The document discusses and summarizes the movie Ex Machina, directed by Alex Garland. It examines how the movie explores themes of morality, consciousness, and humanity's relationship with advanced technology. Specifically, it focuses on how the movie portrays these themes through the characters of Caleb, Nathan, and the humanoid Ava as they participate in a Turing test. Reviews of the movie highlighted how it observes societal constructs and gender roles, as well as whether technology will change or end humanity.

1. Ex Machina: Society & Morals
Devon Smillie

2. The movie Ex Machina directed by Alex Garlend is a
psychological scifi-thriller and makes viewers think about
morality and consciousness. In the movie, Caleb, played by
Domhnall Gleeson is sent to a remote location to act as a test
proctor for a Turing test. Caleb is called upon by his boss
Nathan, played by Oscar Isaac to determine whether his
humanoid creation Ava can pass the Turing Test and be
considered sentient.
Summary

3. Opinion
The movie Ex Machina vividly portrays key characters within the
movie as center points for exploring morality, ethics, and
philosophical questions on existential sentience outside of
human beings.

4. Director thoughts
Alex Garlend’s original thoughts about
Ex Machina was that it would be underwhelming
and unnoticed. To his surprise it received warm
receptions from many reviewers and exceeded
even his own expectations.

5. Seitz’s review
Matt Zoller Seitz review brings out the key context that I will be
reviewing: morality and society.

6. Seitz & Ex Machina
In Matt Zoller Seitz review of Ex
Machina he reveals that he believes the
movie to be less about technology but
instead a “sociological observation
about humanity.”
Seitz also goes to say that “gender roles handed down over thousands of years
can poison otherwise pure relationships ”.

7. ● Throughout the movie Caleb played a stereotypical white knight because
he was easily manipulated and let his desires get the better of him.
● Ava would exploit Calebs kindness by making him believe that Nathan is
a dangerous person and begins to act as a victim.
● Through subtle hints at attraction, Ava was able to use Caleb to escape

8. Katherine Rose’s statement
Unlike Seitz, Katherine looks at and questions the technology in
Ex Machina. She asks an important question:
“will technology change us or end us?”
● It is revealed within the movie that Nathan hacked the world’s cell phones
in order to make Ava.
● Society also changes with the advancements of technology, and not
always for the better.

9. Thesis & Argument
The movie can be interpreted in many ways depending on how you look at it
and the reviews bring out my thesis; The social constructs created by
society blind our perception for what is morally correct and society
changes and is manipulated by the advancement of technology.
However, I challenge this because morality cannot be so easily contradicted
by social implications, personal preference, and primal instincts. Even if
morality is sometimes clouded by what we want, there are things much
deeper within us that make us choose what is morally correct.

10. Sources (Citations)
Ex Machina. Dir. Alex Garland. Perf. Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac,
Homhnall Gleeson, and Sonoya Mizuno A24 Films, 2015. Theater.
Rose, Katherine. “Ex Machina Movie Review: Should We Be Scared?”
Rev. of Ex Machina, Fir. Alex Garland. Huffington Post, 20 May,
2015. Wev. 20 May, 2015.
Seitz, Matt. “Ex Machina.” Rev. of Ex Machina, Dir. Alex Garland. Roger
Ebert. Matt Zoller Seitz, 9 Aprile, 2015. Web. 9 April, 2015.