Oblivion: Tech 49

Universal Pictures

Beyond the stylish production, Oblivion features solitude, artificial intelligence, and among other things, amatory clones. Jack Harper (Cruise) is stationed on a depopulated planet earth, with very little human interaction, repairing drones, while  yearning for the pleasures of home. Was the film aiming to make a point about solitude?  No. If it was, that point was not perceptible. Rather, the main character endured solitude as a condition elemental to the story, and the plot, in which intelligent drones, blasting with effulgent lasers were on the prowl. 

Replete in the film is the idea of advanced robotic intelligence being the nemesis of humanity, serving as a basis to suggest, more likely the film was exploring the notion of artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence, commonly referred to as the   technological singularity. 

 Not only does artificial intelligence surpass human intelligence, it is adroit enough to create humans, but does  this mean artificial intelligence has the right to control  humans, since it created them? But is it practical or prudent, to perceive  artificially intelligent beings as  eligible for having rights ? In contrast, would they "care" about human rights? Essentially, the film suggests, they would not care about human rights, although they have designed humans without removing their capacity to experience feelings such as the ones customarily identified with love. 

And from this arises the question, would the feelings commonly

Universal Pictures

associated with love be recognized as less significant if they were to occur amongst clones in real life? Such a question may possibly emerge from the perception, clones are artificial, in contrast human beings are authentic, coming into existence through  parturition;  therefore, clones are not as important because they are artificial in their humanity.    


Although the plot was slow to develop, Oblivion was an entertaining film, with a good story, accentuated by visually impressive scenes, and a fractured narrative, satisfactorily explaining it all. With a production budget of  $120 million, more action would have been nice. Not bad. I'll give it a 79. Stay tuned. Movieporium.blogspot.com.