Ex Machina, the Imitation Game, and suicide

This isn't a review really.

I so love movies that explore human nature, particularly those that extend further to hypothesise. I finally watched Ex Machina which I think deserved more screen time than it got. It would be so interesting to explore the same concept in some pseudo-candid way, I think especially coupled with existentialist dilemma and conclusion of man vs. machine in the way they presented it. It was brill, I haven't checked if they're making a second one but I hope they do.

After I watched that I went through the rest of the list and they had the Imitation Game which had me curious because -- Benedict Cumberbatch -- anything with that guy in it has me curious because of the roles he's played in past. And then I read the synopsis where I found out the movie is a tribute to Alan Turing, which was what Ex Machina centrally explored in its post modern, post mortem way - if I may. Haha. I wasn't aware of the Turing test prior. The Imitation Game had me in tears, not the simple kind.

Both movies explored human nature in such profound ways; both celebrating the true genius of man as his own suicide. 

I could comment on both and draw on their parallels but I won't. Instead I took out my phone and typed out quick in my notes "bipolar continuum" -- with no relation to mental illness -- but maybe some if you look from far. 

If we were to stand on the plane of our consciousness, around us is our scattered selves; I believe to be our rawest selves. You can walk and hop from fragment to fragment finding patterns in the way you choose where to step next -- let's call that "energy." Then there is thin silver that lines the perimeter which consists of all accumulated knowledge and experience from past- let's call that "reason." 

Genius, I believe, is discovered in "energy" state; just as Nathan uses Pollock as an example; he left out the fact that the guy died in a drunk, angry car crash as well. Most all I have heard of: artists, musicians, thinkers, that live in their energy, die in their energy as well. When all these people undoubtedly contributed better to the world, who makes it out alive? It is do or die and inevitably, they kill themselves. 

Who lives on? 

Important to know what is important to you I think; for sake of the life you live and the company you keep. Energy, reason, or a balance of both. When in even the balance of both I believe you compromise potential. Reason alone leaves you with hardly any room for faith, and energy alone will drive you to suicide. it's madness! These days I'm not sure anymore. :)) Sometimes life puts you in positions where you must act; on reason, energy, or both-- if you're just bumbling around I guess there's less of that, but I never want to be that.  so I fling myself to the winds and do my best - that's okay too I think. 

Like I'm passionately running blind through some morbid labyrinth with my arms stretched out in front hoping they don't get chopped off, but if they do... they're just my arms!!! Maybe I can find some discarded AI and sew a new one for me on. :D

An Ode to Sia's "Chandelier"

I've always been a fan of Sia and when friends would ask "have you heard the new Sia song?" I was always just like, "the Chande-li-lieeeer song?" and they're like "yeah that one." Yeah, well, initially  I thought drowned out with all the other noise on the radio except for the Chandelilier bit. You know.

Shit's changed on the radio, and I don't listen to it much anymore, but every now and then I hear something when I'm out, then I hear it again, and again, and I think hmm yeah okay, it's okay. So I look it up on the Boob, and get into it and think yeah, actually it's pretty good. Then I think yo, it's got that kind of soul shattering rock potential. Y'know, when music builds you up and builds you up good and steady, steady, release - some kind of heart liberation where you think YES, YES THAT JUST HAPPENED. Well, I officially love that song.

And you know how it is when there's a song I like I check if there's a rock/metal/drum/guitar cover of it and holy shit. With artists like Sia you'd think she'd get the biggest fucking high from hearing some hugely excited drummer rock the shit out of it song right? Rambling. Anyway a bunch of talented folk did it for her-- I didn't like all of them, but here's the awesome I found on the Boob.

Sia

Incase you haven't heard the original Chandelilier:

Cutty146  Spot his bliss. And, Garage Band FTW.


Max Lambert Easy rock vibes. Doesn't over colour it but knows exactly what to sprinkle in there, y'know? Slick.


Chris Wells  Yeeeeheeees, chorus!


Lindsey Raye Lots of yes, and everything I loved about the previous 3. Dead.

Pellek
And of course my favourite power metal vocalist on the Boob does it too. Yeah he hit that.

Okay I'm done. 

Reactions to The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire

The gradual plot build up followed by the consecutive wham bam thank you ma'ams of gut wrenching, fist pumping metaphorical punchlines. Well thank you. I can't even begin to express how moved I was by the entire film. My heart was racing throughout, through the walk home, and as I type this post. Themes that hit too close to home and too close to my heart. 

After a friend finished reading the trilogy he said, "Deb, you're exactly like Katniss." "In what ways?" I asked. "Watch it," he said. 

For the sheer genius in Collins' ways of incorporating very real themes into our mainstream media. The irony that is the Hunger Games vs. us as the audience, sitting there and watching those kinds of truths brought to screen.

I was discussing this with my cousin after the movie, and he shared a fair point; the entire notion of the way in which these truths are pursued are dependent on how comfortable your life is. In that, if you started with not much, and have succeeded, the system works; the system has filled your hole. In that, if you've lived a comfortable life, you tend to question - and the system doesn't fill that hole. 

At the same time, if the system didn't demand for these things in the first place, there would be no holes to fill. So are we coping, or are we asking for more (or perhaps less if we're being blunt)? And what is that for you? 

I asked a question, "if you didn't have your job, and there was no such thing as the education system, the monetary system - what would you live for?" And it's a funny question. Because obviously (?) we should all be living for something more than this. But reality is, there is a major chunk of our population that can't answer that question. Maybe it's because they've never seen the point in asking it; maybe it's because these questions simply don't exist in their lives. Maybe it's because they live for the entirety of our reality today.

Majority of our population live a life of - doing their best, reaping the rewards, breathing light through the amount of ways they manage to impress people. Which isn't my way of saying that these don't quantify as lesser virtues. Which isn't my way of dismissing reality either, but I beg to plead the question - why? 

Yes this is far fetched and yes it takes more than one angsty blog post to start any kind of revolution, but I'm not dismissing the way the world goes round. I'm challenging it, and I believe Suzanne Collins was, too. 

To sum it up, great movie, great cinematography, stellar acting, brilliant wardrobe and set design. And who couldn't love that wedding dress? And yes I could say perhaps I very strongly relate to Katniss Everdeen,  in more ways than one, save one thing. Can someone teach me how to use a bow and arrow?

Spoiler Alert; My little tribute to Captain Phillips

I underestimated Phillips (Hanks) at the start of the film. Captain of a cargo ship, they portrayed him as the average Joe, the family man, who isn't all that charming, charismatic, or witty, and is stuck doing something he isn't particularly fond of. A grizzly, grey man who has gone through enough of the same monotony and has clearly accepted that.

You slowly begin to warm up to his character as he's underestimated by his second in hand and the rest of the crew. Initial concerns rise as he leads his ship through waters highly populated with pirate activities; a warning email sets him off to go through defensive drills.

I was impressed by Hanks' character development; the quick wit and stealthy cleverness that he executes in humble desperation. He definitely does not fit the regular hero mold, but you begin to see that he might just surpass that in his quick decision making and the strength he finds in his weakness, and his kindness.

The pace was perfect; just the right amount of fast and slow. Slower at the details, faster when necessary. As for the acting, I can't even begin to describe how well the cast worked together, and how authentically real, and sensitive they all were towards the tribute. Vulnerable, sublime acting.

A question of power. Four armed men and one unarmed hostage; what defines power? Who was really helpless here? Politically, philosophically, this film deals with so many themes to discuss. I found a brilliant writer at the Film School Rejects website who explains it more eloquently than I ever could: click click

I was traumatized after watching Hanks' trauma at the final scene. If I could stop time and space just to fully immerse myself mind, body and soul in his acting, I would. The tear ducts are at it still just thinking about it.

Stellar acting, brilliant directing and a great story. Definitely one for the watching, and the best movie I've seen all year.