DVD Review – Mark David Hatwood – September 2014

TranscendenceTranscendence: Starring Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany and Cillian Murphy, directed by Wally Pfister.

Will Caster (Depp) is one of the world’s leading scientists, pioneering work in artificial intelligence. However, due to his fame and success a technophobic extremist group is seeking to put an end to his work before he creates something beyond human control.

When Caster is shot by a member of the group and gets radiation poisoning, he starts to die, so with the help of his wife Evelyn (Hall) and friend Max (Bettany) they decide to continue his latest project; linking his mind with the computer’s, creating technology more intelligent than the collective capability of the entire human race.

While his earthly body dies, Caster’s mind connects to the computer and he soon begins to exercise the potential of his newly-gained power which threatens mankind as we know and love it.

Hmmmm, well, I wasn’t expecting much having read all the awful reviews and, up until about half way, though it was ticking along nicely. Then the rot set in. Holes in what the all-knowing-all-seeing entity suddenly couldn’t all-see or all-know ended with preposterous shoot-outs against ‘traditional’ weapons on a hand-full of renegades.

Johnny does, on accession, choose some absolute tosh to star in and, like The Tourist, this forgetful little number won’t be one on the top of his otherwise strong resume.

Verdict: Was hoping to prove the other critics wrong, but sadly, I just join the line of dissension. **

Leave a Reply