Transcendence

Name: Transcendence
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: April 17, 2014
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 45 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 378 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	Your Score
6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 378 Ratings

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TRANSCENDENCE

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: April 17, 2014

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall

Summary: Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the primeDr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can, but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.… Expand

Director: Wally Pfister

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 119 min

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Awards & Rankings

49	#49 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
97	#97 Most Shared Movie of 2014

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Richard Roeper

Apr 17, 2014

Transcendence is a bold, beautiful, sometimes confounding flight of futuristic speculation firmly rooted in the potential of today’s technology. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Apr 18, 2014

Echoing the lessons learned from "HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey," the message of Transcendence is that computers should not be allowed to become sentient. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Todd McCarthy

Apr 16, 2014

Pfister, who, like his mentor Nolan, adamantly continues to shoot on film (not digital), shows a sure hand at staging scenes, creating visuals and setting a tone -- if only all the diverse elements here fit comfortably under the same tent. Read full review

The New Yorker - David Denby

Apr 27, 2014

Transcendence is a muddle; it takes more creative energy than this to catch up to the present. [28 April 2014, p.86]

Time Out - Joshua Rothkopf

Apr 16, 2014

While Transcendence has tons of money to spend on unpersuasive digital effects and dronelike music, it shows little interest in exploring the potentially tricky benefits of a computer-enhanced intellect; it’s not even in the enjoyable realm of starkly ridiculous Cold War thrillers like "Colossus: The Forbin" Project. Read full review

Slate - Dana Stevens

Apr 17, 2014

Transcendence is nowhere near as elegant, witty, or insightful as "Her." Pfister and the screenwriter, Jack Paglen, grapple ponderously, sometimes oafishly, with the ethical and philosophical issues at stake in the film’s premise. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

Apr 17, 2014

Ambitious to a fault, this cautionary fantasy about artificial intelligence has so much on its muddled mind, and so little sense of dramatic grounding, that it grows ever more preposterous before lurching to a climax that's utterly unfathomable. Read full review

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User Reviews

josephjacob3232

Apr 19, 2014

I don't understand why everybody is so negative when it comes to Johnny Depp I went into this film with high hopes and it did not disappoint it had what I was looking for a great story with some action and drama as well this film was very interesting to look at with very good visuals andI don't understand why everybody is so negative when it comes to Johnny Depp I went into this film with high hopes and it did not disappoint it had what I was looking for a great story with some action and drama as well this film was very interesting to look at with very good visuals and some top notch actors like Morgan Freeman & Cillan Murphy & Paul Bettany comparing such a film like this to others is just plain wrong I found this movie very good 10 out of 10 and one of the most underrated films I've seen this year.… Expand

19 of 29 users found this helpful1910

The123TKB

May 10, 2014

I just saw this movie without knowing what I was going to expect and, i have to say, i'm now shocked how this had so many bad ratings in various websites and "experts" in movies. This movie is great, is beautiful, is pure genius. At the end of the movie you'll find yourself thinking aboutI just saw this movie without knowing what I was going to expect and, i have to say, i'm now shocked how this had so many bad ratings in various websites and "experts" in movies. This movie is great, is beautiful, is pure genius. At the end of the movie you'll find yourself thinking about everything really. To me, this is more than Oscar material, this could e the movie of my life, only future will decide it.

I believe that there are many negative ratings because most people didn't "understand" it, didn't get the feeling that I got after watching the movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

hollyv

May 3, 2014

Every Sci-Fi movie can be better, of course, but if you grew up on the Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits? If you like M. Night Shyamalan films? You'll enjoy this.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

BrianMcCritic

Jul 22, 2014

Well it's worth a watch it does leave a lot to be desired. The cast is top notch and for the most part they live up to their talent but the story just fails to make it better then okay. B-

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

ErikTheCritic

Oct 14, 2018

Nobody can deny that "Transcendence" looks really stylistic, that's for sure. Also, the movie does have some thought-provoking moments. The problem with this movie is that the story gets to the point where it becomes preposterous and you just don't buy it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DuckNation

May 25, 2014

You know after watching the teaser trailers for this movie i was really excited to watch it. The concept seemed pretty cool and it had a likable cast but after they started to release the full trailers for the film my excitement dwindled severely. Even though i knew the movie wasn't all thatYou know after watching the teaser trailers for this movie i was really excited to watch it. The concept seemed pretty cool and it had a likable cast but after they started to release the full trailers for the film my excitement dwindled severely. Even though i knew the movie wasn't all that great after reading some of early reviews for it i still went a seen it because i was going with some friends. Honestly though i wasn't expecting the movie to be that boring i was starting to fall asleep half way through its a good thing the movie was only 2 hours long or else im sure i would have passed out.

Seeing that this is both the director and writers debut i guess this was to be expected but i don't understand why the studio went this way. Sure the directing was decent that i could live with but the script was beyond crap why the studio chose this guy is just beyond me and i'm glad the movie bomb at the box office. Im done watching Johnny Depp movies his last watchable film was Public Enemies and that is 5 years old now and his past 2 films have been complete crap. I wouldn't recommend anyone watching this movie but i know there are those people that "have to watch any new Johnny Depp movie no matter how bad it is".

Overall i give it a 4.0… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

Introduce

Jun 15, 2014

A sort of Transcendence did occur
the kind that winds up me cursing
at how lamb Johnny Depp films have been since he had kids.
Can't wait for his plastic enlightenment period to end so the
guy can get his hands dirty, this script was a joke.

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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