Adam Nieri asks this of a well-crafted short sci-fi film:
Simulation wants us to think about the nature of existence in relation to simulation theory. That is, what if all of reality as we know it is merely a computer simulation created by a highly advanced form of life (perhaps human beings in the future)? That is a view held by prominent people, including British astronomer Martin Rees, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and self-driving car entrepreneur Elon Musk. Would life, as a natural consequence, seem as disjointed and lacking in resolution as the events in the film?A
Adam Nieri, “Would a simulated universe even make sense?” at Mind Matters News
Other reviews by Adam Nieri:
Ad Astra: The Great Silence becomes personal. The film images the fate of those seek significance in the stars and may well wait indefinitely. In a world where the divine touch of extraterrestrial intelligence doesn’t elevate human existence to any level of significance, we are left with Ad Astra: a slow, methodical decay of human significance.
Another Life: All fun and games till an AI falls in love. Then it descends into a convoluted drift of uncertain storytelling. And the victim is not primarily the viewer, who has other options. The victim is the art itself.
Alita, Battle Angel: A Mind Matters Review: If you love anime and felt betrayed by the flop of Ghost, I would highly recommend Alita
and
A Mind Matters Review: Love, death, & robots Despite the trash and ruined expectations, several shorts were enjoyable and downright fun to watch