# Ex Machina is the best movie I've seen in years (Spoilers)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 20, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077 "2015-04-20T00:08:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/1 "2015-04-20T00:08:56Z")
Holy shit this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. If you have any interest, go see it now before reading further so it doesn’t get spoiled.
Seriously, I often find myself daydreaming during most movies–but not this one. It was one of the most compelling stories I’ve seen in some time–and I’m hoping others here have seen it because I’d love to see some discussion around this!
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/2 "2015-04-20T01:53:34Z")
It’s not the best movie I’ve seen in years (I see a LOT of good movies) but it’s pretty damned good, IMO, and I’m sure will be ranked as among the years’ best by many. Probably by me too.
This is [Alex Garland’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0307497/reference) first movie as a director, though he’s written several screenplays (The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Dredd, which, hush, I really liked). I thought he did a great job and has a bright future ahead of him. I’m glad they used very good actors who are just on the verge of stardom, and are not yet household faces: [Oscar Isaac](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1209966/reference) (so great in A Most Violent Year), [Domhnall Gleeson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1727304/reference) (he’s been in lots of things I’d seen, but I first REALLY noticed him in About Time) and the Swedish actress [Alicia Vikander](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2539953/reference) (I first saw her in A Royal Affair with Mads Mikkelsen).
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/3 "2015-04-20T02:31:41Z")
I was underwhelmed by the trailers, it felt very samey and a lot like many movies that I’ve seen over recent years, most of which I didn’t like. Plus, I’m not much of a fan of Domhnall Gleeson.
Maybe it’s worth checking out. I will reserve judgement for a while, though.
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### Author:  [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/4 "2015-04-20T08:21:50Z")
I guess I’ll have to go watch it.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/5 "2015-04-20T13:49:24Z")
Read the review on Friday, and it looked very good. It’s on my list.
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### Author:  [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/6 "2015-04-21T00:13:48Z")
Ummm … it apears to be anime and I haven’t yet found one that had English subtitles.
All the versions I’ve found are in a language that I don’t recognize. Perhaps Spanish.
It’s impossible for me to say whether it’s good or not until I can find one that is either dubbed in English or has English subtitles.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/7 "2015-04-21T00:20:00Z")
Why would we hush about liking Dredd? That movie was awesome.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/8 "2015-04-21T00:23:18Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#):
>
> Ummm … it apears to be anime and I haven’t yet found one that had English subtitles.
You found a different movie. We’re talking about [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYGzRB4Pnq8).
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### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/9 "2015-04-21T00:23:35Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#):
>
> Ummm … it apears to be anime and I haven’t yet found one that had English subtitles.
>
> All the versions I’ve found are in a language that I don’t recognize. Perhaps Spanish.
>
> It’s impossible for me to say whether it’s good or not until I can find one that is either dubbed in English or has English subtitles.
[This movie? 😕](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM)
eta: Damn. Ninja’d.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/10 "2015-04-21T01:04:15Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#):
>
> [This movie? 😕](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM)
>
> eta: Damn. Ninja’d.
Side note: **DON’T WATCH THE TRAILER** if you have any interest in the movie. It spoils some pretty major plot points
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/11 "2015-04-21T02:14:27Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> Why would we hush about liking Dredd? That movie was awesome.
Yay!
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### Author:  [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/12 "2015-04-21T04:16:33Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> You found a different movie. We’re talking about [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYGzRB4Pnq8).
Oh! Thank you ever so much. I feared I was losing my grip.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/13 "2015-04-23T19:31:55Z")
The movie should be getting a wide-release starting today. Hopefully more of you go to see it!
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/14 "2015-04-23T19:54:19Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#):
>
> Holy shit this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. If you have any interest, go see it now before reading further so it doesn’t get spoiled.
>
> Seriously, I often find myself daydreaming during most movies–but not this one. It was one of the most compelling stories I’ve seen in some time–and I’m hoping others here have seen it because I’d love to see some discussion around this!
Well, I’m interested.
If I see it and it sucks, can I come back here and make fun of you? 😛
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/15 "2015-04-23T20:10:55Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Well, I’m interested.
>
> If I see it and it sucks, can I come back here and make fun of you? 😛
It wouldn’t be the first time 😉
And I’ll be the first to admit it may not be for everyone, but I’d say it’s worth the risk in case you do end up liking it
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/16 "2015-04-23T20:14:03Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#):
>
> It wouldn’t be the first time 😉
>
> And I’ll be the first to admit it may not be for everyone, but I’d say it’s worth the risk in case you do end up liking it
I’m pretty much a sucker for clever science fiction. What little I’ve read (to avoid spoilers) suggests that this movie fits that bill.
So the threat of me returning to cast abuse is probably pretty hollow. 😃
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### Author:  [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/17 "2015-04-23T22:45:17Z")
Saw this movie a couple of days ago and enjoyed it immensely. Well written with great performances from all three main actors. A lot of times a movie that’s so tightly contained within a small area and limited to only a few characters can feel a little slow moving and dull to me, but this one was just spot on. Highly recommended.
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### Author:  [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/18 "2015-04-23T23:28:17Z")
Very clever movie, well worth watching.
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/19 "2015-04-24T23:55:19Z")
Great galloping gods of Greece.
Ex Machina is an amazing movie. I just finished seeing it an hour ago and my head isn’t together yet. I keep switching points of view and doubting my own intelligence. Not how smart I am but whether any of us are.
I’m taking a friend to see it tomorrow, it’s that good.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-machina-is-the-best-movie-ive-seen-in-years-spoilers/718077/20 "2015-04-25T03:59:40Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> Great galloping gods of Greece.
>
> Ex Machina is an amazing movie. I just finished seeing it an hour ago and my head isn’t together yet. I keep switching points of view and doubting my own intelligence. Not how smart I am but whether any of us are.
>
> I’m taking a friend to see it tomorrow, it’s that good.
Right?! It really kept me guessing the entire way through, and like you, I want to see it again. I loved that the characters & script always seemed to be one step ahead–like the characters would ask the same question I was thinking, and the response would be something I wasn’t expected, yet made sense
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