Cinema eXistenZ (1999) - Should Probably Be Required Viewing for Gabe Newell

[Arnox]

Rating

4.00 star(s)

Requested by @Vendor-Lazarus, I didn't get around to this film for a while, but having been reminded of it, I decided to bump it up to the top of the list. Only the best for my Sanctuary baes. I think Vendor will be disappointed to hear though that I didn't enjoy this film super much BUT... I'm still going to give it four stars because it ALSO seems to be the only North American film to my knowledge that actually deals with and doesn't shrug away from at least some of the nasty possible consequences of direct brain interfacing for VR. I've stated a few times in the past that such technology should probably be repressed, if ever a technology should be,

Sure, such a technology could be used to achieve experiences literally only dreamed of. We could get "CrossCode" in real life... Orrr we can get "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream". Easily. And that's why I'm a complete enemy of this technology. The risks are wayyyyyyyyyy too great. And just to really hammer this point home, back in the day, people were so scared and opposed to nuclear power because the worst case scenario for it meant massive levels of death that had never been seen before nor probably would be seen again.

But with the worst case scenario of direct brain interfacing in comparison, getting killed by nukes actually seems like a huge mercy with no exaggeration. That's how bad this technology could be. And if the technology is developed, it only takes one single fucked up person to make such a nightmare scenario a full reality, with the only saving grace of such a thing being to make your body shut down and die out of sheer will just to have some escape. (Yes, such a thing is, blessedly, possible.)

And even if that scenario couldn't ever be a thing at all for whatever reason, don't worry, because it comes with a host of other issues. Let's see, uh... Memory control, instinct control, thought-reading (Yes, 1984 can now be a thing too, because all that other shit wasn't enough! :) ), you know, just a lot of super duper fun things. Fun for the whole family! Buy now! Beat the rush! And yes, by the way, Gabe Newell (and Elon Musk) really is working on all this shit as we speak. So yeah, death to direct brain interfacing! And burn this brave new world with fire to be sure it's dead. *shudder*

Spoiler

Oh, and as to whether I think the game is still running in the ending or not, I think it is as the acting for the two shooters is way too wooden. Fanatics tend to be, uh, emotional, not stare ahead like cardboard cut-outs. Though I suppose maybe the game malfunctioned and they got their personalities rewritten? Eh, who knows. Who cares. DEATH TO TRANSCENDENZ.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

I'm not disappointed at all. It's an okay movie with an interesting take. It's a better Inception, before Inception was a thing (which was way too overrated).

I'm also not against VR tech, although I do recognize the danger very much. All tech can be used for evil. It depends on the person(s) behind it and those using it.

 

[Arnox]

It's an okay movie with an interesting take.

My take as well actually.

It's a better Inception

Ok, now you completely lost me. lol First of all, Inception is not about VR or direct brain interfacing. (Okay, there is indeed some direct brain interfacing, but it's just a big fat plot excuse for the protagonists to be able to enter other people's dreams. Nothing more.) Technically, it's about making movies, but beneath that, it's also about the enticing pull our own dreams have on us and... You know what, maybe I need to see the movie again so I can give a much fuller and better explanation, but if I recall correctly, it's basically about choosing reality over our fantasies, as nice and as gorgeous as they may be. If one is a psychonaut in real life, this becomes literal and hits home way harder.

(which was way too overrated).

It is definitely NOT overrated. I will admit though it probably has more significance to me than it does to other people, but only because other people never really explore all the crazy shit one's mind is actually capable of. Even if you're not a psychonaut though, I'd still argue that Inception has this beautiful calm serenity to it in both its plot and visual aesthetics which makes it entertaining just for that alone. Something I haven't seen in any other movie. Also, the action's pretty good.

I'm also not against VR tech, although I do recognize the danger very much.

I'm also not against VR tech at all, but it's a WAYYYY different ballgame altogether when we're just talking about VR goggles and a movement pad and maybe some haptic feedback (and scent machines if you want to get really fancy) as opposed to directly tapping into the brain. The former is totally fine and natural. The latter is madness and literal hell incarnate. The mind is a sacred place that should not be violated ever through any direct interfacing.