“Ex Machina”, 2014
Director: Alex Garland
Directed by Alex Garland, this gripping and visually stunning film follows a young programmer who is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno, Corey Johnson, Claire Selby, Symara A. Templeman, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Tiffany Pisani, Elina Alminas;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: science fiction, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 108 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Ex Machina” on the website imdb.com
“Her”, 2013
Director: Spike Jonze
Directed by Spike Jonze, “Her” explores the complex relationship between a lonely writer and his operating system, Samantha, who is designed to meet his every need, leading him to question the nature of love and consciousness.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde, Matt Letscher, Kristen Wiig, Portia Doubleday, Laura Kai Chen;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: melodrama, science fiction, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
“Blade Runner”, 1982
Director: Ridley Scott
Directed by Ridley Scott and Denis Villeneuve, respectively, these films are set in dystopian futures where human-like androids known as replicants are created for servitude in off-world colonies, leading to profound existential questions about identity, humanity, and the soul.
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James, Joe Turkel, Joanna Cassidy;
Production year: 1982;
Genre: science fiction, drama, detective, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Blade Runner” on the website imdb.com
“The Matrix”, 1999
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Directed by the Wachowskis, this iconic film presents a future in which humanity is unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality created by sentient machines, and follows Neo, a computer hacker who learns the truth and joins a rebellion against the machines.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Julian Arahanga, Matt Doran, Belinda McClory;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: science fiction, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 136 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,7;
More information about the film “The Matrix” on the website imdb.com
“I, Robot”, 2004
Director: Alex Proyas
Loosely based on Isaac Asimov's work, this film, directed by Alex Proyas, is set in a future where robots are an everyday household item, and delves into the investigation of a possible crime committed by a robot, challenging the Three Laws of Robotics.
Starring: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell, Bruce Greenwood, Chi McBride, Shia LaBeouf, Adrian Ricard, Jerry Wasserman, Fiona Hogan;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “I, Robot” on the website imdb.com
“Transcendence”, 2014
Director: Wally Pfister
Directed by Wally Pfister, this film explores the concept of uploading a human consciousness into a computer, focusing on a researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence who strives to achieve his own transcendence after being targeted by anti-technology extremists.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara, Cole Hauser, Morgan Freeman, Clifton Collins Jr., Cory Hardrict, Falk Hentschel;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: science fiction, drama, thriller;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
More information about the film “Transcendence” on the website imdb.com
“Ghost in the Shell”, 2017
Director: Rupert Sanders
Originally a manga adaptation directed by Mamoru Oshii and later adapted into a live-action film directed by Rupert Sanders, these films explore the adventures of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent, in a futuristic world where the lines between humans and machines are blurred.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt, Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara, Tawanda Manyimo;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, drama, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 106 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Ghost in the Shell” on the website imdb.com
“Chappie”, 2015
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Directed by Neill Blomkamp, “Chappie” tells the story of a robot imbued with artificial intelligence who is stolen by two local gangsters who want to use him for their own nefarious purposes.
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja, Yo-Landi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Brandon Auret, Johnny Selema, Anderson Cooper;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Chappie” on the website imdb.com
“WarGames”, 1983
Director: John Badham
Directed by John Badham, this film is a classic tale of a young hacker who accidentally accesses a U.S. military supercomputer programmed to predict possible outcomes of nuclear war, leading to a potentially catastrophic situation.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, John Wood, Ally Sheedy, Barry Corbin, Juanin Clay, Kent Williams, Dennis Lipscomb, Joe Dorsey, Irving Metzman;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 114 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “WarGames” on the website imdb.com
These films, among others, provide a rich exploration of the potential futures shaped by artificial intelligence, the ethical dilemmas posed by A.I. integration, and the enduring question of what it means to be truly sentient and alive.
In conclusion, the exploration of artificial intelligence through cinema serves as a profound mirror to our collective psyche, challenges, and aspirations. Films about AI, from their earliest incarnations to the latest blockbusters, encapsulate a multifaceted reflection on humanity's relationship with technology, delving into themes of consciousness, ethics, and existentialism. They invite audiences to ponder the complexities of creating life in our image and the repercussions of such godlike endeavors. As these narratives unfold on the silver screen, they not only entertain but also stimulate critical thinking about the future of technology, the essence of humanity, and the interconnected web of ethical considerations that accompany the march towards an increasingly AI-integrated world. In doing so, cinema about AI transcends mere storytelling; it becomes a pivotal platform for exploring the potentialities and pitfalls of our ongoing technological odyssey, ensuring its relevance and appeal for generations to come.
