Westworld - The Maze

Crichton's original film Westworld presented, through the name of its famous writer and the participation of Yul Brynner as the star, the closest possible connection to the western genre, which is now perceived as an ordinary and not very interesting B-movie. Although the respected HBO was behind the production, I did not expect something so well-thought-out and captivating, and elaborate, and something that would compel me to watch the entire first season in the shortest possible time. A smart series with a complicated structure that is thought-provoking, with a humanistic focus, with ambiguous characters, and brilliantly cast and directed - what more could you ask for? Westworld plays with the popular idea of the creation of artificial intelligence, which is the responsibility of two technological visionaries - Ford and Arnold. The practical Ford is focused on business and relentlessly pursues his goal of building a giant amusement center that creates a perfect illusion of the Wild West in the 19th century. Its residents are meant to be indistinguishable from humans, nothing more than top-notch machines. His colleague Arnold realizes the consequences of their efforts and playing god begins to frighten him. He becomes an obstacle to progress and his life ends in a futile attempt to stop the project. 35 years later, he paradoxically stands in the way of Ford's society running smoothly. There are inexplicable phenomena in the behavior of the robots, employees are disappearing, tension is mounting, and change is in the air. The authors of the series play a wide-ranging and in-depth game with the viewer, confusing them, playing games on the side, and combining genres. Of course, Westworld is above all a tribute to the classic western with all its identifying features and stereotypical characters. It is also sci-fi, but lovers of romance, nerds accustomed to deciphering a multitude of references and puzzles, and fans of adventure spectacles will also find something in it for themselves. What works wonderfully is the combination and balance of intellect and emotional engagement. The complex structure of the story forces the viewer to think, while the abuse of the artificial beings evokes a wave of sympathy for their fate, not unlike the position of ancient slaves. Wealthy park visitors have the opportunity to torture, kill, and rape anyone of the robots - and they often do. While the robots represented a threat in Crichton's Westworld, in the new adaptation, they represent the more sympathetic part of the series' protagonists. Their desire to understand the meaning of their existence and for dignity humanizes them more than humans full of superiority, selfishness, and callousness. The revolt of the robots brings with it not only destruction but also hope for the restoration of moral values and humanistic ideals. It is hard to say what I would praise the most about Westworld. Is it the cunning variability of characters influenced by reprogramming or the revelation of their identity? The performance of veteran actor Anthony Hopkins as the grand, manipulative, and dangerous park boss? Or perhaps the excellent set design? Regardless, I am looking forward to the next season like a little boy. Overall impression: 95%. (26.06.2018) (mniej) (więcej)