Plato's Reality Machine (2013)

Nice effects though.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Blistering performances.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I really enjoyed watching this film. I loved the whole concept. Gaming is so prevalent these days, another reality to escape to. This is the digital world we live in now. In this film we see both reality and virtual reality through an honest lens. The characters are people you can imagine knowing, inhabited by extremely talented actors.What struck me the most about this film is the honesty of the dialogue. The interview-like and video game segments weaved through this movie made it a beautifully crafted one. I loved the New York backdrop. It's a thinking persons movie, artistic and thought provoking.

Plato's Reality Machine takes an innovative non-linear approach to this tale of the messy love lives of a group of young New Yorkers who relate better to technology than they do to one another. The visuals are impressive, the virtual reality of the game space impressive (on a $35,000 budget for the entire film) and the narrative is challenging. This isn't the kind of film to hold your hand. The director, Myles Sorensen, challenges the audience to come to their own conclusions and the film is all the more rewarding for it. The young cast is also impressive and the New York setting is well captured. This is the kind of film that will appeal to anyone who has ever had their heart broken and felt unable to trust again. It also explores our culture's increasing dependence on digital lives that take the place of our physical ones. The main character has retreated into a world of gaming and violence after ruining his last relationship. Plato's Reality Machine provides an interesting micro-budget counterpart to Spike Jonze's HER, exploring many of the same themes.

Plato's Reality Machine is a film about gamers and the game of life. It is about young singles, living in New York, trying to define themselves and connect with each other, but also about their avatars, their ideal selves, fighting for survival, forming alliances and deciding whether to betray their allies before they are betrayed. It is at one moment dark and intense, and at next, light, funny and sexy. At several places, as in the stylish sequence in the strip club, it is all these things at once. At first the game world appears to be typically dark and futuristic, but even there real human emotion and humor shine through. The real world locations are clearly New York, but not the same tired ones you've seen over and over. The performances are spot on. The soundtrack is cutting edge. Do yourself a favor and log in!

Plato's Reality Machine pulls off what no other indie film has ever attempted - it explores modern issues of self-identity while weaving metaphoric video game world to explore the character's inner-lives. The cast is stellar and includes Trieste Kelly Dunn (Star of Showtime's 'Banshee'). The performances are powerful. Sorenson's direction is dead-on and his story-telling is economical and innovative. See this film and prepare yourself for a truly amazing indie film treasure. Wouldn't be surprised if this movie finds a big following with Machinima fans as well.