Rating: 
Summary: Monumental!
Review: Clearly, the majority of the viewers who composed these negative reviews went into the movie expecting Spielberg. However, what they received was something alltogether different and something that they may never see again: a monumental motion picture collaboration by two of the industry's titans that, as unsettling as it is, DEMANDS that the viewer THINK about what they've seen. I question whether the average movie goer had experienced much Kubrick before Tom & Nicole made him a household word; naturally they were shocked at what the film turned out to be.However, what is most annoying and disturbing is how the movie was thrown off as a "failed experiment" by so many people. I didn't see the film on its theatrical run, so I snapped it up as soon as I could. Yes, the effects and art direction are astounding and yes, the score is a nice departure from the usual Williams/Spielberg soundtrack; in fact there are a great many things to admire in this movie. But, the single most astonishing thing about the film is that IT IS ALIVE. It breathes, it cries, it cackles, it soars and is, in the end, one of the most satisfying movie experiences I can remember. I won't bore you by revealing plot points by way of a synopsis. That won't make you go out and rent or buy this movie anyway. If you truly love the work of these two directors, you owe it to yourself and to them to see it. The film "pushed my buttons" in ways I did not think were possible; it has become clear to me that many of the people who saw it have no buttons to push.
Rating: 
Summary: So close an encounter¿
Review: Spielberg had a masterpiece in his hands and let it slip away. There seems to be a common thread in his work that he only rarely eludes, and that is the instinct to play Father with the audience. So often in his films, he can't help himself jumping in and reassuring the audience that everything is ok, or over explain a point. This ultimately cheats the audience of discovery. In the otherwise excellent 'Flesh Fair' scene, why introduce the characters of the Father and little Girl? It would have been a much stronger scene without them. They are there only to provide relief. 'David' could have been 'discovered' in a much rougher manner, and could have escaped in the riot that ensued. All of the voice over and sub-titles could be cut, as well as the scene with 'David' and the evolved Meca at the end of the film. We already have all of that information. Spielberg can't stop himself from reassuring the audience about the Mother dieing after only one day. The scene of 'David' saying good night to his Mother with the pullback and fade out, or of the long shot of the Underwater Vehicle with David praying to the Blue Fairy followed by the shot of the frozen water and the Transport ship, should have been presented with no explanation. They would be much stronger. The audience then has to think. How much better it would have been if we found out what was going on when the Blue Fairy says, "Your Mother died two thousand years ago." Spielberg robs us of that discovery by whacking us over the head. I don't think he does it because he thinks we're stupid. He does it to 'protect' us. Art can't be safe. He can go a lot farther than he lets himself go. The only film where he resisted (most of the time, although there were a few lapses) was 'Schindlers List'. The obligation to represent the Holocaust correctly, overrode his paternal instinct. It should happen more often in his fictions as well.
Rating: 
Summary: If you haven't seen A.I. yet, DON'T.
Review: Watching this movie is like being kicked in the stomach for three hours. I literally felt sick after watching it. Usually, only really good films effect people in this way, but in this case, it's simply a reflection of Spielburg's emotionally cloying and overly manipulative storytelling. Other reviewers of this movie seem to think that if you didn't like it, then you just didn't "get it". Believe me, we get it. Spielburg, with his "sock full of pennies" filmmaking technique, doesn't leave us any choice. It's exhausting having the message of the movie pounded into you repeatedly when it could have been conveyed much more effectively with a little subtlety and craft. The story has already been told before and been told better (i.e. Blade Runner). Even the replicants in Blade Runner had moments of joy in their lives. In AI we get a robot boy made sentient and programmed to love and dream and feel pain, and then all of humanity... on him for the duration of the movie (which spans 2000 years by the way - and you'll feel every minute of it). The tacked on ending makes a sorry attempt to redeem itself, but ends up being false, unsatisfying, and just another instance of the emotional abuse Spielburg is famous for. I would no sooner advise anyone to watch this than I would encourage someone to watch a man beat his dog.
Rating: 
Summary: Forgot to use the edit room?
Review: Very long and for no good reason. The first half hour was OK with its human interaction but this soon ends and you have to sit through 1:50 minutes of robots and such to reach the finish line. At best Speilberg could have saved his movie and used a lot fewer special effects and tryed to keep a far more interesting plot going. Its just another low budget screen play that relies on just the visual effects.
Rating:
Summary: best movie of the year by far
Review: no other movie this year is as beautifully shot -- it is so far and away in another category it makes all the other movies nominated for awards look to me like amateurish nonsense---steven spielberg is a genius filmmaker at the top of his game and when he has a wonderful evocative mythically-themed gem of a story like this-- its just a feast ! i had my doubts about it because stanley kubrik in my mind a totally incompetent filmmaker had something to do with it-- thank the film gods for his passing- i`m only disappointed theres no directors analysis of the movie in the manner of the moonstruck example set by that fine dvd--- but i`ve watched this dvd twice now --- in my mind A.I. joins the list of my favorite movies of all time--- i think that in years to come the lack of character development in movies that have certain appeal like moulin rouge will fade and this movie A.I. like Its a Wonderful Life which also was underrated when it came out-- will be recognized for what it is-- a real cinematic masterpiece--the themes the movie adresses would have delighted joseph campbell who would have loved this movie----reminiscent of such classic movies/books with similar themes -- even `quoting` them visually at times adds to the immense enjoyment --- frankenstein the wizard of oz pinocchio the little prince ullysses--- the movie resonates on so many levels--- even five minutes into it-- the camera work the art direction -- you just know yer in good hands here---- its obviously not for everyone i guess----if u want eye candy mindless entertainment stupid diversion no character development prurient cheap sex and violence go see moulin rouge or the other mediocre things nominated this year --- if yer into karl jung freud joseph campbell ullysses the re-birth of the human spirit --quality and depth in yer art - if yer culturally starved and want something for the human spirit to really cheer about-- heres yer movie of the year --- of the decade--- go get the dvd and relish it today !! bless you steven spielberg for raising the level of yer art and for giving us somethig to really sink our teeth into ! its a feast i tell you ! enjoy-- for those with eyes and ears >>>>
Rating:
Summary: A.I. Makes Reality Possible
Review: A.I. deserves more approbation than what it has received. Although it may have had a dark side, A.I. had so much to offer. After I exited the theater, I was left wondering about the many twists and mysteries of the movie. It was certainly thought provoking and intriguing. Whenever I think of the future or robots, I tremble with fear. A.I. made it possible for viewers to see the future in a different perspecitve from how we see it today. Will this world live in a perfect, undisturbed utopia? Or will we live as an angry race, destroying our new creations and beings? These were challenging questions that A.I. left me with.
The stunning performances of Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law shone off the screen and illuminated my heart. Certain quotes and scenes still haunt my mind. The excellent settings and graphics were pleasurable for my eyes. But it wasn't a movie where I sat back and relaxed. However, I was thinking about it continuously and trying to find out answers. A.I. was food for my soul.
Rating:
Summary: Cold, gloomy, depressing, and incredibly long
Review: The title Artificial Intelligence aptly captures the emotions engendered by this movie. It is an intelligent, but artificial film -- it manages to be genuinely emotional, yet somehow also cold, detached, and distant. The viewer ends up caring more about abstract moral dilemmas than about the film's characters. As other reviewers have explained, this paradox arises from the clash in styles between Stanley Kubrick (the coldly intelligent one) and Steven Spielberg (the populist, emotional one). AI undoubtedly deserves Oscar consideration for special effects. But hands down, this has to be one of the saddest, gloomiest movies ever made. It is deeply depressing to witness the lead character's quixotic odyssey lead absolutely nowhere -- a child robot obsessed with the impossible fantasy of being transformed into a real boy. Fairy tale writers know how important it is to please the crowd with a happy ending. Spielberg must have forgotten this simple lesson, or perhaps he tried to postpone the inevitable by dragging out the ending over an ungodly number of hours. Either way, AI ends up being a tragedy far removed from the expectations of American pop culture. This is a genuinely disturbing film, brilliantly visualized but destined to trouble adults and children alike.
Rating:
Summary: isn't it ironic...
Review: I have read previous reviews, many lauding the movie's depth, citing it as a "movie to think about." I personally find it to be a very shallow effort, an adaptation of many tired themes, i.e "The innate cruelty of mankind" and classic a.i arguments. Please don't rent this movie. Yes its a new release, one of those impulse rentals at Blockbusters, but unless you enjoy feeling sorry for yourself and take pleasure in inflicting great emotional pain to your well-being, avoid this pointless, hackneyed, DRAGGING, oftentimes sickening (flesh fair scene) movie. Half way into the film, i think i broke out into hysterical laughter, namely because I had rented it with the hopes of providing relief for an otherwise monotonous day. thus explains my title. don't ya think? actually i think i rented it because of the "flesh fair" scene and the element of controversy surounding it. HA! the scene is short and actually nauseating. That word actually captures the entire film, including the "oh sooo poignant" quest of the little boy. maybe tears of boredom? hmm... the movie is depressing!
Rating:
Summary: steven spielberg is to film what mozart is to music.........
Review: an absolute masterpiece.....i could not budge from my chair... what a journey of pure love this boy/bot goes on...words cannot do it justice! the film runs the full gamut of emotions...the visuals, of course, are the best ever...haley joel osmant should be handed the oscar singlehandedly...yet not even a nomination! this work ranks with spielberg's best...from e.t. to empire of the sun..to the color purple..to schindler's list! i defy you to walk away from the final 20 minutes of "a.i" unmoved...it is an absolute beauty...and in the years to come, it too, will be a film to measure all others by! bravo, again, mr. spielberg..and thank you for making our lives richer with your film.
Rating:
Summary: I Loved This Movie
Review: Steven Speilberg's Hunting Masterpiece is by far the best sci-fi film ever made and for good reason its vissuely stunning,mysterise,complex,beutifuly photographed,epic, and in the hands of a master. Stanley Kubrick would have produced the movie and Steven would have directed it at least thats what Kubrick wanted since he came up with the adpation of the novel the movie was based on. But Steven had to take the whole project over wants kubrick died(rest his soul) and I think kubrick would have loved the way the movie turned out. This is steven speilbergs masterpiece and a trbute to the great director.
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