Movie Reviews

Transcendence (7/22/2014)


Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong lan-guage and sensuality.

Starring Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany and Morgan Freeman

Directed by Wally Pfister

Dynamic ImageI always look forward to Johnny Depp films and it always seem to disappoint.

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelli-gence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed-to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can…but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The on-ly thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.

Director Wally Pfister has made his name as one of the top cinematographers in the in-dustry, having worked with Christopher Nolan and winning an Academy Award for No-lan’s masterpiece Inception. Now, Pfister is making his directing debut …unfortunately, this is not even close to Inception.

Pfister certainly brings his eye for striking visuals and incredible special effects, but his inability to bring that level of talent to the storytelling side of filmmaking may make his time in the Director’s chair short lived.

Johnny Depp is less weird than most of his roles, but still very odd as the obsessed and detached as Dr. Will Caster. Rebecca Hall does her best to keep her head above the overwhelming ‘weird waters,’ but gets lost in all the confusion. Paul Bettany and Morgan Freeman are good in their supporting roles, but not good enough to help this dud.

Transcendence tries to be smart and clever, but instead it’s just dull and pretty bizarre. I would definitely “skip” this one.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is a flashback where a couple is seen under blankets on top of each other. There are a few violent scenes and the S-word is used several times.

CONVERSATION STARTER:


  1. What does Dr. Will Caster try to achieve? Why?

  2. What does Dr. Will Caster do with all that intelligence?

  3. What would you do?

  4. Read James 1:5

      If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is gen-erous and won’t correct you for asking.

  5. What are some areas in your life that you need wisdom with right now?

Close in prayer asking God for wisdom.

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Jonathan McKee

Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.

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