Friday, January 16, 2015

2015 Year of the A.I.


Towards the end of last year …. which was last month. lol. I can’t believe I just lol’ed myself. Anyway. So last month I saw some previews that made me shake my fist and say no to skynet! If you know me, or have read some of my blogs, you know that I truly believe in skynet. Not in I’m wrapping my head in tin foil kind of way. Just in a “I believe someday computer will rule all of existence because they know everything about us, and if you think about it people’s smart phone pretty much do that anyway” way. I say that as I’m typing on a COMPUTER!

The most recent ones I have seen are about A.I. coming to the realization they are sentient beings. This is where it gets tricky for me. As a person who believes in skynet, where do I draw the line? Do I draw a line? Is it fair for me to say skynet is bad, but an A.I. is okay only the good ones of course? Is something, someone really just a “robot” if they believe they are a real person? They do have feelings and are aware of how they feel, think and react. Hmmmm, I’ll have to keep thinking about this.


First preview is Chappie. I already know it is going to make me cry. Chappie! Iron Eagle, anyone? Kids ask your parents. Seriously it will make me cry because in the preview they (why do we say they show, whose they, sorry for the rant…) show people throwing things at Chappie and trying to hurt him, and he can’t understand why he is so different. I can’t believe Hugh Jackman is playing a … what do you call someone who is out to kill A.I.s? I was like noooooo, not Wolverine he can’t be the bad guy. Wolverines! Red Dawn, anyone? Kids ask your parents. But ask them about the real Red Dawn aka the Red Dawn released in 1984.


The second preview I saw was Ex Machina. This I really want to see because two words, Domhnall Gleeson. I love Domhnall who came out in my favorite movie, About Time. Don’t forget he is also a Weasley. This one looks like it could be good. When you watch the preview you’re thinking what’s her deal? Is she a bad guy? Yes I know I said guy, it’s just a figure of speech, sorry another rant. Then you’re thinking maybe the guy who invited her is the bad guy, and she really is trying to help Gleeson’s character.


Automata was another preview I saw, they (again with they, anyway) discuss two protocols. The first is a robot is not allowed to hurt another being, and the second it cannot alter itself or another robot. I do have a feeling we are going to have a “Captain’s got to teach stuff moment” when there’s the possibility Antonio Banderas’ character might end up saying maybe I should not have been too quick to judge these robots.

If you have not had a chance to watch these previews you might want to check them out. They’re pretty good. Wait that’s a funny thing to say also a preview is good, it’s not even the whole movie. Sorry that was another rant.

So in conclusion maybe for entertainments purposes, I can handle skynet? Wait that does not sound right either. My point is I don’t actually have one this time, except with skynet aside these movies look pretty interesting. And I am excited to see them. That and Mockingjay Part II, at least in a dystopian world I do not have to worry about skynet. No! I just realized The Hunger Games has betrayed me too! President Snow has all those cameras and tech following people and running their lives, which has a “this has all happened before and will happen again” BSG kind of vibe, because that’s where it all starts. With that said I think I am going to get away from my computer now because yea. And as I go I am sure I will be able to find one movie this year where my brain does not lead me back to my weird thing about skynet ….. Right?