Has Nobody Ever Watched 'The Terminator' ?? "Ex Machina"

Ex Machina (2015)

Rated R

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac

Written and Directed by Alex Garland

The Story:


Caleb (Gleeson) is a winner in his company's ultimate giveaway: a weeklong stay with the reclusive CEO of their company (Isaac). When he arrives, he learns that he's actually there to test whether or not the Artificial Intelligence of Ava (Vikander) could legitimately pass as human. It will be a week that changes everyone, forever.

Well, this was certainly something.

It's a small, character focused driven drama that grabs science fiction by the hand and takes you along for the ride.

The plot is essentially man creates life. And then, oops.

:)

If we're being honest.

It's a quiet, suspenseful, gradual build to the final act, and you can almost tell exactly what is going to happen along the way.

Yet the interaction between the great trio of actors keeps you riveted to the film until the very end.

Which come on people, giving machines artificial intelligence is a bad idea! It never ends well!!

:)

Ex Machina is currently streaming on Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade: B-

He Always Said He'd Be Back..."Terminator: Genisys"

Terminator: Genisys (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, J.K. Simmons,

Directed by Alan Taylor

The Story:

John Connor (Clarke) sends Kyle Reese (Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Clarke) from the Terminators. However, when Reese arrives, this 1984 is unlike anything he was prepared for. It appears that there have been a few more time travel uses that we weren't aware of, and now the past has changed and that creates the potential for failure in the future and complete domination by the machines. Thankfully, there is a Guardian (Schwarzenegger) on their side to help even things up.

There sure was a lot of hate and anger directed at the latest installment of the franchise.

I don't buy it. No, it's not the original, nor is it T2.

But it's the best sequel they've had since then.

Sure it's a reboot, reimaging, but that's what happens when everyone in the cast has aged.

Except Ah-nuhld. We've all accepted by now that he likely is a robot and won't age.

I can also live with that.

I didn't find Clarke to be "horribly miscast" as Sarah Connor. I thought she held her own just fine. I think this was my first exposure to her work as I don't watch Game of Thrones, and nothing else on her filmography rang a bell.

If there is any real weakness in the film it is Jai Courtney.  There's something about Courtney and I haven't put my finger on it yet, but he comes across as bland and rather boring in these films.

And he should be poised as the next big action star.

He's like Jeremy Renner-lite, all of the qualities, none of the charisma.

He bogged down A Good Day To Die Hard and was rather bland in the Divergent series as well.

The film might get a little greedy with the time travel aspects this go round, but I'm okay with that.

The film never managed to lose my interest, and they kept just enough twists and turns coming to make the ride a fun one.

Hey, after all is said and done, it was an entertaining film and I'll remember it much more than Terminator: Salvation

Final Grade: B-

Rock'em Sock'em Robots: The Movie... "Real Steel"

Metal Body. Heart of Gold.

The Story:

Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a robot boxer in the near future.  Instead of letting two dudes duke it out, now they have machines that do it, and the sport is all the rage.  Charlie fights on the fringe, making money as best he can to keep his robots running.  One day, he discovers that he has a son, Max (Dakota Goyo) and that Charlie is going to have to raise him, or lose him to the in-laws.  The two begin bonding over their love of robot boxing, and Max helps build their latest, and best fighter, a little sparring bot that just won't quit.  Do they have what it takes to take the little bot to the top?  Or will the two lose each other along the way?

I'm going to need a tissue...

: )

But seriously, this movie has much more heart tucked into this tin man than the Wizard of Oz ever did. 

While yes, it's about boxing robots, it's really the story of a man's journey to get to know a son he never knew he had, and a son's unfailing love for this broken man whom most have already given up on.

But never his son.

Sentimental, sure, but that's what makes this movie more than just fighting robots.

That said, the robot fights are pretty spectacular.  It's amazing to see that the ideas in the movie are advanced from what we can do now, but someday in the near future...

Hmmm...

Maybe this is a prequel to The Terminator?

: )

So if you were avoiding this one because of the the giant boxing robots, give it a try.  You might be surprised.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I had a good time.  While I don't own it yet, I wouldn't pass it up if I see it for a decent price.