Film: Moon...2009 (sci fi nerds only)

[amicus]

Just watched this on STARZ, a 2009 release, and, after the thousands of science fiction plots I have read and thought about, this one has a twist.

Of course there was the Big Bad Corporation, as the usual bad guy, but, hell, one learns to expect business bashing from Hollywood, so what else is new?

I am going to be a bit of a 'spoiler' here and rationalize that the plot becomes evident shortly after the film begins; it should not ruin the film for you...

Even the blurb raises questions as it notes that a single human has been alone on the Moon for three years and is anxious to return to Earth.

He, in this case, is overseeing a mining operation where a computer controls just about everything, even the reason for the his presence is not clarified.

Against the orders of the computer, our main character uses a Rover to go rescue another human, not sure how he knew there was someone out there, but he did.

Upon the rescue, they both realize they look like each other, bingo, Clones, pretty much obvious.

They both have the same implanted memories of home, wife and child, etcetera, and the computer is programmed to keep churning out a new clone when needed, or every three years as per, 'contract', you know, the big bad business guys.

As the conclusion is not foreshadowed, I won't give that away, but the ethical and moral questions remain concerning Clones, if the technology ever becomes viable, which I doubt, but still, "Total Recall" style, is a Clone a real life?

Woukl it be inhumane to create a clone with human sentience, memories that are all fabricated?

Ah, well, it kept me entertained for an hour or so...

Amicus

 

[past_perfect]

Interesting ... haven't watched this one yet (will do that soon though). I was starting to swear when I read the first lines of your plot summary, as it appeared to be awfully close to the plot of a novel I am writing at the mo - thankfully there appear to be significant differences after all (in my story a scientist recreates his dead wife, but has no stored template for her mind, so the results are a little more unpredictable ...).

As to your question, yes, I think a clone would qualify as a real person and therefore it raises all sorts of ethical questions and dilemmas - even if their initial memories are fabricated - as they are forming their own from the moment they are sentient and experience things.

Did you watch "The Island"? (The Island) Also quite an interesting take on possibilities arising from our ability to clone.

 

[amicus]

I had to follow your link before I remembered the plot, but yes, saw and enjoyed that, and of course, Scarlett Johansson, the lead actress in the film.

I would like to dismiss cloning as a moot point as it seems impossible to accomplish. I can see a petri dish experiment working, but I don't foresee a technology, such as most sci fi stories indicate, that perform a transfer of memory, but I did like Sean Young in Blade Runner.

Good wishes on your story...

ami

 

[past_perfect]

I had to follow your link before I remembered the plot, but yes, saw and enjoyed that, and of course, Scarlett Johansson, the lead actress in the film.

I would like to dismiss cloning as a moot point as it seems impossible to accomplish. I can see a petri dish experiment working, but I don't foresee a technology, such as most sci fi stories indicate, that perform a transfer of memory, but I did like Sean Young in Blade Runner.

Good wishes on your story...

ami

Ta, and that is actually the crux of my story - as I placed it somewhere at the end of the 22nd century, I envision a technology capable of imparting basic knowledge (language skills, motor skills, asf - as an off-shoot of reconstructive procedures for people suffering from brain damage and memory loss - but not a personality as such). So my hero doesn't quite get what he hoped for...

And yes, as unlikely as it seems that we ever agree on anything - Scarlett is hot ...

 

[AngeloMichael]

I saw this film and thought it was very good. In this age of big budget blockbusters it was extremely nice to see an independent science fiction film done a lot stylistically like movies they made 30 years ago or more.

Sam Rockwell did an exceelent job carrying the movie, he played all the main characters (excluding Gerty wonderfully voiced by Kevin Spacey) and was on screen the entire time yet I never lost interest or got bored with the movie.

More Spoilers:
Yes the clone plot turn was easy to see coming as well as the turn at the end of the film. The one thing that did keep me guessing was whether Gerty was a good or bad A.I.. The movie gave such an homage to 2001: A Space Odessey in the way it looked and the mood and tone it set that I was constantly put on my guard and suspicious of everything Gerty did. I liked how instead of the constant unreadable red eye of HAL it had the emoticon screen.

Duncan Jones, the film's director, is planning a (kind of) sequel to the movie as well called Mute.

Mute is a science fiction film that Duncan Jones plans to direct. The premise is that in future Berlin, a woman's disappearance causes a mystery for her partner, a mute bartender. He must go up against the city’s gangsters to solve the mystery. The film takes place in the same timeline as Jones' Moon, and will feature Sam Rockwell in a cameo as his character Sam Bell.

As for my feelings about cloning, I'm tackling that subject as well in a story I'm working on, I'm calling it Souless.

 

[amicus]

AngeloMichael....excellent point...I too was kept in doubt as to the Hal like computer, although, it did seem to encompass a little AI, in that it apparently could make choices outside its programming.

Good luck on Soulless...I can sense the plot line...fine idea....

Oh, and Past Perfect, if you come back, your story idea...have you seen, "Creator"? With Peter O'Toole and Mariel Hemingway....the main character is also attempting to clone his late wife...

ami

 

[AngeloMichael]

amicus,

Thank you.

Yes, the theme of self-sacrifice running through the movie applied as much to the clones as it did to Gerty and all characters that were either not human or not considered human. I thought it was very well done.

I have not seen "Creator" though I have heard about it. I'll get around to seeing it one of these days but for obvious reasons not until my story is complete.

 

[Handley_Page]

amicus,

I have not seen "Creator" though I have heard about it. I'll get around to seeing it one of these days but for obvious reasons not until my story is complete.

Do you mean Dr Soong ?

 

[AngeloMichael]

Do you mean Dr Soong ?

Only Dr. Soong I know of is in Star Trek.

No, I was replying to Amicus who was replying to Past Perfect about a Peter 'Otoole movie called "Creator". I didn't notice that part of his post was directed at Past until after I posted. Basically in that part of my post things got all higgedly piggedly.

 

[past_perfect]

AngeloMichael....excellent point...I too was kept in doubt as to the Hal like computer, although, it did seem to encompass a little AI, in that it apparently could make choices outside its programming.

Good luck on Soulless...I can sense the plot line...fine idea....

Oh, and Past Perfect, if you come back, your story idea...have you seen, "Creator"? With Peter O'Toole and Mariel Hemingway....the main character is also attempting to clone his late wife...

ami

Well, I haven't seen Creator, but it would have surprised me, if no-one else had come up with something similar before. Will try to get the movie to see if I am rehashing existing material too much. I suppose there weren't an awful lot of fucking and BDSM elements in there? If not, I'm still golden.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

As the conclusion is not foreshadowed, I won't give that away, but the ethical and moral questions remain concerning Clones, if the technology ever becomes viable, which I doubt, but still, "Total Recall" style, is a Clone a real life?

Ah, well, it kept me entertained for an hour or so...

Amicus

Ami, "Total Recall" didn't deal with clones but a colony on Mars. "The Sixth Day" dealt with clones it to was and Governator movie.

 

[CharleyH]

Just watched this on STARZ, a 2009 release, and, after the thousands of science fiction plots I have read and thought about, this one has a twist.

Of course there was the Big Bad Corporation, as the usual bad guy, but, hell, one learns to expect business bashing from Hollywood, so what else is new?

I am going to be a bit of a 'spoiler' here and rationalize that the plot becomes evident shortly after the film begins; it should not ruin the film for you...

Even the blurb raises questions as it notes that a single human has been alone on the Moon for three years and is anxious to return to Earth.

He, in this case, is overseeing a mining operation where a computer controls just about everything, even the reason for the his presence is not clarified.

Against the orders of the computer, our main character uses a Rover to go rescue another human, not sure how he knew there was someone out there, but he did.

Upon the rescue, they both realize they look like each other, bingo, Clones, pretty much obvious.

They both have the same implanted memories of home, wife and child, etcetera, and the computer is programmed to keep churning out a new clone when needed, or every three years as per, 'contract', you know, the big bad business guys.

As the conclusion is not foreshadowed, I won't give that away, but the ethical and moral questions remain concerning Clones, if the technology ever becomes viable, which I doubt, but still, "Total Recall" style, is a Clone a real life?

Woukl it be inhumane to create a clone with human sentience, memories that are all fabricated?

Ah, well, it kept me entertained for an hour or so...

Amicus

It's been at least six months since I saw this film, Ami, but I am pretty sure you missed at least a few key plot elements. Love you anyway!

 

[AllardChardon]

I enjoyed this. I just watched it this month. I found Sam Rockwell's part and the lack of women in the script to be very interesting, as well as the deterioration of the body of the clone. Well done.