Transcendence

RATING: B

Just how much would you do and how far would you go to attain your dreams? This film asks that question, along with several others, in a new twist on the "artificial intelligence" genre--if this film can even be fit into that category. It takes on a different category of its own. 

Yes, mankind is attempting to create artificial intelligence. Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is a leading figure in the movement, while his wife, Evelyn, simply wishes to create a better, more perfect world. When anti-A.I. activists/terrorists end up going on a rampage across the country, the results include putting a radioactive-chemical-laced bullet into Caster's chest. 

The one thing those "terrorists" didn't account for? The possibility that Evelyn and Max--a technical genius--would come up with a way to accelerate their plans and save Will somehow. Impossible, right? The result is that they upload his consciousness into a computer. And immediately, the new intelligence that has taken on Will's form/voice/actions--wants more power. And more. And more. And more... 

Ultimately, it's not too hard to see where the result of this is going to go to some degree. Obviously, A.I.-Will's plans for getting more and more power is just going to result in disaster. And that ends up leading to Max and the "activists" teaming up to shut him down before he ends up becoming a literal Deus ex Machina.

This film has a *lot* of promise within its plot. Although it seems to get off to a bit of a slow-moving start, it picks up quick and what results is a very exciting ending, along with a late twist at the end and a final shot that'll leave you going "Wait, what?" 

However, this film ended up getting some poor treatment during its production. It's not particularly well directed, and much of the first hour is quite boring. It really shouldn't be--in fact, if this movie had a decent director, there's a fair chance it would've gotten an A+. Even with the good acting and the excellent narrative, this film is not the strongest. 

Despite that, it's definitely the type of movie that I want to see more of. The artificial intelligence genre is one that I'm kind of a sucker for, because of the consequences that end up occurring and the questions that are asked (but sometimes deliberately not answered). This one is no different. This film shows the dangers *and* the positives of what an artificial intelligence could do if it was given enough power and control. It's ultimately left for the viewer to decide, more or less, what they prefer. 

Could Transcendence have been a lot better? Yes, it could've. But is it still worth watching? Definitely. Just don't give up on it just because the story moves slow early on, because what comes later on shouldn't disappoint, even if the final product isn't quite what could've been.