Mini Review #3: Ex Machina

Altogether I would have to say that Ex Machina deserves a 3.5 out of 5. This is because it was an amazing movie with amazing graphics and the story line of it is perfect. Although it was slow at times, it is hard to look past how the graphics and story make the movie what it is. On top of the cinematography involved in the movie, the soundtrack is also just perfect for the type of movie that it is and it helps build on the whole creepy aspect that is shown throughout the movie.

While it is an amazing movie, there is still aspects of it that can become confusing and parts or it that are slow and left me bored. The continuous meetings between Caleb and Ava left me wondering when something exciting and intense was going to happen because it was always the same things happening between them over and over again. Nothing extremely exciting happens until the last 20 minutes of the film and the rest of it is all dialogue that can be stretched out and leave the viewer bored, especially if they become lost about what is going on.

Something that I did love about the film though was the ending. The ending left me wondering how the AI was going to survive in real civilization and whether or not she was going to be caught. Also it left me wondering what was going to happen to Caleb. All in all the ending was probably the best part of the movie and is the main reason that this movie is getting a 3.5 out of 5.

Fun Facts About Ex Machina:

• The title derives from the Latin phrase "Deus Ex-Machina," meaning "a god from the Machine," a phrase that originated in Greek tragedies. An actor playing a god would be lowered down via a platform (machine) and solve the characters' issues, resulting in a happy ending.
• The location of the house in the movie is the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway
• Oscar Isaac said he based his characterization of Nathan on Bobby Fischer and Stanley Kubrick, both of whom were reclusive and highly intelligent figures with a dark side.
• The three main characters all have appropriate biblical names. Ava is a form of Eve, the first woman; Nathan was a prophet in the court of David; and Caleb was a spy sent by Moses to evaluate the Promised Land.
• Even though the movie stars famous Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, the movie was never shown in regular Swedish cinemas. The cause of this was said to be a lack of quality and not enough potential for screenings.
• Lowest grossing Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects since What Dreams May Come(1998).
• When Caleb meets Nathan for the first time, there is green wheat growing in a pot. This is a pagan Slavic symbol for new life.
• This film has many similarities with The Machine (2013), starting with the title, ("The Machine" vs. "Ex Machina"), the plot, and the female robot named "Ava."