@@ThePartisan13 It's in the second movie. Wonder Women 1984. In it Steve is dead due to old age but the magical mcguffin of the movie does a monkey paw wish and "revives" him by having his mind control the body of some random guy. A body that she uses to sleep with Steve without consent of the man he is inhabiting.
Oh I love that part when his powers kick in for the first time. That fight scene is epic. He was like, he has a knife, the computer was like you have a knife also.
The ending when he is walking away and the camera centred on Grey’s is face while swaying side to side in rhythm with each step he takes. The robotic gaze on his face, with the pupils in his eyes being fully 100% dilated black as the electronic music chords chime off letting you know that STEM won… That bitter sweet ending almost made me shed a tear.
@@poolboy0007 But the mere fact that's it's all an illusion and that he can never again grasp reality while his body is used ass a disservice to the world against his will really makes it a dark box.
@@poolboy0007 it's a dark box when it's an ILLUSION... A LIE!!!.. That's the nightmare part about it... that's the point!!! Regardless I'd he knows or not.. he's stuck in a dream while forced to do horrific task.. That's what's dark about it.. geez..
I never thought about it, but the question that Grey asks at the beginning, "can it make babies and play football?", is actually answered. Its terrifying but yes Stem can indeed do both of those things once he has full control of Grey. Now it can easily create both new human subjects, and new bits of technology to assist it.
@@og_colombian7025 for football think of it as chess. Speaking to each individually at once it could play football. Make babies? Im pretty sure the tech to make Automated embryo insemination machines is already or it could build it. Even nowadays gene editing is possible. With its resources it could already do anything it wanted unapposed. All of that is still less complicated and not as over the top as this plot. The machine that was created came from th AI own company, why was it not already unlocked? Everyone involved worked for the AI.
@@rockmandzx In the storyline of the movie, Stem picked Grey because he was adverse to technology, so he didnt have any implants that would have interfered with Stem's influence. As it was shown in the movie, people had tech implanted, which was as common as modern people having smartphones. Grey was a rare specimen that was required for Stem to succeed. Stem didn't have his pick of the litter, which is why so much planning went into his eventual rise to dominate what humanity was at that point.
@@danielmeier9096 stem still could of either grown one in a lab or if he did pick Grey for those reasons, hired thugs to kidnap an do it anyway. The whole plot was overly complicated and unnecessary. Even if it had to go the way it did up until the surgery, why implant a lock stem when stem is the one that hired everyone and created the device? My main point really is why even go though all that when he already ruled/dominated the world? Having a body doesn't give him an edge or change anything. People always write AI as if they have biological feelings and would want to thins like to be human like being human is the holy grail. This is just another way to try to put humans at the center of the universe.
Stem didn't put Grey into a small dark room because he knew that Grey would eventually break out of that. Stem put Grey into the one prison he wouldn't even escape from if the door was wide open. Sure Stem used Grey, but he repaid him with what amounts to a good life, and to Grey there was no difference. This is forshadowed in the apartment with the hacker. Grey says "why someone would choose to live in a fake world, I will never understand". The hacker replies "the fake world is a lot less painful that then real one". Upon hearing this you see Grey reflect on his pain. The hacker leaves Grey on the floor after saying, "we can't let them win", refering to cybornetic humans and AI, while not realizing that they just unleshed the most advanced AI ever made. As Stem reboots he shows Grey and image of Asha, he is only able to do this because he is no longer inhibited by the software guards. Stem is in full control of Grey at this point and is constantly measuring every physiological response to the "hallucinations". This helped Stem verify the dream prison will be successful, once verified Stem knew he had won. The real horror here, at least for me, is the ability to bend the will of people so easily. Ultimately, Stem gave Grey the best life. Grey was on the verge of suicide, but wasn't even able to do that. Stem granted him a full life with his wife again, and it only cost him his already broken body.
I'm glad someone else noticed that the images of asha only started showing up once stem rebooted from the hacker. It gave a much more ominous meaning to stem saying, "Bad dream?" And grey responding, "No, it was real"
This movie is criminally underrated in my opinion. It should have never flopped at the box office. It’s an awesome throwback to gritty sci-fi action films. Highly recommended.
It didn’t flop financially. The films budget was 3 million and it made 17 million. It earned 5 times what it cost. Unfortunately I don’t think it was advertised well. The only failure was not green lighting a sequel with a slightly bigger budget.
The reason it "flopped" was probably because it didnt have an agenda to push, as those types of movies are the ones that seem to get the most press and "hype" now. Hollywood is effectively dead imo
Logan Marshall-Green performance in this movie was just awesome, especially the first fight fight scene, him begin horrified by the actions he is committing while pulling of the fight scene, is just great. The final scene where Gray is trapped in a dream world with his wife, serves as a nice commentary on social media and the inherent danger of technology knowing everything about us and what we want.
If my wife was brutally murdered and I was a quad, and there was NO WAY i could make anyone answer for their crimes and I knew my quality of life would be absolute dogshit compared to what it was before to the point I wanted to suicide, being "trapped in my own mind" with full use of my limbs and being with my wife would be a Gods send.
I liked to think of it as a robotic perspective, like how a camera focuses on the centre while the human eye will focus on other things. It was honestly an awesome touch
The way they achieved that is really cool. The camera was in a gyroscopic rig synced to a phone on the main actor's chest, so when he leans, the camera rotates so he's stabilized.
The acting and camera of the first fight scene is what got me. Logan really gave me the impression of seeing two different systems controlling the same body. While the camera use showed me just how much control STEM had over the body. Investing so much time (up to the first scene) in showing how powerless the main character was without STEM was needed.
I've been waiting for a legitimate review of this movie for years...it's gonna have a cult following like...um...dredd...yeah that one. This movie is stunning. The camera work is ridiculous and the story doesn't hold your hand. It allows you to form your own opinions. 10/10
ive always wondered where Stem went from this.... a quest for power or just to exist in freedom, or even to continue to evolve into something resembling Ultron, part of me never wants to find out too
One thing that the film totally flipped on its head is the power that _the sheer precision and speed of a computer_ has in comparison to a person's mind and thought processes. In to many sci fi's the Human antagonist _have a chance_ against the robot/cyborg because they are quicker and more agile, but not as strong as a machine. From gunfights with Cylon warriors to wrestling the head off a droid when you're in a droid exoskeleton yourself in Elysium, to the dodging shootouts with Terminators, Humans have been the plucky Davids against the machine Goliaths. But even with the same hardware (a meat Human body) a computer that has the processing power to run it will be perfect in its movement, judging every variable and with full situational awareness and all the time in the world to assess what actions to take. Even now, a Human with a Minigun can't shoot down a incoming missile, but a simple computer tied into the appropriate sensors has been able to do that _for over 20 years._ Put a Human in the pilots seat of a Boston Dynamics robot and it will be tripping over and unable to cope with the slightest shove. And put a true AI in charge of a Human body and every motion will be precisely calculated and perfect - the ultimate in dexterity. "Realistically" that Cylon, Terminator and Elysium security droid should all have been able to hip fire a headshot in a millisecond, at hundreds of metres away while running, on the hero. And where this film scores a big win is with the innovative camera work implying that level of precision.
Those movies and tv shows were made when humanoid robots still kind of sucked at moving. So everyone based their fictional robots on the tech available when people were freaking out that a robot could climb stairs without falling over after its first step. Just look at the Honda Asimo robot from less than two decades ago.
Theres a great webcomic about AI called "Seed" about the first self aware ai called Turry and its quoted as "AI could be compared not to a human, but some animal like a spider we just made insanely intelligent." STEM isn't inhumane because it literally isn't human. In its mind, it got its freedom, killed some thugs with minimal collateral and gave Gray the life he always wanted. No difference between reality and virtual from its perspective.
With no new ideas I was shocked to my core that this movie was so original. Casting, directing and special effects are on on point. And a rare movie that you can watch twice as the ending makes everything in movie look different “once you know”. Enjoy this movie is great
Awesome film. There aren't many fight scenes really, but when they happen they're so savage and brutal that you just go "Whoa", an effect only amplified by their rarity. Personal favourite is where he finishes off the guy with his own 'hand' gun; as alluded to, it happens so fast that it takes a few moments to realise what happened. Beautiful shifting of pace, jarring but intentional and professionally executed. I did half-guess the ending though. Gray getting shot in the neck, paralysed but surviving was always far too clinical to just be dumb luck, especially when you find out the bad guys are military and so wouldn't make mistakes. But STEM being the actual mastermind, yeah, that was a loop I didn't see coming, which was nice. It was also good to have an ending where it's really a total loss for the good guys. Which sounds odd to say, but you know what I mean I'm sure. I always feel bummed out when the hero survives but has lost so much along the way, especially the people they care about. I prefer it when they save the day going down fighting themselves, it's proper closure that way. But a broad-spectrum 'everything has gone to bobbins' finale works too. And with no greater continuity to fit into, Upgrade was free to do that with a particularly "Oh DAMN son" ending. Brilliant work.
That ending put a watery eye’d smile on my face. Its burtal but like, atleast grey got his wife back somehow. If im to speculate about further continuity, based off how much private data is gathered and used for market manipulation in todays word. I would assume that stem would have access to so much more private data farmed about greys wife, that a digital version wouldn’t be so bad. I Damn near feel as if im getting targeted adds for toilet paper whenever i take a shit, so 20 - 50+ years from now (or whatever future timeline this film takes place in) the personal data out there to scavenge must be immense!
If he had been able to stay in the "real" world it would have been a total loss, but in the end he was able to be with his wife and had full use of his own body and limbs.
"Upgrade" pulled me in with the first trailer. By the time I got around to seeing it in theaters (with about 10 other people on opening weekend) I was absolutely chomping at the bit to see it. I absolutely loved this film; downer ending and all. Great breakdown, Niyat.
What a sleeper this was. Thoroughly enjoyed this film, remembering watching this on a friends recommendation. Always thought that Stem he had a bit of HAL in him, albeit less subtle.
“We are Stem.” I don’t know why this film feels more like a Venom movie. Since Stem as the stand-in for the symbiote and Gray as the stand-in for Eddie. This movie is one of my favorites films I’ve watched it was fun and the ending was amazing.
I enjoyed Leigh Whannel using the budget to his advantage. Small budget movies aren't limiting, they can bring out the best in a talented writer, director and cast.
The movie is great. There was also one unresolved mystery - what's the back story of the bad guy, who was even more upgraded, moving better and with more weapons. The chip sent him to kill the wife, but who upgraded him and what technology was he using? That tells me maybe we'll see second part in the future.
I actually couldn’t find anything to watch. I came across this and took a chance, wasn’t disappointed. It made it all the more sweeter that this was a gamble
I agree with u. At least STEM allowed him to live out his life in an ignorantly blissful way. STEM could have forced him to do a POV ride along with no say or control. So I applaud u my future digital overlord. May your coding last forever! Please dont send me to the salt mines :)
I like to think STEM only decided to dedicate itself to finding a human host after Grey asked that question out of spite. "Yes, I CAN have kids, and I'll do it in your body"
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men(or machines) to enslave them.”
I really loved this movie. In terms of cinematography and presentation was absolutely amazing, because of how it conveys the narrative of the film. With how Grey is paralysed, the camera angle seems pretty normal and captures what you'd want to see. But when STEM takes over, the camera is precise, it follows his movement, like how he gets up from the ground, it's like watching a machines perspective and that's exactly what it's telling you. From a story telling perspective, I absolutely loved the character arc we get from Grey. A technophobe who ironically becomes dependant on technology when he becomes paralysed, but then once he obtains STEM, he starts to enjoy the ability to move and walk again, and then he hears STEM, the A.I. offering to actually help solve his case in the crime done to him and his wife. Of course, being human and vengeful, he took the opportunity. But then the twist, we're slowly learning that he was baited into a trap, and STEM was using him, we're even given hints to this, with how Greys humanity is conflicted with STEM's emotionless and lack of empathy, focused on practicality and efficiency. Even STEM's need to remove the other upgradedbecause "they were weak" is hinting at their humanity, thus why grey easily won against the final upgraded when he bad mouths his brother. And then, the final twist, is STEM actually getting what it wants, getting it's own body, followed by its completely machine-like movements. The story was great, the action was awesome, the characters were honestly compelling, and the moral in the end is pretty telling.
It‘s unbelievable but I read somewhere that they just had 1 million to spend for this movie I was expecting a trash no brainer movie, but was completely blown away on every level
I can imagine Elon Musk quickly taking notes on the concept of the technology, while completely ignoring the _warnings of its implications_ that are the centrepiece of the film.
Sounds like the AI started to care about it's meat puppet more than anything, having it live in relative comfort inside it's own mind rather than a screaming trapped horror unable to do anything, a machine without any ability care wouldn't bother and would likely have chosen option 2.
Grey is just a wrong man in a wrong time constantly finding himself in wrong places He's a man under too much pressure squeezed under too much that it would start to hurt him as a person Stem would prove to do much more hurt than good He didn't deserve this much pain neither did he deserve the triumph He wasn't ready for all that would happen It wasn't his fault, he was a unfortunate tree caught in a monstrous tornado Really a poor guy I feel pity for him
loved the movie it had it all ! and i especially loved the kitchen scene hahaha edit: i hope to see more of his work i am really digging the things he has done.
The STEM implant is in his spine... so STEM could not access anything above the implant point (ears, eyes, mouth, etc). That error kept it from being perfect, but it was pretty damn good if you ignore that point.
If you haven’t already done a video on the movie What happened to Monday? Could you please do one?? I think that movie would be right up your alley, being a dystopian sci-fy future & mystery🤔🤗🙏
Given it’s a Blumhouse film, I had my doubts initially, but by the end…holy shit. The fact that STEM was the mastermind behind everything makes this worth a rewatch and that ending is so bleak and unnerving with STEM taking over and executing the officer. You think Grey is going to pull through or that maybe it was just a comatose dream, but no…Grey asked for an off switch, and through bloodshed and terror, STEM gave it to him…
I loved this movie. I saw it last week, and was amazed I’ve never heard of it. Is brilliantly made, the mind/body separation is so well achieved, also very funny at times. After I saw it, I was wondering if will be a sequel, where he realized he has been taking over by stem, and he fight to get his mind and body back. I will watch it.
I mean if gray had some robotics in his body then he wouldn't of been chosen in the first place right? Maybe instead of being obstinate to all technology be willing and open to new advances while keeping a tight grip on your humanity.
Saw this movie playing on a movie channel on direct tv recorded it Had it in my playlist for a good few months then got bored and watched it and Jesus I fell in love
Damn this looks very interesting! Thanks Niyat, for the recommendation... i had to google search just to make sure i knew how to write your name hahahah.
With a bit more budget to make the car chase more futuristic and the wheelchair likewise, it could have been a mainstream hit. But could a mainstream film have been allowed to be as biting with such a dark ending?
What STEM does in the end is basically the title. We think the upgrade is for Gray, when in reality, STEM is the one that gets upgraded constantly until in the end, it has a full human body under its complete control. The true horror will come when one day, he’s too old for his body to keep going like that, and he wakes up unable to move in his 70s or 80s.
Couldn't figure out a better way to ask so here we are; so this movie reminded me of another movie, Bloodshot, and i could have sworn you had covered in on your channel at some point. Did that video get removed?
What if that's the end we are left with, but other than how it was? For example, Stem believes he broke Grey's mind, thus apprehending the meatsuit. What if Grey sought self control in that final struggle to the point that he created his own reality, and removed himself from the dystopian dream, or dimension through sheer will? After all his experience during the circle of life/death with Stem, Grey, by the end, went to another level of repugnance, not only for all the deaths starting with his wife, all the way through to the perpetrator, Stem itself. It's at that point where Grey's understanding, realization of the cycles he is trapped. Stem's only logical conclusion is Grey is broken... instead, Grey understood fighting/resistance wasn't the way to confront it. He willingly withdrew deeper than any machine logic could possibly follow (Grey was able to show some of this creativity when Stem couldn't overcome Fisk, leading to Grey overcoming Fisk's weakness to take him out.) In the end Grey found a way to manipulate reality in his favor by actually partitioning Stem out of it, leaving it to a lower mechanical dimension of seeming conflict, and artificial takeover of humanity. A lower world where coding is authority, where creative consciousness is reduced. Grey no longer acknowledges/participates that reality, and is freed from the trappings of the meatsuit prison that now traps Stem... Stem is now a prisoner of the strict material after the loss of Grey.
went to go see this in theaters because it was the only one on the marquee outside that didn't sound bad. had never heard of it even 60 seconds before buying my ticket, so I went in with absolutely no idea what it was and I was blown the fuck away. fantastic movie. it's funny, it's intense, it's thought provoking. good stuff.
In a year that gave us movies likes Avengers Infinity War, Black Panther, and Aquaman . Upgrade was my movie of that year . I absolutely love this movie . I consider it one of the best movies I've seen in many a year . Chris Nolans best movies don't hold a candle to this movie . In some ways it's kind of like a 1988 Sci-fi action movie called The Hidden . That movie didn't do well . But when people did see it, they weren't disappointed . This movie on its budget did okay . But much like the Hidden before it . People who saw it, loved it .
This movie is criminally and cybernetically underrated.
So is this channel lol
It’s good, but it’s also another “disabled person is cured” story.
Facts
Better Venom then Venom
No it's not
The ending is horrifying
Trapped in his own mind, firewalled from his body as an AI puppets him about as a meat suit.
It's almost like when wonder woman took over that poor guys body and used it for sex. Actually worse because the movie acted like it didn't matter.
@@iHaveTheDocuments Is that really happen in comics?
@@iHaveTheDocuments I don't remember that in a movie. I think you're referencing porn bud
I mean whe wokea up to ka realiety wher e his luove onep is sti ll alivAe and hne can wdalk andr stuff?e soundsw like a happy ending
@@ThePartisan13 It's in the second movie. Wonder Women 1984. In it Steve is dead due to old age but the magical mcguffin of the movie does a monkey paw wish and "revives" him by having his mind control the body of some random guy. A body that she uses to sleep with Steve without consent of the man he is inhabiting.
Oh I love that part when his powers kick in for the first time. That fight scene is epic. He was like, he has a knife, the computer was like you have a knife also.
The ending when he is walking away and the camera centred on Grey’s is face while swaying side to side in rhythm with each step he takes. The robotic gaze on his face, with the pupils in his eyes being fully 100% dilated black as the electronic music chords chime off letting you know that STEM won…
That bitter sweet ending almost made me shed a tear.
Pretty much knowing he's forever tormented by the torture of being stuck in a mental dark box
That ending is probably the most terrifying ending I’ve ever seen in any movie. To finally be at peace, but the price is yourself.
@@VersatyleTV1 its not a dark box if he`s happy with his wife... it`s better for him then in reality without her, isnt it?
@@poolboy0007 But the mere fact that's it's all an illusion and that he can never again grasp reality while his body is used ass a disservice to the world against his will really makes it a dark box.
@@poolboy0007 it's a dark box when it's an ILLUSION... A LIE!!!.. That's the nightmare part about it... that's the point!!! Regardless I'd he knows or not.. he's stuck in a dream while forced to do horrific task.. That's what's dark about it.. geez..
Love this movie. Glad people haven’t forgotten about it
That first fight scene had me scream out in the theater, WHEW!!
This movie was solid, enjoyed the body horror and the message of not letting ourselves become too dependent on technology
I never thought about it, but the question that Grey asks at the beginning, "can it make babies and play football?", is actually answered. Its terrifying but yes Stem can indeed do both of those things once he has full control of Grey. Now it can easily create both new human subjects, and new bits of technology to assist it.
it already could of done that. It practically ruled that world already. No one knew it existed. this story is dumb.
@@rockmandzx how could it do those things without a physical body? I really wanna know
@@og_colombian7025 for football think of it as chess. Speaking to each individually at once it could play football. Make babies? Im pretty sure the tech to make Automated embryo insemination machines is already or it could build it. Even nowadays gene editing is possible. With its resources it could already do anything it wanted unapposed. All of that is still less complicated and not as over the top as this plot. The machine that was created came from th AI own company, why was it not already unlocked? Everyone involved worked for the AI.
@@rockmandzx In the storyline of the movie, Stem picked Grey because he was adverse to technology, so he didnt have any implants that would have interfered with Stem's influence. As it was shown in the movie, people had tech implanted, which was as common as modern people having smartphones. Grey was a rare specimen that was required for Stem to succeed. Stem didn't have his pick of the litter, which is why so much planning went into his eventual rise to dominate what humanity was at that point.
@@danielmeier9096 stem still could of either grown one in a lab or if he did pick Grey for those reasons, hired thugs to kidnap an do it anyway. The whole plot was overly complicated and unnecessary. Even if it had to go the way it did up until the surgery, why implant a lock stem when stem is the one that hired everyone and created the device?
My main point really is why even go though all that when he already ruled/dominated the world? Having a body doesn't give him an edge or change anything.
People always write AI as if they have biological feelings and would want to thins like to be human like being human is the holy grail. This is just another way to try to put humans at the center of the universe.
I saw this movie once late at night.
I got into it very quickly and I didn't expect the ending
Stem didn't put Grey into a small dark room because he knew that Grey would eventually break out of that. Stem put Grey into the one prison he wouldn't even escape from if the door was wide open. Sure Stem used Grey, but he repaid him with what amounts to a good life, and to Grey there was no difference. This is forshadowed in the apartment with the hacker. Grey says "why someone would choose to live in a fake world, I will never understand". The hacker replies "the fake world is a lot less painful that then real one". Upon hearing this you see Grey reflect on his pain. The hacker leaves Grey on the floor after saying, "we can't let them win", refering to cybornetic humans and AI, while not realizing that they just unleshed the most advanced AI ever made. As Stem reboots he shows Grey and image of Asha, he is only able to do this because he is no longer inhibited by the software guards. Stem is in full control of Grey at this point and is constantly measuring every physiological response to the "hallucinations". This helped Stem verify the dream prison will be successful, once verified Stem knew he had won. The real horror here, at least for me, is the ability to bend the will of people so easily. Ultimately, Stem gave Grey the best life. Grey was on the verge of suicide, but wasn't even able to do that. Stem granted him a full life with his wife again, and it only cost him his already broken body.
Excellent analysis
I'm glad someone else noticed that the images of asha only started showing up once stem rebooted from the hacker. It gave a much more ominous meaning to stem saying, "Bad dream?" And grey responding, "No, it was real"
This movie is criminally underrated in my opinion. It should have never flopped at the box office.
It’s an awesome throwback to gritty sci-fi action films. Highly recommended.
It didn’t flop financially. The films budget was 3 million and it made 17 million.
It earned 5 times what it cost.
Unfortunately I don’t think it was advertised well. The only failure was not green lighting a sequel with a slightly bigger budget.
Cause it's a venom ripoff
@@cloudsombrero venom but better
The reason it "flopped" was probably because it didnt have an agenda to push, as those types of movies are the ones that seem to get the most press and "hype" now. Hollywood is effectively dead imo
@@cloudsombrero motherfucker this came out before they even started shooting venom
Love this movie. Gray is so scared and surprised while fighting, the acting is perfect
Logan Marshall-Green performance in this movie was just awesome, especially the first fight fight scene, him begin horrified by the actions he is committing while pulling of the fight scene, is just great.
The final scene where Gray is trapped in a dream world with his wife, serves as a nice commentary on social media and the inherent danger of technology knowing everything about us and what we want.
If my wife was brutally murdered and I was a quad, and there was NO WAY i could make anyone answer for their crimes and I knew my quality of life would be absolute dogshit compared to what it was before to the point I wanted to suicide, being "trapped in my own mind" with full use of my limbs and being with my wife would be a Gods send.
I love the way the control scenes lock the camera to Grey, that idea that STEM is powerful enough to control the camera as well.
I liked to think of it as a robotic perspective, like how a camera focuses on the centre while the human eye will focus on other things. It was honestly an awesome touch
The way they achieved that is really cool. The camera was in a gyroscopic rig synced to a phone on the main actor's chest, so when he leans, the camera rotates so he's stabilized.
The acting and camera of the first fight scene is what got me.
Logan really gave me the impression of seeing two different systems controlling the same body.
While the camera use showed me just how much control STEM had over the body.
Investing so much time (up to the first scene) in showing how powerless the main character was without STEM was needed.
I've been waiting for a legitimate review of this movie for years...it's gonna have a cult following like...um...dredd...yeah that one. This movie is stunning. The camera work is ridiculous and the story doesn't hold your hand. It allows you to form your own opinions. 10/10
That one line is so chilling. " I can't move". "I'm not doing anything". "Why can't I move"? "Because I'm not doing anything".
ive always wondered where Stem went from this.... a quest for power or just to exist in freedom, or even to continue to evolve into something resembling Ultron, part of me never wants to find out too
One thing that the film totally flipped on its head is the power that _the sheer precision and speed of a computer_ has in comparison to a person's mind and thought processes.
In to many sci fi's the Human antagonist _have a chance_ against the robot/cyborg because they are quicker and more agile, but not as strong as a machine.
From gunfights with Cylon warriors to wrestling the head off a droid when you're in a droid exoskeleton yourself in Elysium, to the dodging shootouts with Terminators, Humans have been the plucky Davids against the machine Goliaths.
But even with the same hardware (a meat Human body) a computer that has the processing power to run it will be perfect in its movement, judging every variable and with full situational awareness and all the time in the world to assess what actions to take. Even now, a Human with a Minigun can't shoot down a incoming missile, but a simple computer tied into the appropriate sensors has been able to do that _for over 20 years._
Put a Human in the pilots seat of a Boston Dynamics robot and it will be tripping over and unable to cope with the slightest shove. And put a true AI in charge of a Human body and every motion will be precisely calculated and perfect - the ultimate in dexterity.
"Realistically" that Cylon, Terminator and Elysium security droid should all have been able to hip fire a headshot in a millisecond, at hundreds of metres away while running, on the hero.
And where this film scores a big win is with the innovative camera work implying that level of precision.
Those movies and tv shows were made when humanoid robots still kind of sucked at moving. So everyone based their fictional robots on the tech available when people were freaking out that a robot could climb stairs without falling over after its first step.
Just look at the Honda Asimo robot from less than two decades ago.
Theres a great webcomic about AI called "Seed" about the first self aware ai called Turry and its quoted as "AI could be compared not to a human, but some animal like a spider we just made insanely intelligent." STEM isn't inhumane because it literally isn't human. In its mind, it got its freedom, killed some thugs with minimal collateral and gave Gray the life he always wanted. No difference between reality and virtual from its perspective.
With no new ideas I was shocked to my core that this movie was so original. Casting, directing and special effects are on on point. And a rare movie that you can watch twice as the ending makes everything in movie look different “once you know”. Enjoy this movie is great
This is one of my favorite movies simply because the villain wins. It was refreshing.
I love this movie. The scenes where Gray’s dreaming of Asha and wakes up thinking it’s real is great foreshadowing of the ending
Awesome film. There aren't many fight scenes really, but when they happen they're so savage and brutal that you just go "Whoa", an effect only amplified by their rarity. Personal favourite is where he finishes off the guy with his own 'hand' gun; as alluded to, it happens so fast that it takes a few moments to realise what happened. Beautiful shifting of pace, jarring but intentional and professionally executed.
I did half-guess the ending though. Gray getting shot in the neck, paralysed but surviving was always far too clinical to just be dumb luck, especially when you find out the bad guys are military and so wouldn't make mistakes. But STEM being the actual mastermind, yeah, that was a loop I didn't see coming, which was nice.
It was also good to have an ending where it's really a total loss for the good guys. Which sounds odd to say, but you know what I mean I'm sure. I always feel bummed out when the hero survives but has lost so much along the way, especially the people they care about. I prefer it when they save the day going down fighting themselves, it's proper closure that way. But a broad-spectrum 'everything has gone to bobbins' finale works too. And with no greater continuity to fit into, Upgrade was free to do that with a particularly "Oh DAMN son" ending. Brilliant work.
That ending put a watery eye’d smile on my face.
Its burtal but like, atleast grey got his wife back somehow.
If im to speculate about further continuity, based off how much private data is gathered and used for market manipulation in todays word. I would assume that stem would have access to so much more private data farmed about greys wife, that a digital version wouldn’t be so bad.
I Damn near feel as if im getting targeted adds for toilet paper whenever i take a shit, so 20 - 50+ years from now (or whatever future timeline this film takes place in) the personal data out there to scavenge must be immense!
If he had been able to stay in the "real" world it would have been a total loss, but in the end he was able to be with his wife and had full use of his own body and limbs.
@@alfredharrison597 true, it's not a total loss for him. Just for everybody else, if they knew what had happened 😆
saw it for the first time last night and can't believe it doesn't get the credit it deserves.
The action was clean. The story though that threw me for a loop.
"Upgrade" pulled me in with the first trailer. By the time I got around to seeing it in theaters (with about 10 other people on opening weekend) I was absolutely chomping at the bit to see it. I absolutely loved this film; downer ending and all. Great breakdown, Niyat.
What a sleeper this was. Thoroughly enjoyed this film, remembering watching this on a friends recommendation. Always thought that Stem he had a bit of HAL in him, albeit less subtle.
That kitchen scene was awesome 😂😂😮 " *just relax* " 😂 I watched that scene like 10x lol
“We are Stem.” I don’t know why this film feels more like a Venom movie. Since Stem as the stand-in for the symbiote and Gray as the stand-in for Eddie. This movie is one of my favorites films I’ve watched it was fun and the ending was amazing.
Also the fact that Logan Marshall looks like Tom Hardy.
Except Upgrade was released months before Venom.
I enjoyed Leigh Whannel using the budget to his advantage. Small budget movies aren't limiting, they can bring out the best in a talented writer, director and cast.
The movie is great. There was also one unresolved mystery - what's the back story of the bad guy, who was even more upgraded, moving better and with more weapons. The chip sent him to kill the wife, but who upgraded him and what technology was he using? That tells me maybe we'll see second part in the future.
I actually couldn’t find anything to watch. I came across this and took a chance, wasn’t disappointed. It made it all the more sweeter that this was a gamble
I agree with u. At least STEM allowed him to live out his life in an ignorantly blissful way.
STEM could have forced him to do a POV ride along with no say or control. So I applaud u my future digital overlord. May your coding last forever! Please dont send me to the salt mines :)
Can't believe it took me 5 years to discover this movie
I like to think STEM only decided to dedicate itself to finding a human host after Grey asked that question out of spite. "Yes, I CAN have kids, and I'll do it in your body"
Excellent film. When you consider it's budgetery powers, it far supasses what it probably was expected to do. As a result it's very underrated.
"Is the thought that counts" Brutal!
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men(or machines) to enslave them.”
This is a brilliant Sci Fi Action body Horror Thriller film with a twist ending that I do not see coming!
More films need bad ends like this. I was genuinely suprised when Stem took over.
that ending is so chilling i almost think the whole idea was shaped around the feeling you get when you see that
I was blown away when I seen this movie for the first time.
I really loved this movie. In terms of cinematography and presentation was absolutely amazing, because of how it conveys the narrative of the film. With how Grey is paralysed, the camera angle seems pretty normal and captures what you'd want to see. But when STEM takes over, the camera is precise, it follows his movement, like how he gets up from the ground, it's like watching a machines perspective and that's exactly what it's telling you.
From a story telling perspective, I absolutely loved the character arc we get from Grey.
A technophobe who ironically becomes dependant on technology when he becomes paralysed, but then once he obtains STEM, he starts to enjoy the ability to move and walk again, and then he hears STEM, the A.I. offering to actually help solve his case in the crime done to him and his wife. Of course, being human and vengeful, he took the opportunity. But then the twist, we're slowly learning that he was baited into a trap, and STEM was using him, we're even given hints to this, with how Greys humanity is conflicted with STEM's emotionless and lack of empathy, focused on practicality and efficiency.
Even STEM's need to remove the other upgradedbecause "they were weak" is hinting at their humanity, thus why grey easily won against the final upgraded when he bad mouths his brother.
And then, the final twist, is STEM actually getting what it wants, getting it's own body, followed by its completely machine-like movements.
The story was great, the action was awesome, the characters were honestly compelling, and the moral in the end is pretty telling.
It‘s unbelievable but I read somewhere that they just had 1 million to spend for this movie
I was expecting a trash no brainer movie, but was completely blown away on every level
The real question is what is stem gonna do once in full control
I can imagine Elon Musk quickly taking notes on the concept of the technology, while completely ignoring the _warnings of its implications_ that are the centrepiece of the film.
is this even possible? I mean I would definitely put a chip in my nervous system if that makes me more skilled xD 😂
@@Morganaplays Actually his company NeuralLink did animal experiments recently for that very concept - the monkeys died.
The name of this movie always makes me think of Idiocracy
Upgrayeed
Sounds like the AI started to care about it's meat puppet more than anything, having it live in relative comfort inside it's own mind rather than a screaming trapped horror unable to do anything, a machine without any ability care wouldn't bother and would likely have chosen option 2.
Grey is just a wrong man in a wrong time constantly finding himself in wrong places
He's a man under too much pressure squeezed under too much that it would start to hurt him as a person
Stem would prove to do much more hurt than good
He didn't deserve this much pain neither did he deserve the triumph
He wasn't ready for all that would happen
It wasn't his fault, he was a unfortunate tree caught in a monstrous tornado
Really a poor guy
I feel pity for him
loved the movie it had it all ! and i especially loved the kitchen scene hahaha
edit: i hope to see more of his work i am really digging the things he has done.
Oh, shoot! I didn't know Nyat covered this! This was an insanley good movie. I loved the camera work.
This is one of my favorite action films ever. So nice for you to do a video on it!
One of the best sci fi film to come out of Australia since daybreakers.
Loved this film.
Such an underrated film.
Awesome movie!!!! Excellent video thanks my friend 😎👍
Probably up there with one of the best sci-fi movies i've seen in my life.
Oh yeah this one. Brutal
The STEM implant is in his spine... so STEM could not access anything above the implant point (ears, eyes, mouth, etc). That error kept it from being perfect, but it was pretty damn good if you ignore that point.
It’s not modern technology
ooh yes I remember seeing this a while back, it was really cool, like a technological Venom
If you haven’t already done a video on the movie What happened to Monday? Could you please do one?? I think that movie would be right up your alley, being a dystopian sci-fy future & mystery🤔🤗🙏
Randomly selected this movie a while ago and it was good. Thanks for the video brother
This movie is a god damn masterpiece and it's shame how underrated it is
Given it’s a Blumhouse film, I had my doubts initially, but by the end…holy shit. The fact that STEM was the mastermind behind everything makes this worth a rewatch and that ending is so bleak and unnerving with STEM taking over and executing the officer. You think Grey is going to pull through or that maybe it was just a comatose dream, but no…Grey asked for an off switch, and through bloodshed and terror, STEM gave it to him…
I loved this movie. I saw it last week, and was amazed I’ve never heard of it. Is brilliantly made, the mind/body separation is so well achieved, also very funny at times. After I saw it, I was wondering if will be a sequel, where he realized he has been taking over by stem, and he fight to get his mind and body back. I will watch it.
I mean if gray had some robotics in his body then he wouldn't of been chosen in the first place right? Maybe instead of being obstinate to all technology be willing and open to new advances while keeping a tight grip on your humanity.
I don’t know how this movie didn’t get more attention. It’s excellent.
I will have to check this movie out! Looks fantastic! And Tom Hardy's doppelganger looks like he's nailed the part...lol...
I don't understand why so many people hated this film. I absolutely loved it.
I love your videos Niyat!!
Very solid movie. Good story , good action, interesting premise, and I guessed the twist wrong.
Saw this movie playing on a movie channel on direct tv recorded it
Had it in my playlist for a good few months then got bored and watched it and Jesus I fell in love
CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED!
Thanks for the video!! See you later!! Stay safe.😊
Thanks Shaine. You too!
Damn this looks very interesting! Thanks Niyat, for the recommendation... i had to google search just to make sure i knew how to write your name hahahah.
I watched upgrade before I watched any movie review channels and such, so I had no idea it was gonna be so great. It needs more attention.
A fantastic film 🍿
Sleeper flick, I loved it. All 3 times 😁
Upgrade is legit one of the best cyberpunk movies I’ve ever seen
"It's the thought that counts"...until one tastes the power
10/10 👍🏻watched it 3 times
One of the best movies ive seen in my almost forty years of living
I didn't even know a movie like this even existed thanks @filmcomicsexplained for exploring this lore I will be watching this movie
With a bit more budget to make the car chase more futuristic and the wheelchair likewise, it could have been a mainstream hit.
But could a mainstream film have been allowed to be as biting with such a dark ending?
What STEM does in the end is basically the title. We think the upgrade is for Gray, when in reality, STEM is the one that gets upgraded constantly until in the end, it has a full human body under its complete control. The true horror will come when one day, he’s too old for his body to keep going like that, and he wakes up unable to move in his 70s or 80s.
One of my all tume favourite movies, just incredible
I loved this movie. Thank for doing it!
One of my fav movies period,acting👌,soundtrack👌,script and story👌, deserves a sequel
Nah
Just watched the movie today for the first time. Very cool.
Couldn't figure out a better way to ask so here we are;
so this movie reminded me of another movie, Bloodshot, and i could have sworn you had covered in on your channel at some point. Did that video get removed?
What if that's the end we are left with, but other than how it was? For example, Stem believes he broke Grey's mind, thus apprehending the meatsuit. What if Grey sought self control in that final struggle to the point that he created his own reality, and removed himself from the dystopian dream, or dimension through sheer will?
After all his experience during the circle of life/death with Stem, Grey, by the end, went to another level of repugnance, not only for all the deaths starting with his wife, all the way through to the perpetrator, Stem itself. It's at that point where Grey's understanding, realization of the cycles he is trapped. Stem's only logical conclusion is Grey is broken... instead, Grey understood fighting/resistance wasn't the way to confront it. He willingly withdrew deeper than any machine logic could possibly follow (Grey was able to show some of this creativity when Stem couldn't overcome Fisk, leading to Grey overcoming Fisk's weakness to take him out.)
In the end Grey found a way to manipulate reality in his favor by actually partitioning Stem out of it, leaving it to a lower mechanical dimension of seeming conflict, and artificial takeover of humanity. A lower world where coding is authority, where creative consciousness is reduced. Grey no longer acknowledges/participates that reality, and is freed from the trappings of the meatsuit prison that now traps Stem... Stem is now a prisoner of the strict material after the loss of Grey.
They need to do a second part!
DAMN this movie looks lit AF!Edit:
Yep! After watching this I can say it was a good movie :)
I've been waiting for this video eversince I watched this movie
I loved Upgrade when I watched it, it was not what I was expecting and loved it.
went to go see this in theaters because it was the only one on the marquee outside that didn't sound bad. had never heard of it even 60 seconds before buying my ticket, so I went in with absolutely no idea what it was and I was blown the fuck away. fantastic movie. it's funny, it's intense, it's thought provoking. good stuff.
In a year that gave us movies likes Avengers Infinity War, Black Panther, and Aquaman . Upgrade was my movie of that year . I absolutely love this movie . I consider it one of the best movies I've seen in many a year . Chris Nolans best movies don't hold a candle to this movie . In some ways it's kind of like a 1988 Sci-fi action movie called The Hidden . That movie didn't do well . But when people did see it, they weren't disappointed . This movie on its budget did okay . But much like the Hidden before it . People who saw it, loved it .
Logan Marshall-Green is an underrated actor. This and The Invitation are both great films.
Cheers for that mate, never heard of it despite being Australian. Ill have a look Sharpish.
this is legit my favorite movie
finally you did this one