The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Review

Note: As of writing this review I have not beaten "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" in its entirety, but have put many hours into the game and have a good enough sense of what the game is like.

     I play quite a bit of video games, more than your average player. For as long as I can remember I've loved games, they act as an escape from the monotony of life. And the medium serves as a great way to tell a story, it lets you not just see the story (like in movies or TV) but experience it. It puts you into the shoes of the main character, and over the years games have evolved from linear story lines to ones that allow you to choose your own path. That’s what I love about games; you don't just go along for the journey you are the one making it. Despite how many video games I play though, there are often many major games that I've missed. One highly acclaimed series that I have missed over the years would be the "Witcher" series by developers CD Project RED. The games are based off of a Polish book series by the same name, and take place in a mythical, medieval setting. While the series’ combat and gameplay have often been criticized, the story, characters, and lore have received high praise; the second game of the series, "Assassins of Kings," has often been hailed as one of the greatest western RPG's. The reason I have never played the games is that is because I have never owned a computer powerful enough to play them. Not until now have I owned a platform that could handle one of their games. And the third and final installment, "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," has been called by many as the best in the series; and after playing it, it's not hard to see why.

     The story of "Wild Hunt" takes place a few years after the events of the previous games, where an assassin killed several of the kings of the Northern Kingdoms throwing the area into chaos. Since then the southern nation of Nilfgaard has declared war and is attempting to absorb the Northern Kingdoms. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a mercenary and professional monster hunter known as a Witcher. Over the past year and a half Geralt has been looking for Yennefer, the woman he loves, and another Witcher named Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter that he received as payment when he lifted a curse from her father. After reuniting with Yennefer he learns that she is working for the emperor of Nilfgaard and biological father of Ciri, Emhyr Var Emreis. The emperor hires Geralt to find Ciri, knowing she is being chased by a race of specters from another plane of existence called the Wild Hunt. Ciri was born with magical powers that would allow the Wild Hunt to travel between worlds more freely. While Geralt is hesitant to work for the emperor, he agrees knowing that Ciri is in trouble. So he sets out to save the closest thing to family he has ever known.

     Going back towards the beginning of the year, "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" was one of my most anticipated games of 2015. Never playing the series before had actually peaked my interest, especially hearing all the good things said about the previous games. So after finally getting to play "Wild Hunt," I see why people loved this series so much. In short, "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is simply one of the best role playing games I have played developed in the western world. The developer of the series, CD Project RED, has a reputation for being some of the best and most fan friendly developers currently working and I can see why. When you buy a physical copy of the game it actually comes with a thank you note from the developers appreciating their support. The company has also announced that on top of a few large, paid downloadable content packs, there will also be over a dozen free ad-ons to be rolled out over the game's life cycle. Now-a-days most developers would charge for every piece of additional content, not many would give it up for free. But CD Project RED isn't just a fan friendly company; they also know how to develop a damn good game. First off, the graphics. This series has always been known for having great looking games, the second game in the series which came out in 2011 still holds up graphically speaking. "Wild Hunt" is truly beautiful; the graphics are absolutely stunning on a technical level. I played the game on the PS4, and it's probably the best looking game I've ever played on a console. But not just on a technical level, but the aesthetics and art style are gorgeous to look at. The world of "Wild Hunt" is massive, beautiful, and expertly designed; whether you are in the forests or in a large city, it is one of the most amazing video game words I've ever experienced. There is also an astonishing level of detail, every little village and backwoods swamp is teaming with something that makes it feel special. Not since GTA 5 has an open world map felt so detailed. It's not just the world that is well designed, but its inhabitants as well. The character models look great, you can see every wrinkle and boil on their faces; even subtle emotions are picked up and shown. The enemy design is also top notch as well. I thought that the recent game "Bloodborne" had the best enemy design of any game I've played in years, but "Wild Hunt" gives it a real run for its money. The game is also filled with interesting characters; while there aren't a lot of characters you have extensive contact with, those who you do are often memorable. They really help add to this rather amazing story. The plot of the game is interesting to say the least, and truly grabs you and never lets go. The series is rich in lore, there is so much stuff happening in this little universe with so much history it is amazing. Yet surprisingly, the game is welcoming to new players. While the story and lore is complicated, the game gives you enough information to understand what is happening; especially if you go looking for info and read books and letters you find. While playing the previous game would certainly help (which I didn't do), I never felt that confused or overwhelmed. One thing that also greatly impressed me was the level of choice you are given. In almost every mission you are given, major or minor, you can make a choice that may affect the rest of the game. During one particular mission I made a choice that completely changed its outcome, and resulted in the death of several characters I did not want to die. There is no hand holding in this game, whenever you make a decision it doesn't tell you what the consequences may be, you make your decision and you deal with it. The biggest criticism I've heard of the previous games was probably the combat, but from what I've heard from people who have played the previous games "Wild Hunt" is a huge step forward. The combat is complicated, there is a lot of stuff going on in a fight and there is a steep learning curve; despite that, the combat is solid. There is a certain weight to it; every time you swing a sword you feel it. You also need to fight smart, any enemy that is of a higher level (or even a little bit lower than you) can do serious damage; you need to stay on your toes and dodge pretty much every attack. Other than sword play, there are several other combat aspects that make it unique. Your character has the ability to use five magical spells: shooting fire, casting a shield, slowing enemies down and making them more vulnerable in a small area, temporarily hypnotize them, and a telekinetic pulse. Each power can be upgraded and adds to their abilities. I also appreciate the fact that you get each of these powers at the beginning of the game and just upgrade them from there. You also have several accessories such as a crossbow and various bombs at your disposal that add a different element to the combat. While the controls may feel overwhelming at first, you'll get the hang of it after a few fights. The game also has a truly beautiful soundtrack. Whether you be exploring the countryside or engaging the enemies, the music is absolutely superb. Another reason why CD Project RED is a great company is that they actually give you a separate copy of the soundtrack for free. Most developers will sell you the soundtrack separately for $10 or so, but if you buy a physical copy of the game it come with an actually CD with the score on it; that's something I have never seen before from a developer. Now up to this point I have done nothing to praise "Wild Hunt," but like any game it suffers from some flaws. During my playthrough I experienced various minor technical difficulties and glitches, nothing game breaking but noticeable enough to be an annoyance. Once I got on my horse heading to a mission when all of a sudden my horse started to float. The most common technical problem I encountered was the occasional frame rate drop. Usually occurring when a lot of stuff was happening on screen, it was never a real hindrance but it would usually take me out of the experience for a second. Yet of everything the thing that bothered me most was the camera, the best way I can describe it is fickle. The camera is very precise and can often be a burden. When I wanted to interact with something or someone the camera needed to be in a very particular place to do so. One ability your character has is called "Witcher sense," which allows you to see irregularities in the environment. When you enter this mode the camera zooms in just above your shoulder and greatly restricts your field of view, and since that camera is so sensitive the slightest movement will change your view greatly. The only way to somewhat solve these problems would be to play around with the settings to find something that works for you. Despite these problems though, this is a great game. One thing that many people will love is the sheer amount of stuff you can do. Exploring, finding treasure, fighting off bandits and monsters that have taken over areas and the extraordinary number of quests gives this game a lot of bang for your buck. Video games are expensive, with a new game for consoles costing around $60. But if you compare it to a movie which costs around $10 for two hours, games are a great deal. "Wild Hunt" will likely take you around 100 hours to finish, with upwards of 300 hours of various missions you can do (that's not including all the DLC and expansions that will be released). This is a game that will satisfy almost anyone who is willing to put the time into it. Whenever there is a game I am looking forward to coming out I often get nervous, because I know that there is a chance that it might not be as good as I hope it is. *Cough, "Destiny," Cough*. "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is not one of those games. It has surpassed my expectations, and will likely go down as one of the greatest role playing games ever made.

Pros: Beautiful art style and aesthetics, stunning graphics, astonishing level of detail and refinement, steep learning curve, doesn't hold your hand, solid combat, fascinating story, lets you make your own decisions, interesting characters, impressive looking character models, great enemy design, rich lore, gorgeous world, amazing soundtrack, tons of missions to do, lots of bang for your buck, accessible to new players to the series.

Cons: Camera isn't great, some minor technical difficulties, suffers from occasional frame rate drops.

5/5 Stars

Note: I played "Wild Hunt" on the PS4, where it ran at 1080p and 30fps. It ran perfectly fine, but this is one of those games that was designed to be played on a computer. If you have a PC that is powerful enough to run this game I would recommend picking it up for that platform.

Mad Max: Fury Road Review

     There are a couple legendary franchises that are having all new movies coming out this year, and I'm very conflicted how I feel about them. "Jurassic World" next month looks like it could be promising but I'm still unsure about it, and I'd bet "Terminator Genisys" the following month will be pretty bad. But there was one franchise whose new movie I was looking forward to, Mad Max. While its not the best franchise ever, it is certainly memorable. The first film "Mad Max" was a unique revenge thriller, and helped launch Mel Gibson's career. The third movie "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" was weird, but still a lot of fun. But the pinnacle of the series would have to be the second movie in the franchise, "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." The second movie can be listed alongside some of the greatest action movies of all time; it is a masterpiece of the genre. While the first and third movies are good, the entire legacy of the franchise rests on the shoulders of "The Road Warrior;" until now anyway.

     Some years in the future, a lack of gasoline and fresh water pushed society to the absolute brink; and when they were gone, full out nuclear war ended society all together. Many years after that we meet Max, a former cop haunted by his past and the loss of his family, who is only trying to survive. One day Max is captured by the War Boys, members of a cult run by a man named Immortal Joe. He is taken back to their base of operations, an Oasis called the Citadel. Max is labeled a universal donor of blood, and held captive. Immortal Joe is an old, sickly man who runs the Citadel with an iron fist. He's set up an operation to have fresh water pumped up from underground, so with the help of his War Boys defending his power, everybody nearby worships him. One day Joe sends his most trusted warrior, a woman named Furiosa, on a supply run. She is set to go to a nearby oil refinery called Gas Town; along with a not to far ammo processing plant called Bullet Farm, the two and the Citadel have a deal set up to trade supplies they need. Shortly after Furiosa leaves, she veers off course into the dessert. Joe realizes that Furiosa has stolen his most valuable property, his young wives who he has kept captive for years to produce offspring. Joe gathers his entire fleet and goes after Furiosa; Max is dragged along by a sickly War Boy named Nux who needs a blood transfusion. They chase her into a sand storm where all but Furiosa, the wives, Nux and Max survive. Max meets up with the runaways and reluctantly agrees to help them escape, afraid of what will happen when Joe catches up with then. From then on out they are a team, and they run for their lives. 

     Let's not pussyfoot around the subject and cut to the chase; this movie is truly something special, there is no other way to put it other than that. This is the most insane, over-the-top and thoroughly enjoyable movie I have ever seen; I absolutely loved every minute of it, now let me tell you why. It's been thirty years since director George Miller directed a "Mad Max" movie, and he hasn't missed a beat. He does an amazing job with this movie; he brings a unique style to the movie that I haven't ever seen before. One thing that was rather worrisome about the movie was who was going to play the character of Max. Tom Hardy was cast and he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Mel Gibson might be most well known for his portrayal of the character, but Hardy does a fantastic job in the role. Max is the only character from the original movies that is in "Fury Road," but this new cast of characters might be the best the series has ever seen. It is filled with interesting characters and each one has an actor giving a great performance playing them. I especially have to give props to Charlize Theron for her portrayal of Furiosa; she might actually be the stand out of the entire movie. I also want to take a moment to appreciate the actor who plays Immortal Joe, Hugh Keays-Byrne, who actually played the lead antagonist in the first Mad Max movie. While the characters were certainly memorable, they present the biggest problem with the movie. Other than one or two characters, no one really has any development. How they start the movie is how they finish; and considering the ordeal they have to go through that should not happen. One thing that surprised me most about this movie would be the writing and the dialog, they are actually very good. Not a lot is said in this movie, but whenever there is something to be said it is usually important. It really helps bring this interesting story to life. Another surprise would have to be the humor; like the dialog there isn't a lot of it, but it is on point when it comes out to play. The movie also has a few scenes that actually get kind of emotional, and you truly feel for the characters. While the story is one worth telling, "Fury Road" is first and foremost an action movie, and that is where it shines. This movie will go down as one of the greatest the genre has ever seen. The action sequences are huge, over-the-top, and truly amazing. The stunt choreography for the action is truly something to behold in some scenes. Helped by top notch special effects, a fitting soundtrack and great production design, you feel it in your gut every time a car explodes. "Fury Road" feels like an homage to the over-the-top action movies of the 80s, I feel this is how all action movies in the 80s would have been like if they had a budget of $150 million. This movie is non-stop entertainment, and is just a whole lot of fun. Unfortunately for some, this might actually turn a lot of people off. This movie is totally insane and weird, I feel that whoever drew the story boards were on a lot of drugs. I have talked to some people who didn't like the movie because of that; while I feel the majority of movie goers will have a lot of fun with it, there will be many who just can't get into it. But you know what? I don't care about those people. From Max's opening monologue to the incredibly satisfying ending, I loved this movie. I want to see it in the theater again already. This is a movie for film lovers and for fans of the series, and if you fall into either of those categories this is the movie for year. I'd recommend watching just for the experience. "Mad Max: Fury Road" had a lot to live up to, but it didn't just do its predecessors proud, it might have actually surpassed them, 

Pros: Phenomenal directing from George Miller, great performances from the actors, Tom Hardy does a fantastic job as Max, good writing and dialog, interesting story, filled with memorable characters, non-stop entertainment, amazing action sequences and stunt choreography, top notch production design, unique in style, great special effects, very emotional at times, humor is on point, soundtrack fits perfectly, throwback to 80s action movies, a whole lot of fun.

Cons: Not a lot of character development, may be too over the top for some.

5/5 Stars

5 Most Underrated Shows on TV

Note: This list is comprised of my personal opinions regarding what I believe are the some of the most underrated shows currently airing episodes. While these shows may have received acclaim from critics, they may not pull in the ratings they deserve. It is also worth remembering that I do not watch every show on TV, so this list may be missing some shows that deserve a spot.

Runner-Up: China, Il
If there was an award for the weirdest show on TV show of all time, "China, Il" would certainly be in the running. Premiering in 2011 with 15 minute episodes, the show quickly gained a following for it's over the top and off the wall humor. During the second season the show started airing full half hour episodes, and a third season was quickly announced. The show revolves around several teachers and students at the worst school in America. And as for any show that airs on adult swim, it is completely insane. The show is not for everyone, it's weird and idiotic brand of humor will turn people off; and the animation style can be somewhat jarring to look at for some. But if given the chance, "China, Il" is one of the most enjoyable shows to watch on TV. While the future of the show is in question, my hopes is that Adult Swim will continue their tradition of supporting great content that may not pull great numbers.

5. Mozart in the Jungle
"Mozart in the Jungle" premiered in 2014, and was so overlooked by critics and audiences it is a shame. An Amazon Prime original series, I think the problem is that it came out so close to the release of another Amazon Prime show that received overwhelming critical acclaim, "Transparent." To be honest I haven't seen "Transparent" yet, but all I know is that it received all the glory while "Mozart in the Jungle" was left out in the cold. The show revolves around a genius musician and conductor who has been hired to lead a prestigious orchestra in New York. I got Amazon Prime earlier this year for the free two day shipping, but watching this show was the first thing I did. From the first episode to the satisfying finale, this was one of the best new shows of the year. With a second season on its way, hopefully it will soon receive the recognition it deserves. 

4. Gravity Falls
Never in a million years would I have thought that a show from the Disney Channel would be one of the best on TV. "Gravity Falls" is a very unique animated show that debuted back in 2012. The show revolves around two siblings (Dipper and Mabel) as who are visiting their great uncle Stan in a little backwoods town, but things are not as they seem in the small town that seems to be constantly plagued by the paranormal. So Dipper sets out to find out what is really happening in the town of Gravity Falls. This show is certainly one of the strangest on TV, and while it may be a Disney show this is not something I would let a young child to watch. Seriously, at one point a guy is straight up killed when he is disintegrated with some sort of death ray. "Gravity Falls" was not a show I expected to like, it was recommended by a friend and after I started watching it I fell in love. It is a smart, funny, and mysterious show that has a surprising amount of depth and emotion for an animated series. 

3. The Knick
The youngest show on this list premiering in late 2014, "The Knick" might also be the most promising. Developed by Cinemax, the show takes place at a New York hospital in the year 1900 and follows Dr. John Thack. A brilliant surgeon recently put in charge of surgical operations at the hospital after his colleague killed himself, Thack suffers from an addiction to liquid cocaine (which was still being used as medicine). At the same time the hospital decided to hire a brilliant black surgeon named Algernon Edwards, who Thack is uninterested in working with because of his race. "The Knick" is like a more serious, R-rated version of the show "House M.D.," except this show might turn out to be better. With the second season set to air late this year, "The Knick" is shaping up to become one of the best shows on TV. 

2. Broadchurch
I only started watching this show recently after I saw the first season on Netflix, and I'm actually a little upset with myself that I had not been watching it since its premier. "Broadchurch" is a British show that follows two detectives investigating a murder of a young child in a fictional sea side town in England. Since its debut in 2013 the show has actually reached a high level of success in England, drawing millions of viewers for each episode; but surprisingly the show has yet to become widely popular here in the US. And considering the success of shows such as "Doctor Who," "Sherlock," and "Luther," it's a bit strange that it hasn't found much mainstream success in the US. "Broadchurch" is an intense, beautiful series that builds a strong emotional bond between the viewers the characters. Season two wrapped up recently with a third on its way, and as a fan of the show I can't wait.

1. The Americans
When I first came up the idea to write this list, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that this show should be at the top of this list. "The Americans" first premiered in 2013 on FX; the series follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Russian sleeper agents that were tasked with committing covert operation in the United States. Elizabeth and Philip were paired together at a young age, told to set up shop in the US and start a family to help make them seem more normal; the series chronicles their covert operations as well as their personal interactions with each other, their children, and their friends. "The Americans" isn't just the most underrated show on TV; it is simply one of the best. The acting, writing, storytelling and just about everything else are on par with the best shows currently airing. Simply put, if you're not watching "The Americans" you are missing out.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

     Since 2008, the Marvel cinematic universe has pretty much taken over the film industry. The 11 movies have made over seven billion dollars, making it the second highest grossing film series only behind the "Harry Potter" franchise. Along with Nolan's "Batman" series, the Marvel movies really helped kick start the superhero movie craze; and of all the superhero movies, Marvel has consistently done it right. "Iron Man," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" are easily among the best comic book movies. But of all the Marvel movies "The Avengers" was the biggest, and arguably best, in the series. Released in 2012, it received surprising critical acclaim and ended up becoming the third highest grossing film of all time. Several Marvel movies have come out since then, many of which were great, but there was something about "The Avengers" that was special. So after three years we finally get a sequel and the question on everybody's mind, "how does it stack up?" 

     Since the fall of S.H.E.I.L.D in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the Avengers have been teaming up to take out any Hydra bases that are left in the hopes of finding Loki's lost staff. They track it down to a compound in Easter Europe where the scientists there had been working on human experimentation as well as advanced robotics. After taking the base and retrieving the staff the Avengers had back to New York to celibate, at the same time Tony Stark and Bruce Banner study the staff. Upon further inspection they find something within the jewel on the staff, some sort of intelligence. They can't really explain it, but they decide to use it as a basis for an artificial intelligence called Ultron. In theory Ultron would control several Iron Man suits that would help keep the earth safe from any sort of alien invasion. Stark and Banner decide to keep this project secret believing the other members of the team wouldn't approve; but after days of testing they come up with nothing, and Thor plans on taking the staff back to Asgard the next day. That night they threw a party and invite all of their friends; afterwards they are just hanging out, when all of a sudden they are interrupted. Somehow Ultron has come alive, and believes that to save the world he has to destroy the Avengers. So he attacks the group and steals the staff. Once it’s all over the Avengers assemble and realize what they have to do, destroy Ultron before he can destroy everything they love. 

     To be honest I was worried going into this movie, the first film was so great and I had trouble imaging this one topping it. Whether it is better or not will come down to personal opinion, but I can safely say this movie is still awesome. One thing the Marvel movies have done perfectly would be the casting. All of the character cast up to this point have been great, and the same is said about the new charterers who bring a lot to the film. Everyone gives a really solid performance, and the actors have great chemistry together. Like the first film, the writing from Joss Whedon is spot on. It is funny when it needs to be and is emotional when it has to be. The dialog is snappy and smart and always entertaining. Whedon did a great job both writing and directing, and I'm sad to see that he's not going to be directing the next "Avengers" film. One thing that "Age of Ultron" did better than just about every other Marvel film would be the villain. Ultron might just be the best bad guy we've seen in any of the movies. He's menacing, badass, witty, and has surprising depth. And James Spader did an outstanding job voicing him. Like the previous film, this movie does action right. The action sequences are huge and always entertaining. The opening and closing fights are outstanding, and the Hulk facing off against Iron Man in the Hulk Buster suit will put a big smile on your face. It helps that the movie has great CGI, and the CGI characters like Ultron and the Hulk look awesome I think what this movie does best though is that it knows what it is and it does it perfectly. "Age of Ultron" does exactly what a great summer blockbuster should do. While it is a great popcorn flick, it does bring something more to the table. You really care about these characters and want to see them succeed. Simply put, this is some of the most fun you will have at the theater this year. Now let’s be honest, the film is not perfect. One thing it struggles with is its own ambition; it tries to do too much in a short period of time. So much stuff happens in this movie that I feel like I need to see it again to understand everything. There were several parts and characters that were just kind of glossed over because you can only put so much in two hours. The movie also takes a while to really get going. During the opening action scene you are certainly entertained, but you've seen it all before. It takes a while for it to get really exciting and compelling. But of everything the film does suffer from one major flaw, and that is that it's not its predecessor. What made "The Avengers" so great was that it was surprisingly great. Having all the characters in one movie looked like it was going to be a "to many cooks in the kitchen" situation. Yet it somehow pulled it off. With "Age of Ultron" we didn't have that surprise since we had seen it before. The movie just doesn't have the magic the first one had. But even with that being said, it’s still awesome. There are several different types of movies, and I don't mean different genres; you have pleasant surprises like "Kingsman: The Secret Service," independent tour-de-force's like "Ex Machina," and then you have over the top summer blockbusters like "Avengers: Age of Ultron." And that is perfectly fine. Not every movie has to be like "Ex Machina," sometimes you just want a movie you can have fun with; and "Age of Ultron" is that movie. From start to finish I had a blast with this movie, it is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I wouldn't say it's the best Marvel movie, but I'd say it's in the top five. So if you're looking to go see a fun movie with some friends, you can't go wrong with this one. And if "Age of Ultron" does anything right, it's that it will get you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies. 

Pros: Perfect casting, solid performances, great chemistry between characters, well written dialog, very funny, surprisingly emotional at times, new characters bring a lot to the film, one of the best villains in the series, awesome action scenes, great CGI, fantastic directing from Joss Whedon, exactly what a summer blockbuster should be like, gets you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies.

Cons: Almost tries to do too much, takes a while to get really exciting, doesn't have the magic the first film did.

4/5 Stars

Ex Machina Review

     For as long as computers have been around, people have been obsessed with artificial intelligence. Some believe that it will be the downfall of humanity, while some believe it is the next evolutionary step. All I know is that it makes from a great plot point in science fiction movies. The last really great movie involving AI I can think of would be 2013's "Her," which is one of the best movies in recent years. It kind of raised the bar when it comes to humanizing an AI in a movie. While there have been a few films involving AI that have come out since "Her," none are even in the same league; until now anyway. "Ex Machina" is an independent sci-fi movie that has been making the rounds with its limited release. Garnering wide acclaim, it has been called the best movie of the year by many. I had high hopes for this movie, and amazingly it was better than I could have imagined. 

     Caleb is a program at a company called Bluebook, which runs the world's most popular search engine. One day he receives an email informing him that he won a contest everyone at the company was entered in. The prize is that he gets to go to the estate of the company's founder; a man named Nathan, and help him with a secret project. Caleb is flown out to Nathan's house which is in the middle of nowhere on a huge plot of land he owns. When Caleb arrives he is greeted by Nathan and told why he is really there. Nathan wants Caleb to partake in a Turning Test, which is a test where you try and determine if you are talking to a machine or a human. Nathan has what he believes to be the first artificial intelligence, a machine called Ava. He wants Caleb to talk to Ava, and determine if she is truly sentient or not. Caleb soon learns though that everything isn't what it appears to be when both Nathan and Ava start saying things about each other. So Caleb wonders who he can trust, as well as what happens to Ava if she fails the test.

     2015 has been a slow year for movies thus far, the only one worth writing home about has probably been "Kingsman: The Secret Service." So going into "Ex Machina" I had my fingers crossed, and to my surprise it was better than I thought it would be. This is one of the best science fiction movies I've seen in the past few years. First and foremost, the performances are fantastic; the three leads do an amazing job. Of the three Alicia Vikander as Ava stood out, I would be surprised if she didn't get an Oscar nomination for best actress. The chemistry between the actors was so good, and that really helped them step into these roles. Their performances were also helped by the script; this is a well written movie with very smart dialog. One thing I loved about this movie was that it respected its audience; it doesn't dumb itself down to appeal to people who might not appreciate it otherwise. It's a thought provoking movie; it asks a lot of the same questions about what it means to be human that the recent movie "Chappie" did, the only difference is that "Ex Machina" is actually a good movie. And to my own surprise, the movie is surprisingly funny, especially the character Nathan who is wonderfully random. He seems to say whatever pops into his head first. The script was written by the director, a man named Alex Garland. He has written for movies like "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine," as well as the critically acclaimed video game "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West." So he certainly has the writing chops; but amazingly, "Ex Machina" is his directorial debut. I was watching this movie thinking to myself, "how is this the first movie he's directed?” He does a truly amazing job; every scene is presented with a confidence that you usually see from a more experienced director. The fact that the movie is shot beautifully only helps; cinematographer Rob Hardy did a great job and I hope he gets credit for his work when award season rolls around. And its use of music to compliment every shot works beautifully. One of my favorite aspects of this movie had to be the special effects. Throughout the movie, CGI is used and the only thing I can say about it is that it looks real. While some movies like "Gravity" or "Avatar" are really in your face with CGI, this movie takes a more subtle approach. It’s used to try and make the movie seem more realistic. While CGI is most obviously used for Ava's body (which is a phenomenal, and interesting take on a robotic body), there are other times that it is used and every time it is used perfectly. If I had to point out a flaw with this movie, it would be that it is very slow. I was never bored, I was never uninterested, but by the final act you start to feel the nearly two hour run time. For some people it will be two slow, but the movie does something interesting with its slow pace; the movie builds tension. From the first time that Caleb meets Nathan until the final scene, the movie feels like a piano wire that is slowly being twisted and you are just waiting for it break. You’re on the edge of your seat for the final scene, and this movie has one of the tensest endings I've seen in quite a while. I have been waiting all year for a great movie, and "Ex Machina" is that movie. It does everything a great sci-fi movie should do; to be honest I would be surprised if this didn't make it onto my best of the year list. While it's certainly not for everyone, it is a movie I loved and one that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I watched it. This is an independent gem, and easily the best movie of the year so far.

Pros: Fantastic performances from the lead actors, beautiful cinematography, great directing, well written script with smart dialog, surprisingly funny at times, thought provoking, great soundtrack, incredibly tense, subtle but well done CGI.

Cons: Very slow pace.

4.5/5 Stars