Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas) is an insurance
investigator
for ROC in a post-apocalyptic near future where increased radiation has killed
off most of human life except for almost 22 million which live in the remaining
cities with the assistance of robots called Pilgrims. Jacq is investigating
a pair of Pilgrim 7000
robots who can repair themselves because the robots are made by ROC not being
able to alter themselves or others which is the second protocol and the first
protocol is they aren’t allowed to have harm to come to any form of life.
He is searching for the renegade clockmaker
who is altering their programming, but he begins to wonder if the Pilgrims are
becoming self aware as he waits for his pregnant wife Rachel (Brigitte Hjort
Sorensen) to give birth to their daughter.
His boss, Mr. Bolt (Robert Forster), and ROC just want to have him close
the case while a rogue police detective (Dylan McDermott) isn’t very interested
in it either.
AUTOMATA is one of the most interesting
and thought
provoking science fiction movies of the 21st century as it explores
the issues of life and self awareness.
It is a post-apocalyptic future where the land around the remaining Blade
Runner type cities are surrounded by loads of sand and some of the land is even
highly radioactive. Humanity fears
robots becoming self-aware and that is why ROC had the second protocols in
place. The cast is excellent while
director Gabe Ibanez has created one of the best imagined futures since BLADE
RUNNER and HARDWARE.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Making of AUTOMATA is a five minute promotional
fluff
featurette which offers no real depth into the making of the interview except
for quick interviews from Gabe Ibanez, Antonio Banderas, and Dylan McDermott as
they talk about the plot of the movie along with clips from the film and little
bits of footage showing guys in green suits moving the robots.
Also included on the blu-ray is the theatrical
trailer and
trailers for STONEHEARST ASYLUM, GOOD PEOPLE, DEAD WITHIN, and THE TAKING OF
DEBORAH LOGAN.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
AUTOMATA is the best visual sci-fi cult film since BLADE RUNNER and
HARDWARE. I wish the making-of
featurette had more meat to it, but you shouldn’t pass up this little sci-fi
gem.
This review is ©11-19-2014
David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments
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