Considering this is a low-budget film made entirely with free and open-source software this is an impressive success. The technological successes made with this film can not be denied and is a testament to the suitability of free software and open source in serious projects. The movie itself was also released with an open license allowing anyone to redistribute or modify the movie as they please.
Clearly, this movie was intended to say something about copyright from the way it was created to the way it was released. It would not seem much of a leap to suspect that the movie itself might also have this intention. It is with this context I feel the movie must be watched.
At first blush this movie's story is extremely confusing. It has an extremely abstract feel and seems to make no sense at all. It is here that context helps; knowing that the makers want to speak to their audience about copyright guides us to look for this message in its metaphors.
I think the important places in this movie to look for meaning in this context include: the complexity of the machine and what it represents; what Emo and Proog represent, particularly the contrast in how Emo and Proog respond to the machine differently; what the "danger" might represent; and how each scene might be speaking about some specific use of copyright, patent or other legal restriction in some abstract fashion.
Regardless, without this preliminary context the movie seems completely pointless and baffling. Though I think it may be seen as a masterpiece to those who understand and appreciate it it offers very little but eye candy to anyone else. This failure to communicate its message to anyone who doesn't already know the message is something I consider a failing of this film. -2 stars from the otherwise 10 for this disappointment.
Clearly, this movie was intended to say something about copyright from the way it was created to the way it was released. It would not seem much of a leap to suspect that the movie itself might also have this intention. It is with this context I feel the movie must be watched.
At first blush this movie's story is extremely confusing. It has an extremely abstract feel and seems to make no sense at all. It is here that context helps; knowing that the makers want to speak to their audience about copyright guides us to look for this message in its metaphors.
I think the important places in this movie to look for meaning in this context include: the complexity of the machine and what it represents; what Emo and Proog represent, particularly the contrast in how Emo and Proog respond to the machine differently; what the "danger" might represent; and how each scene might be speaking about some specific use of copyright, patent or other legal restriction in some abstract fashion.
Regardless, without this preliminary context the movie seems completely pointless and baffling. Though I think it may be seen as a masterpiece to those who understand and appreciate it it offers very little but eye candy to anyone else. This failure to communicate its message to anyone who doesn't already know the message is something I consider a failing of this film. -2 stars from the otherwise 10 for this disappointment.