DVD
REVIEW: TRANSCENDENT MAN
05/15/11
OVERVIEW: In Ray Kurzweil’s post-biological world, boundaries blur between human and machine, real and virtual. World hunger and poverty are solved, human aging and illness are reversed and we vastly extend longevity. Barry Ptolemy’s compelling feature-length documentary, TRANSCENDENT MAN, chronicles the life of one of our most respected and provocative advocates of the role of technology in the future. Docurama Films’ new release will be available for the first time on DVD on May 24, following a worldwide festival tour and a Digital/VOD release in March 2011..
In his film, director Barry Ptolemy follows Kurzweil to more than 20 cities and 5 countries as he presents the daring arguments from his bestselling book, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. Kurzweil predicts that with the ever-accelerating rate of technological change, humanity is fast approaching an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly non-biological and millions of times more powerful. Within 25 years, computers will have consciousness. Humans will merge with their machines. These predictions make Kurzweil a prophetic genius to some, and a “highly sophisticated crackpot” to others. There is no question, however, that he has predicted the future with more accuracy than anyone else in history.
SYNOPSIS: Technology will accelerate exponentially. Within 25 years, computers will have consciousness. Humans will soon be bionic. These predictions make bestselling author Ray Kurzweil (The Singularity Is Near) a prophetic genius to some, and a “highly sophisticated crackpot” to others. There is no question, however, that he has predicted the future with more accuracy than anyone else in history..
TRANSCENDENT MAN gets inside the mind of the award-winning scientist and A.I. specialist through extensive interviews with Kurzweil himself and revealing conversations with friends and colleagues. The film outlines Kurzweil’s theory of singularity—the point when change occurs so rapidly that humans will need to merge with technology to keep up—while also chronicling Kurzweil’s history, his myriad accomplishments (including 24 U.S. patents), and his unique vision of the future.
VIDEO:
FullScreen
1.33:1
AUDIO:
Dolby Digital
2.0 English
SPECIAL
FEATURES:
Extended Interviews; Deleted
Scenes
Tribeca Film Festival Q&A with
director Barry Ptolemy and Ray Kurzweil.
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