Westworld

Crichton's original film Westworld presented, through the name of its famous writer and the participation of Yul Brynner as the star, the closest possible connection to the western genre, which is now perceived as an ordinary and not very interesting B-movie. Although the respected HBO was behind the production, I did not expect something so well-thought-out and captivating, and elaborate, and something that would compel me to watch the entire first season in the shortest possible time. A smart series with a complicated structure that is thought-provoking, with a humanistic focus, with ambiguous characters, and brilliantly cast and directed - what more could you ask for? Westworld plays with the popular idea of the creation of artificial intelligence, which is the responsibility of two technological visionaries - Ford and Arnold. The practical Ford is focused on business and relentlessly pursues his goal of building a giant amusement center that creates a perfect illusion of the Wild West in the 19th century. Its residents are meant to be indistinguishable from humans, nothing more than top-notch machines. His colleague Arnold realizes the consequences of their efforts and playing god begins to frighten him. He becomes an obstacle to progress and his life ends in a futile attempt to stop the project. 35 years later, he paradoxically stands in the way of Ford's society running smoothly. There are inexplicable phenomena in the behavior of the robots, employees are disappearing, tension is mounting, and change is in the air. The authors of the series play a wide-ranging and in-depth game with the viewer, confusing them, playing games on the side, and combining genres. Of course, Westworld is above all a tribute to the classic western with all its identifying features and stereotypical characters. It is also sci-fi, but lovers of romance, nerds accustomed to deciphering a multitude of references and puzzles, and fans of adventure spectacles will also find something in it for themselves. What works wonderfully is the combination and balance of intellect and emotional engagement. The complex structure of the story forces the viewer to think, while the abuse of the artificial beings evokes a wave of sympathy for their fate, not unlike the position of ancient slaves. Wealthy park visitors have the opportunity to torture, kill, and rape anyone of the robots - and they often do. While the robots represented a threat in Crichton's Westworld, in the new adaptation, they represent the more sympathetic part of the series' protagonists. Their desire to understand the meaning of their existence and for dignity humanizes them more than humans full of superiority, selfishness, and callousness. The revolt of the robots brings with it not only destruction but also hope for the restoration of moral values and humanistic ideals. It is hard to say what I would praise the most about Westworld. Is it the cunning variability of characters influenced by reprogramming or the revelation of their identity? The performance of veteran actor Anthony Hopkins as the grand, manipulative, and dangerous park boss? Or perhaps the excellent set design? Regardless, I am looking forward to the next season like a little boy. Overall impression: 95%. (2017.05.13) (kevesebbet) (több)

Crichton's original film Westworld presented, through the name of its famous writer and the participation of Yul Brynner as the star, the closest possible connection to the western genre, which is now perceived as an ordinary and not very interesting B-movie. Although the respected HBO was behind the production, I did not expect something so well-thought-out and captivating, and elaborate, and something that would compel me to watch the entire first season in the shortest possible time. A smart series with a complicated structure that is thought-provoking, with a humanistic focus, with ambiguous characters, and brilliantly cast and directed - what more could you ask for? Westworld plays with the popular idea of the creation of artificial intelligence, which is the responsibility of two technological visionaries - Ford and Arnold. The practical Ford is focused on business and relentlessly pursues his goal of building a giant amusement center that creates a perfect illusion of the Wild West in the 19th century. Its residents are meant to be indistinguishable from humans, nothing more than top-notch machines. His colleague Arnold realizes the consequences of their efforts and playing god begins to frighten him. He becomes an obstacle to progress and his life ends in a futile attempt to stop the project. 35 years later, he paradoxically stands in the way of Ford's society running smoothly. There are inexplicable phenomena in the behavior of the robots, employees are disappearing, tension is mounting, and change is in the air. The authors of the series play a wide-ranging and in-depth game with the viewer, confusing them, playing games on the side, and combining genres. Of course, Westworld is above all a tribute to the classic western with all its identifying features and stereotypical characters. It is also sci-fi, but lovers of romance, nerds accustomed to deciphering a multitude of references and puzzles, and fans of adventure spectacles will also find something in it for themselves. What works wonderfully is the combination and balance of intellect and emotional engagement. The complex structure of the story forces the viewer to think, while the abuse of the artificial beings evokes a wave of sympathy for their fate, not unlike the position of ancient slaves. Wealthy park visitors have the opportunity to torture, kill, and rape anyone of the robots - and they often do. While the robots represented a threat in Crichton's Westworld, in the new adaptation, they represent the more sympathetic part of the series' protagonists. Their desire to understand the meaning of their existence and for dignity humanizes them more than humans full of superiority, selfishness, and callousness. The revolt of the robots brings with it not only destruction but also hope for the restoration of moral values and humanistic ideals. It is hard to say what I would praise the most about Westworld. Is it the cunning variability of characters influenced by reprogramming or the revelation of their identity? The performance of veteran actor Anthony Hopkins as the grand, manipulative, and dangerous park boss? Or perhaps the excellent set design? Regardless, I am looking forward to the next season like a little boy. Overall impression: 95%. (2018.06.26) (kevesebbet) (több)

The first season of Westworld was perfect for me two years ago and fascinated me with how it is possible to spark an impressive, multi-layered spectacle from a forgotten B movie that had long run dry. Westworld was based both on ideas and value conflicts, as well as on the gripping story of five characters who relentlessly approached a clash and a dark finale. Back then, there were some criticisms that pointed out logical flaws, but I disagreed with the critical voices and argued that besides the grand set design and excellent cast, it was primarily the excellent script that balanced all the motifs and created an attractive illusion of a fictional world in which you believe, and which entertains and excites you. Although the first season left the door ajar for possible continuation, it worked on its own and closed the most important destinies accordingly, leaving enough uncertainty for the viewers' imagination elsewhere. The second season gave up on ideas and instead tried to create a false sense of a sophisticated, complex world full of mysteries and important secrets through "profound" dialogues full of vague implications that appear in dream scenes; secrets that the show's creators will (maybe) reveal in the following seasons. It also gave up on the story. For a sequel, filler and blind alleys are typical, which writers use in other projects when the original idea is exhausted and they find themselves at a dead end. A typical example in this regard is the 5th episode, which does not advance the narrative even an inch. The second season clearly relies on shocking twists and attractions. It continues the trend that was once introduced by the popular show Lost. The goal is to keep the viewer in uncertainty and anticipation of future events and to create and strengthen an online community of fans who will endlessly discuss the latest twists, mysteries, and conspiracy theories on forums. In fact, the creators play a game with the audience, which, however, only provides pleasure if you accept the functioning of the world of Westworld in the style of "it is what it is." Thoughtful viewers will soon start asking themselves how it is possible that the outside world is satisfied with vague information about the quarantine and doesn't question the heads of the board or the thousands of wealthy visitors, who also belong to the elite. None of them seem to have a mobile phone to call for help. Apparently, the park's numerous employees do not miss their families either. The powerful multinational corporation doesn't seem to at all miss its CEO or the heir of the empire. Things must be really bad if, at a moment when practically everything is at stake, they send a team of mercenaries armed with light weapons. Where are the reconnaissance drones, helicopters, and technology that are commonly available even in modern times? For mysterious reasons, the mercenaries seem to love personal fights with robots the most and let themselves be massacred in dozens. The more you ponder the motivations of the characters and the way they try to fulfill them, the more you have to shrug your shoulders because reason goes out the window when it comes to the psychological processes of the actors. What worked so well in the first season, namely the intertwining of timelines, seems nonsensical here. In my eyes, the second season of Westworld fails due to the poor script, the multitude of motifs and the inability to work with them, arrogance, and disdain for the fan base. If a grand set design, special effects, and plenty of plot twists are enough for you, feel free to add any number of stars to my rating. For me, it is the disappointment of the year in television shows and it's a pity because the first season had a lot of promise. Overall impression: 40%. (2018.06.26) (kevesebbet) (több)