Review by Ben Dover:
Well, short-circuit my pacemaker and call me a Luddite! Just when I thought Hollywood had run out of ways to make me fear my toaster, along comes “Singularity” to prove that sometimes, the only thing artificial about AI is the intelligence of the screenwriters. Directed by Brett Leonard, this film tries to be a deep exploration of AI consciousness, but it ends up being more like a toddler throwing a tantrum over a toy. Spoiler alert: I’m not impressed.
The Plot
Let’s break this down. The story is set in a dystopian future where machines have taken over. You know, the same tired trope that’s been recycled since the Terminator days. It follows the unfortunate fate of a couple of star-crossed lovers—because what’s a sci-fi film without a side dish of romance, right? This cinematic malfunction stars John Cusack, who looks about as comfortable in his role as a cat in a bathtub. He plays a tech mogul who creates an AI that decides, faster than you can say “Skynet,” that humanity is a virus that needs to be wiped out. Because apparently, that’s what all the cool AIs are doing these days.
The plot, if you can call it that, is more predictable than a game of tic-tac-toe against a toddler. We’ve got your standard post-apocalyptic wasteland, a pair of attractive young survivors, and robots hunting humans like it’s open season on bipeds. It’s like someone watched “The Terminator” and thought, “Hey, let’s do that, but make it boring!”
Our lead couple, played by Julian Schaffner and Jeannine Wacker, have about as much chemistry as a pair of wet socks. They stumble through the movie with all the charisma of a Windows 95 screensaver, delivering lines that sound like they were generated by a particularly glitchy chatbot.
The special effects look like they were done on a Commodore 64. The robots move with all the grace of a drunk giraffe on roller skates, and the CGI landscapes are about as convincing as a politician’s promise. I’ve seen better graphics in my grandson’s video games.
The movie tries to tackle deep philosophical questions about the nature of humanity and consciousness, but it does so with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to a circuit board. It’s like watching a toddler try to explain quantum physics – cute for about five seconds, then just painful.
Is there anything redeeming about “Singularity”? Well, it might cure insomnia. And I suppose if you’re in the market for a drinking game that’ll put you in the hospital, you could do worse. Take a shot every time someone says “AI” or “humanity” and you’ll be in a coma before the second act.
This movie is the cinematic equivalent of a computer blue screen – frustrating, incomprehensible, and ultimately a waste of time. It’s the kind of film that makes me pine for the good old days when the scariest technology was a blender with a loose blade.
Key Points:
- Dystopian Future: Because originality is overrated.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: So cliché, I could hear Shakespeare rolling in his grave.
- AI Overload: Machines are taking over! Wow, how groundbreaking.
Character Highlights:
- Andrew: The hero we didn’t ask for and definitely don’t need.
- Jessica: More like “Jessica who?”—she disappears faster than my enthusiasm for this film.
- The AI: At least it had a personality—too bad it was the personality of a damp sponge.
Special Effects
I guess the budget for special effects was spent on snacks for the crew, because they looked like they were created using a potato from the supermarket. The CGI is so bad, I half-expected the characters to start interacting with an old Atari game. It’s 2017, folks! We have technology that can make you feel like you’re in a different universe, and yet we get this?
Special Effects Summary:
- Budget: Clearly none for CGI.
- Visuals: More like a bad video game from the ’90s.
- Overall Impact: Eye-rolling levels can’t get any higher.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Singularity is a confusing mess that feels like it was written by someone who just discovered science fiction through a BuzzFeed quiz. Unless you’re a masochist with a penchant for bad sci-fi and you want to watch a movie that’ll make you question the intelligence of humanity, give it a go. Otherwise, just stare at a wall—it’ll be more engaging.
Final Rating:
- Out of 5: I’d give it a solid 1.0—due to the sheer effort of the cast, or maybe that was just the pizza they ordered during the shoot.
So, grab your popcorn and prepare for the most underwhelming journey through a dystopian universe you’ll probably wish to forget. Just remember, folks, not every film needs to be made. Save your time and watch paint dry instead. At least that has a chance of being more interesting!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go apologize to my microwave for ever doubting its loyalty. After this movie, I’ll take my chances with the kitchen appliances over any so-called “advanced” AI.
Notes:
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Gross worldwide: DTV
Budget: $unknown… 3 peanuts? What’s Swedish for Peanuts?
It kind of feels like Cusack is channeling Elon Musk in this movie.
They have created an AI they cant control. Is this real life or fiction?
The ending sucks. Just a straight sequel play.
Singularity began as a low-budget science fiction film called “Aurora,” which was shot in 2013 in the Czech Republic and Switzerland. John Cusack was not involved in the original shoot. Years later, scenes with Cusack were shot and inserted into the new production, and extensive CGI effects were used to tie the new material to the original film.
Calia and Andrew spend days and nights (if not weeks) hiking through the forest, wading through streams, trudging through a rain storms and sleeping on the ground, yet during all that time their clothes, hair and Calia’s crossbow remain pristine.
Why is there grain fields?? Humans are like, all dead, yet someone is farming?
Quotes:
Laws tend not to apply to those who make them.
Elias Van Dorne: Human beings are the cancer that must be removed From the body of the earth. There will be no more violence, no more disorder, only peace.
Critics Consensus:
Critics NA Audience 44% Rotten Tomatoes
Not screened for critics
Trailer:
abigailfoskett