Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryScience Fiction

abstract-modern-black-spiral-clock-dial-with-arabic-numerals-950566755-stockpack-adobestock
Abstract modern black spiral clock dial with arabic numerals. Concept of Infinite time, deadline, scheduling, time and space, past, present and future.

The Time Machine (1960): Two Meetings and One Big Flashback

In Part 1 of my four-part review of this time travel classic, I look at the 19th century novel that started the genre and the movie that followed

Over the last several months, I’ve talked about time travel. Originally, I’d planned to discuss the trope in more detail — when and how to use it, when and how not to use it, and whether it was better to rely on fate as a stabilizing force in the narrative. Or is it better to play around with various paradoxes? But then I realized that no in-depth discussion about the trope would be complete without reviewing the novel and subsequent movie that started it all. The Time Machine (1895) by H.G. Wells (1866–1946) can only be described as the most notable work on time travel. In fact, Wells is often thought of as the man who invented science fiction itself. Read More ›

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Urban Pigeons: A Sunlit Gathering in City Steps

Part 2: Have the Superbirds Arrived? Are They Taking Over?

Dr. Avian now claims that his work with trained birds show that intelligence does not require inner models or internal representations, as formerly thought

Avian is perfectly clear: There is no mind at all in Coordinated Avian Models (CAMs). And yet, they’re behind a staggering number of new designs.

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Monarch butterflies in flight (3)

Sound of Thunder: The Writers Are Committed to Their Story

In this final part of my review, I look at the way the writers did not flinch from the hard choices that their premise requires, which is a virtue

There are kernels of a good movie in A Sound of Thunder (2005), if one is willing to look past the poor production.

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Pigeon business portrait dressed as a manager or ceo in a formal office business suit with glasses and tie. Ai generated

Move Over, AI. Bird Brains Are Giving You a Run for Your Money

Could ten thousand birds develop a theory of mind just by scaling? A tale in three parts

Dr. Avian was sure that he had found a formula for intelligence without anything like a human mind, and his program appeared to be working.

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abstract-modern-white-spiral-clock-dial-with-roman-and-arabi-686867798-stockpack-adobestock
Abstract modern white spiral clock dial with roman and arabic numerals. Concept of Infinite time, deadline, scheduling, time and space, past, present and future.

Sound of Thunder: How To Fix a Mess When Everyone Forgot About It

In Part 6 of my continuing review of the 2005 sci-fi classic, we look at efforts to go back in time and fix the disastrous timewave problem

A conundrum emerges: Even if they can reset the timeline, the time travelers will have no way of warning their future selves that this incident ever happened.

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Butterfly effect illustration with a butterfly and tornado.

Sound of Thunder: Can Chance and the Butterfly Effect Coexist?

In Part 5 of my review of the sci-fi classic, I look at whether the effect could really upend evolution, however evolution is understood

The butterfly effect is one of those possibilities that sounds frighteningly plausible until one starts going into detail.

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A futuristic cosmic swirl of space-time with glowing waves radiating outward, creating an abstract representation of time travel and reality manipulation, with no humans included

Sound of Thunder: Surfing the Time Waves When the Tide Is High

When plants start growing through cement walls, it is obvious that there is a problem

We learn that the butterfly effect only alters the evolution of biological material and the weather, and the effects start with plants.

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an-explosive-scene-featuring-multiple-clocks-in-a-chaotic-su-1358691057-stockpack-adobestock
An explosive scene featuring multiple clocks in a chaotic, surreal setting, symbolizing the concept of time and its tumultuous nature.

A Sound of Thunder: Time Travel for Fun and Profit — and Tragedy

In this third part of my review, I look at the adaptations leading up to the climax — the ones that worked and the ones that didn’t

We learn that expedition leader Ryer is hoping to use his time travel trips to help bring extinct species back to life.

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Intense lightning storm over dark clouds nature image atmospheric dramatic weather phenomenon

A Sound of Thunder: Comparing the Film With the Short Story

What’s the same? What’s changed? What works and what doesn’t

I compliment the writers for constructing a scenario where it is actually conceivable for time travelers to enter the past without altering it.

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butterfly emerges from digital world showcasing beautiful effect of technology on nature wonders

A Sound of Thunder: Does the Famous Butterfly Effect Make Sense?

I am going to look at the 1952 short story first — the premises and the plot — before tackling the 2005 film

I think “A Sound of Thunder” has remained popular partially because the butterfly effect is a unique idea if nothing else.

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Futuristic tunnel with blue and orange light streaks receding into the distance. A bright glow at the end creates a sense of perspective and depth.

My Parting Thoughts on the Terminator Series

Nostalgia is powerful enough to make people stay away from new films if those films undermine what they loved about past ones

If writers make the old victories meaningless, the new victories will be meaningless as well, and no one will care about whatever new story appears.

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A haunting view of a post-fire urban landscape.

Terminator Dark Fate: A Sickening Conclusion

There is no actor alive who could deliver some of these lines in a believable way

I feel confident saying that the franchise is destroyed and will never recover, unless the creators admit that they’ve made some mistakes but that isn’t likely.

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Two mysterious doors, dark room, choice, uncertainty, conceptual image for websites

Terminator Dark Fate: The “Family” Robot

Part 5: The idea that the robot Carl mechanically evolves a conscience is introduced but never explained

The mimicry-to-genuine humanity process can only work as a creative tool if the robot understands that humanity is an ideal to chase.

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Border patrol officers walking along a corrugated wall border

Terminator Dark Fate: We Meet the Sender of the Mystery Texts

At this point in the story, our characters clash with Border Patrol — and discover a Terminator with a conscience

Last Saturday, we saw that Sarah, Grace and Dani, realized that the person sending Sarah the mysterious texts was living precisely where Grace was supposed to go if she ran into trouble. Because the address is in Texas our dysfunctional trio must cross the border. Dani knows a guy she convinces to help them. Well, actually Grace cuts a fly in half, and that convinces him. But anyway. While traveling to the border, they hop on top of a train with a bunch of undocumented immigrants. During this ride, Sarah comes to believe that Dani is really another her. Sarah seems happy to relinquish her fatalistic mantle, but Grace is annoyed by this development. A less likeable Grace I mention Read More ›

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Colorful cables and wires

Terminator Dark Fate: Just Too Many Johns Now

Here’s Part 3 of my review: How multiverses and time travel can doom a story

There are plenty of dumb errors in movies, but Dark Fate made the most obvious mistake I’ve ever seen.

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Lone figure falls through dark clouds, asteroids

Terminator: Dark Fate: Welcome to the New Future

Which turns out to be the same as the old one. Here’s Part 2 of my review

The writers seem to have run out of ideas for new Terminators. They’re recycling the concept and adding new abilities — without thinking them through.

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Terminator: Dark Fate - A Futuristic Robot in a Desolate Landscape

Terminator Dark Fate: Not As Bad As Genisys But Close

Here in Part 1, we also look at rumors of a new Terminator project in the works. Could some of the mistakes that plagued earlier films be avoided?

The actors are quite good and if their performances seemed canned at times, I blame the dialogue. They can’t draw blood from a stone.

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Time travel concept. Abstract spiral of flying clocks in a colorful vortex.

Terminator Genisys Review, Part 10: Too Many Time Machines!

Terminator Genisys was simply removed from the canon, and for good reason, as we will see

I have warned about the perils of using time travel in storytelling. This movie is a prime example of the problems I was talking about.

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man with smoking head - vaudeville villain

Terminator Genisys Review Part 9: When Writers Hate a Character

Essentially, the writers hated John but knew the audience loved him, so they tried to hide their attitude; however, their contempt leaked into the script

Deprived of the natural motivations they started the story with, the characters become carbon cutouts of clichés that people have seen over and over again.

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Blurred silhouette of a child behind a glass door in the darkness (symbolizing sadness, loneliness, horror or fear)

Terminator Genisys Review Part 8: The Evil Child Murders the Film

The screenwriters tried to adapt the Evil Child theme from horror films without allowing enough time to build the needed suspense

Making John Connor a villain also removes Sarah’s motivation to fight Skynet. Without that, she’s just another generic tough girl fighting an army of robots.

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