Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2014

A computer genius (Johnny Depp, Skyping it in) on the verge of an A.I. breakthrough is attacked and mortally wounded by radical neo-Luddites and uploads his consciousness into a ludicrously advanced computer before he dies. But the resultant entity turns out to be dangerously focused on accumulating ever more knowledge and power. Ho hum. Any dramatic tension in this meandering and humorless sci-fi cautionary tale is sabotaged straight off by letting us know at the beginning where all this will end up. It’s scientifically, philosophically and logically shaky, with way more artifice than intelligence. (119 min)