Rise

I've not watched as many shorts as normal of late, but even with a few months off, I probably still saw more 'proof of concept' films than I would have liked. Rise is one of the bigger ones of late, and the hundreds of thousands of views shows that an impressive visual showcase delivered in a tight package will grab those online eyes. Of course proof of concept is not the same as proving you can make a good short film – but then, this is not really the goal here. There is a certain amount of universe creation, and a scenario is played out, however it never doesn't feel like a trailer which runs long.

Visually there is a lot of very impressive work here. The tight editing makes the most of the dramatic scenes and footage, while the effects are very well done. The merging of humans and robots is particularly convincing in how it looks and moves. The money spent on this is certainly right there to be seen. As a story though, it all feels so very familiar that it didn't really excite me to get into it more. The familiar faces (Sewell, Yelchin, Kang) add to this feeling of it having quality, but like the effects, it only works on the level as a trailer.

Hard to complain, because it delivers what it set out to do, and it certainly got the views it wanted, however if you are looking for anything more than a professionally produced trailer then Rise will not do much for you.

I stumbled upon this short on a CG site (http://www.cgchannel.com/2016/04/see-how-david- karlak-made-rise-his-amazing-sci-fi-short/), where it was getting accolades for its innovation and vision. Although the visual effects struck me as modern and well done, what I found most striking was how much of this short seemed to be near shot-for-shot copies of Lilly and Lana Wachowski's "Second Renaissance" sequences from "The Animatrix" and how no one seemed to have called them on it. A simple example is the scene of the female droid being pulled between rioters while she is shot from behind. There are many others. Indeed, with the exception of a few details, the plot of this short is the same as a portion the "Second Renaissance."

If the material had appeared to be original I would have been truly impressed, as the visuals are interesting and I do enjoy a bit of science fiction confection from time to time. I might have given this effort a 7 or 8 out of 10 if I'd never been exposed to the Wachowski's work. The unimaginative nature of the script and direction dropped my rating down to a 1 or 2, upgraded by the competent use of modern VFX technology and some really well done animation. The actors have done a solid job with the material, lending a professional sound and character to the film; but, they can't escape the inertia of the writers and director.

If this whole thing ended up being some kind of wild marketing campaign to launch a prequel to the "Matrix" movies, produced under pseudonyms to protect the guilty, I'd be thrilled. I doubt that's what's going on here.

I agree with the reviewer who said this was more like a trailer. It could be used to introduce a film and put some substance on the frame. People of Earth have allowed for the creation of artificial beings. When one of them kills in self-defense, the earthlings go nuts, but these guys are not going away and like all repressed people, they are going to defend themselves.

...for a serie. seductive for familiar names. for a story who, far to be original, remains provocative. and for the idea. because this war could be in each moment. the significances are other motif for define "Rise" as an admirable work. it could be a parable. or a fragment from the near future. but, first, it is one of that stories who has the inspired "clothes". and this is the piece who transforms it in more than a short film from the Sci. Fi. area.

This is incredibly well done. Was this project ever picked up to be made into a feature? How tragic that Anton is no longer with us...what a talented young man. Terrific acting and great special effects.