Plato's Reality Machine (2013)

Undescribable Perfection

Overrated

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I was conned by the praises. So I gave it a go (thank God it was free on Amazon Prime). This was the LONGEST 80 minutes of my life - it dragged even more than being at work with nothing to do, or stuck in an airplane on a runway when I can't smoke.This was a pretentious piece of garbage, most likely made by people fascinated with gazing at their navels. The characters were ALL obnoxious - there was no plot to speak of - and it has NOTHING to do with video games, expect for using clips from freeware games made in the 1990s.God I hated this movie!!! Next time I will check the links of those praising films - it should have been a clue something was wrong by having all these 5-star ratings made within a month of each other.Watch it is you wish - but don't say I didn't warn you.

Full disclosure: I am not a gamer. Quite honestly, I haven't played video games since I was a teenager. But as far as PLATO'S REALITY MACHINE goes, that doesn't matter whatsoever. In fact, some of my favorite moments of the film occur during the video game sequences. Why? Above all, they are finely crafted. The combination of seamless editing, a soothing voice over, and stimulating graphics creates a hypnotic feel which works as a smooth transition to the various characters' dating toils. This virtual world is essentially more comfortable than the reality world. The reason being? Because we the viewer can relate to the dating struggles of Mr. Sorensen's characters. The game of love can frequently be difficult at best. The backdrop of New York City is a great setting, and the cinematography is beautiful. The film is well-acted, the score and music are engaging, and the editing is fantastic. I look forward to seeing what Myles Sorensen directs next.

This film will challenge you. It has a totally innovative structure, more like a song, with verse-chorus-verse then a regular, boring Hollywood film structure.It delves into the lives of 6 interconnected New Yorkers. And it creates a bit of a rubick's cube game that it is up to the viewer to figure out. Music is AMAZING. Performances, especially Trieste Kelly Dunn and Macenzie Davis are off the charts. The video game story line is creepy and weird. It's almost like a David Lynch film. You hear the character as he is playing the game too. That is another way the director is playing with the audience's perspective.But again, you have to use your brain with this one. Its a romantic comedy, essentially, but its not Failure to Launch or 10 Things I Hate about You. It asks the viewer to participate in the creative act. It asks the viewer to make connections and be open to a different kind of structure. A lot of people won't be up for this, they would rather have corny jokes and recycled plot lines. Easy laughs and obvious plot twists. Then go watch Operation Dumbo Drop.It's a lyrical piece, haunting, but a brain is required to enjoy!

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.