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How Futuristic Movies Compare to Reality

It’s amazing to see what futuristic films get right, and what they get wrong about the future.

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Image Source: Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/robot-woman-face-cry-sad-3010309/)

There’s nothing like a good story. There are just certain TV shows and movies that simply don’t get old, no matter how many times you watch them. 

But some of the best movies, those that never seem to lose their appeal, are the ones that can take us out of the present moment and transport us into another reality, like the future. They’re the movies that can show us a tomorrow filled with wonder, with possibility, and, yes, with a sort of captivating terror.

It’s no wonder that futuristic films are usually box office gold. From Star Trek’s presaging the cell phone and other tech we take for granted today to Doc’s famous warning to Marty, “Whatever you do, don’t go to 2020!” in Back to the Future, it’s amazing how much these futuristic films get right. And it’s also pretty amusing to see where they missed the mark. (We’re still waiting on our hoverboard!) 

Ex Machina (2014)

Ex Machina is set in the not-so-distant future and tells the story of a tech mogul who’s managed to do what seemed to be the impossible: He’s built a humanoid capable of passing the “Turing test,” meaning that it can exhibit a level of intelligence that makes it virtually indistinguishable from humans.

The android, “Ava,” is engineered with a robotic body, with hands, feet, and face made of lab-engineered flesh. In intellect and physicality, she’s a remarkable simulation of a living human — so much so that she learns to manipulate the film’s protagonist into falling in love with her, all so she can use him to win her “freedom.”

Technology like Ava is still a long way away, of course, but it’s not entirely implausible. Scientists have recently learned to create functioning blood vessels in a lab from non-human or animal sources. And that’s not all! They’ve also recently succeeded in creating contracting human muscle tissue in the lab.

While we can’t yet transfer these vessels or muscles into human recipients, it’s not beyond imagining that such a feat could be on the horizon and that flesh-and-blood androids like Ava might someday exist.

And when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), we’re a lot closer to creating an “Ava” than you might think. AI is pretty much a part of our daily lives, shaping everything from the way we work and learn to the way we shop. 

The marketing industry, for example, has revealed the sometimes disquieting power of AI to gather our data, learn all about us, and use that knowledge to manipulate our buying choices. So, when it comes to coercing human behavior, it looks like Ava’s not the only AI that can use its knowledge to make us mere mortals do what it “wants”! 

Gattaca (1997)

Gattaca takes audiences into the brave new world of genetic engineering, where science has learned to “manufacture” perfect human specimens. Meanwhile, the less-than-perfect among us, those of us not bioengineered in a lab, face oppression and discrimination. In Gattaca’s world, who you are, what you do, whom you can love, and even how valuable you are in society, is written entirely in your genes.

Fortunately, despite major advances in genetic sciences today, we’re not yet anywhere close to engineering the “perfect” human being. But that doesn’t mean efforts aren’t being made and that’s giving rise to some troubling questions of their own. 

Stem cell therapies, for instance, have been heralded in recent years as quite possibly holding the key to preventing and treating some of humanity’s most pernicious ailments at both the cellular or the genetic levels. And yet unsanitary, unsafe, and potentially unethical conditions in some of these labs, especially independent and less well-regulated labs, make us wonder what kind of “cures” and what kind of “ideal” humans we may be creating after all.

The Takeaway

The future is the last great mystery and it’s little wonder that it’s such prime fodder for some of the best, most captivating, and most innovative films in cinematic history. But while some fall far short of the mark when it comes to showing us a glimpse of the tomorrows to come, many are remarkably prescient. These futuristic films show us not only who we are, but where we are going.

Gaming

Helldivers 2 Paranoia Peaks: Players are convinced that the Illuminate have already infiltrated our ranks

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An incredible number of Helldivers 2 players have bravely fought in the ongoing intergalactic war, protecting Super Earth from the dangers of both Bug and Bot. There have been rumors, though, of a new enemy group operating in the dark, or maybe it’s just the return of an old enemy known as “The Illuminate.” Some people think they might even be here with us already, which is obviously defeatist nonsense.

The Illuminate were an enemy group in the first Helldivers game. They were an ancient, highly powerful alien race that wanted to destroy Super Earth. Everyone knows that they died out a long time ago. They do not exist, just like those harmful but completely false stories of flying bugs (thanks, IGN).

Nevertheless, some Patriots claim to be receiving hits from a “vibrant blue laser,” which some believe has a similar energy signature to rifle weapons that The Illuminate have previously used. They may be exhausted from fighting. It looks pretty different from the red energy weapons that Helldivers and bots use, but there is still not enough visual proof to say for sure.

Also, you probably shouldn’t pay attention to the in-game texts that say the Illuminates have been seen. “Blue beams aren’t real; they can’t hurt you,” is what Super Earth High Command says, and the account Helldivers Alerts (we think the developers run it) gave us a sneak peek at our old enemy.

Have you seen any blue lights flashing for no reason while you were on mission in Helldivers 2? Do you think the Illimunate are already among us, messing with voting boxes and pulling votes? Don’t change your mind about supporting Super Earth in the comments section below.

 

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Gaming

Recruited Since Last Month: More Than Eight Million Helldivers 2 Players

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The relentless force of Helldivers 2 shows no signs of slowing down, as recent reports indicate that Arrowhead Games Studios, the Swedish developer behind the game, has sold over eight million copies since its release on both PS5 and PC just last month.

According to TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz (thanks, VGC), who spoke to Bloomberg, it is believed that the game has exceeded expectations in terms of performance. It’s amazing how word-of-mouth buzz and the unconventional guerilla marketing strategy keep driving up recruitment numbers week after week. Arrowhead’s studio motto, “A game for everyone is a game for no one,” reflects their unwavering commitment to their unique internal design philosophy.

It appears that the PC community has recently surpassed the PlayStation fanbase in terms of player numbers and platform preference. However, thanks to crossplay, both groups continue to benefit from the growing popularity of gaming. Although it’s not particularly thrilling to see yet another service game achieve rapid success, the hardcore nature of Helldivers 2 fills us with optimism for Sony’s ongoing live gaming endeavors. We anticipate dedicating ourselves to the defense of Super Earth for many years to come.

What are your thoughts on Creutz’s sales estimate? Does it come as a surprise to you? Does it exceed or fall short of your expectations? Have you noticed any changes in your level of enthusiasm for the Democratic Party? Has it waned or grown stronger? We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section below.

 

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Gaming

Exciting news for gamers! A wide selection of PS5 and PS4 games are now available at discounted prices, but only for this weekend

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Don’t miss out on this limited-time opportunity to grab some amazing titles at a fraction of their original cost. Sony clearly understands the potential of the PS Store, as it consistently adds a plethora of new titles every week. This allows for future opportunities to offer discounts and promotions on these games. It’s evident that sales are consistently growing each month, with the introduction of time-limited weekend offers in addition to the usual sale events.

This weekend brings another round of exciting deals, with significant discounts on several popular PS5 and PS4 games. For instance, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available for £35.99/$35.99, while DiRT 5 Year One Edition can be purchased for just £14.79/$15.99.

Here are a few other standout moments we noticed:

Hurry up and make your decision before the offers expire on March 19th. Don’t miss out on your chance to snag some great deals. For a comprehensive list of all the latest offers, make sure to visit this page. And don’t forget to share your purchases with us in the comments section below!

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