When it comes to the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, there’s a very fine line between being a genius and being a crazy person. Ray Kurzweil is a guy who has been walking that line for years, continuing to attract followers and critics on both sides while he preaches about what he feels are inevitable breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and technological evolution. When I read his book The Age of Spiritual Machines, I found it so appealing to buy into his amazing predictions, but the fact remains that most of them are still unproven. What’s more, with all his talk about merging man and machine, a lot of people are starting to feel that he is spouting some new age mysticism rather than true science. Still, his own accomplishments as an inventor speak for themselves.
Needless to say, I’m very intrigued to see Robert Barry Ptolemy’s documentary Transcendent Man, which premiered at Tribeca just last week. I can only hope that it provides a balanced look at Kurzweil’s theories, and avoids getting into the questionable territory of pseudo-science that films like What The Bleep Do We Know? do. I’d love to be convinced that everything he says is possible is actually possible, and I’d also love to have it explained in relatively basic terms. On the other hand, I’m still not quite sure about his quest to resurrect his late father using A.I. and nanobots. Check out the trailer below… for more info on upcoming festival screenings, visit the official website.
I saw Transcendent Man last week at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It was awesome! Completely blew away me and my friends who couldn’t stop talking about it all night. Regardless of your opinion on Kurzweil’s ideas you’ll enjoy this very profound, very moving film.
Here’s one review that sums it up pretty good. http://singularityhub.com/2009/04/29/transcendent-man-wows-at-tribeca-film-festival-premier/
Looks interesting… Though the Thin Blue Line Phillip Glass composition in the trailer offends me.
Bert, It’s actually music from the Fog of War. But don’t be offended — it’s called a temp track. Producers use previously recorded tracks from their artists all the time while they’re wrapping up the film.
Philip Glass did the real score for Transcendent Man and I must tell you it is absolutely some of his best work.
Looking forward to seeing it. When is it goint to be available in Canada?
This film is gonna be bumping!
I just watched the trailer. Insane! I am so checking out this film when it comes out.
Where has this film been my whole life? Where can I see it? I have something to look forward to now! Yeah!
I’ve read “A Era das Máquinas Espirituais”, that was published in Brazil. After, I bought “The Singularity is near” (that was not translate to portuguese yet). I’d like to watch this film. It would be interesting if it was avaiable do pay download in the web.
Hi I live in India.
Please tell me where I can watch this movie.
Has it released or is available on Internet anywhere.
Thanks.