Movie Reviews for the Week-End

Martin and Dex and I went to see the Incredibles this week-end.  It was good.  I love Holly Hunter.  Even though she's not from Oklahoma, she's got that flat dead-pan Okie accent.  Such a distinctive voice.  It's not, however, as good as Toy Story I or II or Shreck I or II.  Worth seeing, nonetheless.  The Incredibles is ripe for a sequel, of course.

We also watched with Dexter That Thing You Do.  A cute movie, catchy tune.  Liv Tyler is a beautiful girl.  And why wouldn't she be?  Not a bad actress, either. 

After Martin took Dex back to his dad's house, Martin and I watched Saved.  You must see this film.  It's hilarious in it's implication of the unreality of the Jesus Freak's skewered view of the world.  That part where Mandy Moore's character throws her Bible at another girl and claims she is filled with the love of Jesus is not to be missed.

I strongly recommend chemical enhancement while watching this film.  It has a very subtle message but if you get it, it hits hard.

Comments

[Darr]

I keep forgetting to tell you, since watching "Saved" I have decided that I will refer to Dawn as Hilary Fay from now on, it is too, too fitting. At least she's sequestered herself up in the U.P. so we sane people don't have to deal with her crap as often.

[Martin]

The Incredibles was very damn funny!

Saved had a very refreshing and positive message about the TRUE nature of Christianity (as I have always understood that it should be anyway). Plus it was hilarious, a well done tongue in cheek comedy with something to say. Bravo!

We also watched I Robot once again this weekend (it was a good weekend to stay inside and have a film fest as it was -17deg F wind chill here today).

I first read the Asimov book I Robot at the age of 12. It was a brilliant look at the future and also somewhat eye opening. Some of the issues dealt with in that book and others, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", and on film the best thing Spielberg has ever done (of course it was his best as it was an unfinished Kubrick film) A.I. are starting to become things that we should all start thinking about given the exponential rate at which technology is advancing.

Things to think about for the (near-ish) future are:

Since we are working towards true Artificial Intelligence, what happens when we achieve it?

Up until this point our robots and computers, etc. are simply devices to make our lives easier, like electric ovens, cars, washing machines, etc. So what happens when the machines do evolve to the point that they themselves can ask the important questions that we do, the ones that make us human and self realizing? Or, as this book suggested, that they simply start to display behavior that suggests the first spark of self realization. How do we treat them then? Do we give them rights, the same as we grant any other sentient being? Or do we become a race of slave masters simply hanging around waiting for the next big revolution and perhaps the next stage of evolution on this planet? The next stage my be something like: man begets machine, machine out evolves man right quick, machine takes over. Its Darwinism plain and simple. The decades to come may have us confronted with these issues front and center... Are we ready as a society to face them? Ask yourself...

As for I Robot the movie... Asimov is turning in his grave... Could they have packed a FEW more corporate ads into this thing? Honestly.... USR must have payed them BILLIONS for the ad rights alone, this is not to mention that they were played out as being the leading company in world and the farther future that has the best AI program on the planet, this from a company that currently makes modems and other low interest PC perriphrials... Damn how much DID that cost USR? Half the movie was about them!

On the flip side, nice job with the robots. It's very doubtful that the first, second, third, etc. generation of personal human servitude type robots will indeed be bipeds (just ask Honda about how difficult that concept is) but they were decently convincing otherwise. A Blackberry with legs folks, what a great idea! Isn't technology wonderful? The question becomes (aside from the moral issues mentioned above) that when you are on a business trip does your company have to buy a plane ticket for your PDA too?

Martin

(taking the heavy platform this evening)

[Stacy]

Okay, for the record, I'm the only person on the planet who didn't like 'The Incredibles'.

And Holly Hunter is from Conyers, Georgia, FYI. My husband is friends with the guy who took her to the senior prom and said that in those days, she was an uptight pretentious actressy bitch. No idea if that's changed.