Transcendence Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 12802

Average Rating: 2.3/4

# of Ratings: 58

Theatrical Release Date: 04/18/2014

Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 07/22/2014

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Director: Wally Pfister

Actors: Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Hall

Plot: A pair of computer scientists at the top of their field are closing in on the Technological Singularity - the ability for a computer to transcend the ability of the human brain. As their near their goal, an anti-technology radical group will stop at nothing to prevent the next stage of technological evolution. -- Chris Kavan

Rod - wrote on 07/20/2015

Watching this film feels like I already saw and heard the plot. An AI controlling everything in this world? I know I have seen this idea before, on numerous film. And also, althoug we love Johnny Depp, I think the casting didn't work because Kate is still too soft to actually play the main antagonist. But not bad for an attempt!

Amy - wrote on 08/19/2014

Interesting premise, but the execution was utterly flat. The whole movie hinges on whether computers will ever be able to approximate human personality, and whether this specific AI is more man or more computer. The problem is, all the humans in the movie act about as lifeless as robots. We've all seen what Johnny Depp is capable of as an actor. I can't understand why he plays this role with all the emotional range of an automaton.

Tysori - wrote on 07/19/2014

Overall to sum it up quickly great concept for a movie but it was a very stale delivery. I must agree with my fellow reviewers not to waste your time unless you are interested in "How to make a horrible Sci-Fi movie". Love you Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman but you guys couldn't even save this sinking ship.

ikkegoemikke
Movie God

Disappointment of the year

ikkegoemikke - wrote on 10/09/2017

"We're not going to fight them, we're going to transcend them."

Impatiently and with high expectations I've been waiting for this movie. Ultimately this is just a familiar story, with an expensive casing, that has been told already several times. It's again a plea with an admonishing finger, against the ever-growing information technology, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. There's a denouncement about the danger of a self unfolding artificial consciousness, that grows into a dictatorial monstrosity that has an infinite hunger for power.

The one who's responsible for directing this SF is Wally Pfister. A totally unknown person for many. Actually, you could call him the personal cameraman of Christopher Nolan. With the latter he has made "Memento", "Insomnia", …

Yojimbo
Movie God

"Transcendence" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 03/03/2016

An expert in the field of artificial intelligence has his mind uploaded into a quantum computer which fuels a revolt by technophobic terrorists fearing the subjugation of humanity. The old adage of "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" is explored once more as Johnny Depp is transformed into a combination of Skynet and Doctor Manhattan. The film is of the more cerebral type of sci-fi, concerning itself with concepts rather than action and the script takes pains never to take sides; it is never entirely clear who are the "good guys" and who are the bad; the moral ambiguity in the idea of a "benevolent dictator" is the crux of the story, weighing the benefits to the "common good" against individual freedom. The strong cast all perform admirably, although Depp's HAL 9000-like …

memento_mori
Producer

How thin must a screenplay be?

memento_mori - wrote on 05/15/2014

I have always been weary when it comes to big-budget, hugely hyped and marketed films by the people who worked with the big people (an example being Tony Gilroy's take on Bourne), and yet again I had reason to, because as profound and philosophical as this tim may look, Wally Pfister missed the mark so terribly in his disastrous take on boring science fiction nonsense.

A motif in this film is a drop of water falling in slow motion from a dandelion. The reason I use this as a piece of evidence to this film's fault is precisely because it represents the entire film: it makes no sense whatsoever. There is not a bit about water in the entire film, nor do they ever mention flowers or does anything have to do with this obvious attempt at symbolism.
Enough with nitpicking, though, let's …