Article Title: Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: The Perfect AI Panic Movie?
In the world of American action movies, villains have always reflected the fears and anxieties of society at the time. From the Cold War era’s portrayal of cunning Soviets to the bad Arab trope of the 1990s and ’00s, these films tap into the prevailing concerns of the public. Now, with the release of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the big bad villain takes the form of an all-powerful, all-seeing, sentient AI known as The Entity.
Written by Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen, and Christopher McQuarrie (who also directed the film), the plot revolves around Tom Cruise’s character taking on The Entity. This AI has access to any device connected to an online network and can manipulate everything from military forces to regular individuals. It embodies the fear of a sentient AI that may eventually take over humanity, a concept that feels particularly timely with the advancements in AI technology in recent years.
While the theme of man vs. machine is not new, the idea of a sentient AI threatening humanity resonates in today’s world. AI-based technologies, such as ChatGPT and AI-imbued bots, are already being used for various tasks, raising concerns about the potential takeover of AI-generated content. This issue has become a pressing matter for members of the Writers Guild of America, prompting discussions on how AI should be regulated in the entertainment industry.
Remarkably, Dead Reckoning’s release date coincides with the rising interest in both the benefits and risks of generative AI. It arrives at a time when the United States is witnessing a congressional push for AI regulation and when fears of AI’s dominance are gaining public attention. The Entity serves as a well-timed villain, even if its portrayal with flashy graphics and eye-like optics may seem a bit cheesy. For most moviegoers, AI remains relatively unfamiliar territory, making The Entity a mysterious and engrossing antagonist to fear.
Furthermore, AI is a relatively harmless foe when compared to the historically racialized or politically motivated villains of the past. In an era where action movies strive to avoid offense, an all-powerful and evil computer will likely only displease the staunchest AI defenders. After all, Dead Reckoning – Part One aims to become a global box office success and having a faceless enemy that the entire world can rally against is a step in the right direction.
Perhaps Mission: Impossible’s Entity is just the beginning of a new era for action movie villains. Upcoming films like Heart of Stone and The Creator also feature AI adversaries determined to cause global destruction. However, humanity will ultimately triumph in these movies because at their core, action films are meant to entertain and offer a sense of victory. In the meantime, millions of moviegoers can unite in their shared fear of what the future may hold.
In conclusion, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One brings forth the fears surrounding AI and its potential impact on humanity in an action-packed movie format. Its release coincides with a period of heightened interest in AI technology and regulation. While The Entity may lack a physical presence and face, it serves as a unifying force for movie audiences, providing a unique and timely villain for the big screen. Only time will tell if AI-themed antagonists continue to dominate the action genre in the future.
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