Re: Matrix Shmatrix

From: Jeff Taylor (jeff@ultraviolet.com)
Date: Fri Apr 09 1999 - 18:33:46 MDT


That is why it is called fiction.

I read a terrible (albiet similar) review in the SF Chronical (which has
always been a terrible source for information.) The reviewer sounded like a
bitchy queen who was in a bad mood. The problem I've noticed with SCIFI is
that it is easy, particularly given our understanding of the universe, to
pick apart. Why can't you just enjoy the movie as FICTION? Does fiction only
become 'good' when it is believable? Read any good Physics books?

Jeff Taylor
"Still loving the movie, regardless of its fictional plot holes"

ps- pardon my unusually harsh opinion

--
"An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one."
-Charles Horton Cooley, Life and the Student
----------
>From: Robin Hanson <hanson@econ.berkeley.edu>
>To: extropians@extropy.com
>Subject: Matrix Shmatrix
>Date: Fri, Apr 9, 1999, 4:27 PM
>
> OK, all the buzz on this list about the movie "the Matrix"
> got me to see it.  My review: ich.
>
> On the positive side I guess you might say they take the ideas
> of virtual reality and artificial intelligence seriously.
> (Then again you might not.)  And it had a lot of action &
> violence (no sex) for folks who like that sort of thing.
>
> SPOILER WARNING: DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!
>
> On the negative side, humans cloud the skys to take solar energy
> away from AIs, who then grow humans as energy sources, putting
> them in a virtual reality to distract them from being eaten?!
> Special humans born with an ability to hack the AI's operating
> system better than the AIs?!  AIs who have to run and chase
> things in their virtual reality rather than just deleting the
> relevant files?!  AIs too stupid to out guess spunky humans
> or to find the hidden human "city" on an Earth run by AIs?
> A fight for human freedom lead by an all-knowing "oracle" who
> gives orders and explains little?  Pleeaase.
>
> An engrossing cartoon perhaps, but hardly a fruitful basis
> for thinking about the future.   Similar but better movies
> were Dark City and Total Recall.
>
> Robin Hanson
> hanson@econ.berkeley.edu     http://hanson.berkeley.edu/
> RWJF Health Policy Scholar             FAX: 510-643-8614
> 140 Warren Hall, UC Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 510-643-1884
> after 8/99: Assist. Prof. Economics, George Mason Univ.
> 


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