Transcendent Man

Filmmaker Barry Ptolemy's Transcendent Man profiles successful inventor, engineer, and technology prophet Ray Kurzweil, whose book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology argues that at some point within the next 25 years, medicine, computing, nanotechnology, microchips, artificial intelligence, and robotics/prosthetics will have advanced far enough so that humans will be cyborgs. Despite nightmare imagery spawned by The Terminator and Blade Runner, Kurzweil believes this will be a wonderful development, as illness—even death—can be banished, and machines can revive deceased individuals who have left enough DNA and personal data behind. Following Kurzweil to more than 20 cities in five countries, Ptolemy gives his subject ample opportunity to make his case; but rather than presenting simple rubber-stamp affirmation, the film also includes interviews with cutting-edge thinkers and critics (as well as observations by the likes of William Shatner and Stevie Wonder) who present a wide spectrum of opinion—everything from guarded agreement to dismissals of Kurzweil as ill-informed, naively optimistic, and obsessed with mortality. Added to the mix is a splendid info-dump of archival clips (including killer robots in B-movies and a teen Kurzweil revealing a computer-composed piano tune on the vintage I've Got a Secret game show), all backed by a Philip Glass musical score. The result is entertaining, a bit scary, and definitely thought-provoking. DVD extras include extended interviews and deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)