, the year before
Prometheus.
The year before that Rise of the Planet of the Apes was
ignored by most science-fiction viewers. I liked them all because they gave me
plenty to think about. I am sick and tired of science-fiction films that are
instantly forgotten the moment you leave the cinema, like the Iron
Man and Star Trek franchises, and all those science-fiction movies that
I have seen and forgotten.
Transcendence, but you seem doomed to
be ridiculed and scorned, because I liked you. My favourite films of the past two
years all suffered the same fate. Last year it was Oblivion, the year before
Prometheus.
The year before that Rise of the Planet of the Apes was
ignored by most science-fiction viewers. I liked them all because they gave me
plenty to think about. I am sick and tired of science-fiction films that are
instantly forgotten the moment you leave the cinema, like the Iron
Man and Star Trek franchises, and all those science-fiction movies that
I have seen and forgotten.
I liked Prometheus, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Oblivion because they all tried to explore ideas, rather than just explore
special effects.
special effects.
Why I
liked Transcendence.
There are
two main reasons that I liked Transcendence.
First is its ambiguity: the story deliberately left many of its questions open
to interpretation. The second reason I liked Transcendence is that it is the first film I can recall that
seriously tries to tackle the Technological Singularity or Spike as I prefer to
call it.
two main reasons that I liked Transcendence.
First is its ambiguity: the story deliberately left many of its questions open
to interpretation. The second reason I liked Transcendence is that it is the first film I can recall that
seriously tries to tackle the Technological Singularity or Spike as I prefer to
call it.
Spiked Transcendent
Ambiguity.
To clear
up any ambiguity about the ambiguity and the Spike in Transcendence, I am going to have to reveal a bit of its plot. Two
scientists, Will and Evelyn Caster, are working on an artificially intelligent
computer. They hope to create a sentient machine that thinks for itself. But Will
is shot by some terrorists and is dying, so Evelyn decides to upload his brain
into the AI’s memory coils, where the upload comes to life as a virtual avatar.
up any ambiguity about the ambiguity and the Spike in Transcendence, I am going to have to reveal a bit of its plot. Two
scientists, Will and Evelyn Caster, are working on an artificially intelligent
computer. They hope to create a sentient machine that thinks for itself. But Will
is shot by some terrorists and is dying, so Evelyn decides to upload his brain
into the AI’s memory coils, where the upload comes to life as a virtual avatar.
One of the
main hopes of scientists working on artificial intelligence is that once machines
reach the intelligence of humans their intelligence should quickly exceed that
of humans, and then, under the AI’s guidance, technological advancements will
speed up drastically, causing a Spike in human advancement. Humans will change
massively. Post-spike humans could quickly advance to a near immortal God-like
existence. The key technology in the Spike seems to be artificial technology
that has the ability to create and advance technologies like nanotechnology and
virtual reality.
main hopes of scientists working on artificial intelligence is that once machines
reach the intelligence of humans their intelligence should quickly exceed that
of humans, and then, under the AI’s guidance, technological advancements will
speed up drastically, causing a Spike in human advancement. Humans will change
massively. Post-spike humans could quickly advance to a near immortal God-like
existence. The key technology in the Spike seems to be artificial technology
that has the ability to create and advance technologies like nanotechnology and
virtual reality.
When Will is
uploaded into the computer ambiguity starts creeping into the movie. It is
unclear whether the uploaded version of Will is the sum of what he was as a
human, or are parts missing? Is he a mixture of his human self and Evelyn’s
ethics as she was the one who wrote the code to upload him into the computer?
uploaded into the computer ambiguity starts creeping into the movie. It is
unclear whether the uploaded version of Will is the sum of what he was as a
human, or are parts missing? Is he a mixture of his human self and Evelyn’s
ethics as she was the one who wrote the code to upload him into the computer?
Will’s/the
Ai’s intelligence quickly grows. Will/the AI perfects and controls nanomachines
that cure blindness and revive the recently killed. But there is a hitch, he/it
also includes a link to his/its mind in those he heals. So another question of
ambiguity comes in, does he/it plan to control humanity or help it?
Ai’s intelligence quickly grows. Will/the AI perfects and controls nanomachines
that cure blindness and revive the recently killed. But there is a hitch, he/it
also includes a link to his/its mind in those he heals. So another question of
ambiguity comes in, does he/it plan to control humanity or help it?
The movie
is told from the point of view of those who interact with the AI/Will, which
allows the question of the AI’s/Will’s benevolence to continue for the entire
film. The audience is never taken into its/his mind to find out what his/its
intentions are. He is attacked and uses the linked humans to defend himself. It has
the ability to create technology that could wipe out humanity, but doesn’t.
Instead it/he creates technology to link all humanity, but for what purpose, to
help or control?
is told from the point of view of those who interact with the AI/Will, which
allows the question of the AI’s/Will’s benevolence to continue for the entire
film. The audience is never taken into its/his mind to find out what his/its
intentions are. He is attacked and uses the linked humans to defend himself. It has
the ability to create technology that could wipe out humanity, but doesn’t.
Instead it/he creates technology to link all humanity, but for what purpose, to
help or control?
If you
dislike movies that don’t tell you the answers to the questions it raises, you
are not going to like Transcendence.
You will probably think it full of plot holes that made it hard to understand
and react by calling it “silly” like one pathetic reviewer did for the Murdoch
press. But then he works for Murdoch so has no need to think.
dislike movies that don’t tell you the answers to the questions it raises, you
are not going to like Transcendence.
You will probably think it full of plot holes that made it hard to understand
and react by calling it “silly” like one pathetic reviewer did for the Murdoch
press. But then he works for Murdoch so has no need to think.
The film’s
big theme is will we be slaves to technology or will it liberate us? A guy
sitting two seats down from me at the cinema who left his seat three times to
use his mobile phone, might think the former. I am hopeful that it is the
latter.
big theme is will we be slaves to technology or will it liberate us? A guy
sitting two seats down from me at the cinema who left his seat three times to
use his mobile phone, might think the former. I am hopeful that it is the
latter.
Transcendence is a science-fiction film that got me
thinking, for that I am thankful. I do hope that others appreciate it too, so
we can see more films that explore science and ideas, and not just Battleship
your brain. But alas, I think most people who went to see Transcendence were hoping the AI did a
Skynet so they could watch heaps of explosions and chase scenes.
thinking, for that I am thankful. I do hope that others appreciate it too, so
we can see more films that explore science and ideas, and not just Battleship
your brain. But alas, I think most people who went to see Transcendence were hoping the AI did a
Skynet so they could watch heaps of explosions and chase scenes.