Ex Machina - 5 Stars
This movie came out of nowhere for me - billed as THX 1138 meets Blade Runner. It was really more Hitchcock than anything - high praise.
The unknowns casting helped the cause. Caleb wins a contest to go to a Island of Dr. Morneau type place. The helicopter drops him off and leaves. He meets the Col. Kurtz of the place, Nathan, who explains the Turing principle. Nathan has invented an AI robot named Ava. Nathan wants Caleb to test her "humanity". If the robot can pass for human, it passes the Turing test.
As of course Ava is very human-like, we get to know her and everyone in several acts. The movie is set like a play, set mostly inside the house/lab when Nathan works. Caleb and Ava "get to know each other" and Nathan wants to know what they talk about. No more needs said.
It did remind me of those 70s movies referenced, Island of Dr. Morneau, and Apocalypse Now.
* * * * * (highest rating)
The unknowns casting helped the cause. Caleb wins a contest to go to a Island of Dr. Morneau type place. The helicopter drops him off and leaves. He meets the Col. Kurtz of the place, Nathan, who explains the Turing principle. Nathan has invented an AI robot named Ava. Nathan wants Caleb to test her "humanity". If the robot can pass for human, it passes the Turing test.
As of course Ava is very human-like, we get to know her and everyone in several acts. The movie is set like a play, set mostly inside the house/lab when Nathan works. Caleb and Ava "get to know each other" and Nathan wants to know what they talk about. No more needs said.
It did remind me of those 70s movies referenced, Island of Dr. Morneau, and Apocalypse Now.
* * * * * (highest rating)
The Avengers - Double Feature
Mark and I attend the Avengers double feature on opening night Thursday April 30. Nothing less would do from two of the original comic book fans.
Looking back, Avengers 1 came about before this blog started. It was good to watch again. Like the comic, the origin of how this group came together took part of the movie. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) of course steals the show and as an important character, squirrels away.
Avengers 2: Age of Ultron dawns as the world must be made safe - Peace In Our Time. Tony Stark starts working on a atmospheric defense program. But it takes a life of its own as Ultron, a hybrid between man and machine, more specifically, another evil Iron Man. "Do the movie have a climactic battle between two Iron Man/ two Hulks/two of [fill in the blank?] Yes it does.
More action in Two than One, it hits the comic book/popcorn target. After all, Marvel invented the target, so there.
Looking back, Avengers 1 came about before this blog started. It was good to watch again. Like the comic, the origin of how this group came together took part of the movie. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) of course steals the show and as an important character, squirrels away.
More action in Two than One, it hits the comic book/popcorn target. After all, Marvel invented the target, so there.
4/20 Edition - Friday (1995)
One of the good things about growing older is seeing movies that you might have missed the first time around. On this 20th anniversary of Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, I took that opportunity. Puff, Puff, Pass.
Styled as a stoner movie cult classic, we have 2 guys sitting on a porch all day one Friday. "It's Friday, you got no job, and you got nothin' to do". Thanks to Seinfeld, another day about nothing. But with a Boyz N The Hood twist (Ice Cube also starred in that).
Set in the South Central 'hood, we have a colorful cast of characters, all shapes and sizes and personalities just passing in front of Craig and Smokey sitting out front. Ice Cube the writer said he was inspired by people he knew from his old neighborhood. None more colorful that Craig's dad, the local dog catcher.
* * of 5. Probably needed to be high.
Styled as a stoner movie cult classic, we have 2 guys sitting on a porch all day one Friday. "It's Friday, you got no job, and you got nothin' to do". Thanks to Seinfeld, another day about nothing. But with a Boyz N The Hood twist (Ice Cube also starred in that).
Set in the South Central 'hood, we have a colorful cast of characters, all shapes and sizes and personalities just passing in front of Craig and Smokey sitting out front. Ice Cube the writer said he was inspired by people he knew from his old neighborhood. None more colorful that Craig's dad, the local dog catcher.
* * of 5. Probably needed to be high.
True Story
A journalist goes into prison to meet a mysterious person accused of a horrific crime (is there any other type in the movies?) Jonah Hill plays Mike Finkel who has been fired from the Gray Lady herself. He finds out that Christian Longo the criminal had used the alias Mike Finkel in Mexico before he was caught.
* * * of 5
Mike visits Christian (James Franco) multiple times in order to get a new story that will salvage his career. After all, it's a perfect meet cute. But who is using who? Some interesting elements of some good movies: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Silence of the Lambs. In the end, it's a someone tame psycho thriller that never quite psycho thrills enough.
* * * of 5
Coming Soon - May and June
Here are a few on my list:
Hot Pursuit - May 8 - Mother's Day weekend
Reese Witherspoon is turning into a serious actress - but my RomCom wife will still go - win/win!
Poltergest - Memorial Day weekend
A remake of the 1982 classic - I'm getting old
Entourage - June 5
Sex and the City movie for men
Jurrasic World - June 12
Nothing more needs to be said #winning
Hot Pursuit - May 8 - Mother's Day weekend
Reese Witherspoon is turning into a serious actress - but my RomCom wife will still go - win/win!
Poltergest - Memorial Day weekend
A remake of the 1982 classic - I'm getting old
Entourage - June 5
Sex and the City movie for men
Jurrasic World - June 12
Nothing more needs to be said #winning
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