Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Reboot


Question: What electronic devices are sitting right next to you that can connect you to the web? With what device are you reading this review? Your Laptop? Phone? Tablet?

We are so “connected” today that no matter what we need, desire or want we simply run to the web to buy, search for, transact, etc… It is now ingrained in our daily lives: online banking, email messages, research (or better known as Google), texts to friends, power point presentations for work or school and so on that is hard to think how we lived before all this technology.

Recently, I saw an app (with a smart meter installed in your home) that you gives you the ability to turn on/off your lights, set the thermostat and control your sprinkler system all from your phone. WOW! It is really endless how much time we spend on computers now or phones controlling our lives somehow.

In fact, if you are near others right now, take a look around and just observe how many are on their phones, not necessarily talking but looking at something. It’s a lot, isn’t it?

Now try to imagine your world without access to the internet or these devices that are supposedly simplifying our lives. Would it be like taking away an addiction? For some, it is absolutely yes. For most, well, I still think yes. I know it would be hard for me to give up my laptop and smart phone. I use it for work nearly every day: watching films, writing my reviews, discussing movies with filmmakers or other movie enthusiasts from around the world.

Do you think there are some out there that want to shut the whole thing down? Why would they want it all disconnected? Beats me, but that is exactly what a short film I watched this week discusses. Reboot. Well, it doesn’t actually discuss it but took on a story about a few professional hackers with one waking up with a cell phone glued to her hand displaying a countdown on the phone and….nope. That’s it. No more detail as this was a thriller and one I am recommending seeing, if you get a chance.

However, I will say that after watching this film I immediately wanted to disconnect from the internet and live in the real world for sometime. Was it to test a theory or something different? Not telling but movies do influence me' and Reboot made me really think about what I rely on day in and day out.

A while back I posted the preview on here and then was able to watch it. It is currently traveling festivals and not available to view but is expected out later this year. It made its World Premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec on July 23rd; and it was also shown at DEFCON20 in Las Vegas in July.  For future screenings go to their website: Reboot.


Directed and written by Joe Kawasaki, Rosa Productions, 2012

Starring: Emily Somers, Martin Copping, Charlies Weirauch and Janna Bossier.

I don't have a favorite or least favorite thing to add except to say: I wish this will be made into a full length feature. Think they are onto something with this story.

Rating: Unknown
Length: 35 minutes approximately

Review: 8 out of 10

1 comment:

Scarletdreams said...

yay. I am now a commenting fool. :) The picture really is worth a thousand words. I think we are so caught up in technology today and sometimes I don't think it is a good thing, but I have to also say it has been such a blessing for someone like me with visual impairment. It makes possible for me things that I wasn't able to do before. Double edged sword to be sure. :) I look forward to seeing it.