Rating: 
Summary: Worth Seeing, But Not Quite 4 Stars
Review: AI is more of an art film throughout than most of Spielberg's fare, and as such automatically goes up a notch in my opinion. The cinematography and lighting is absolutely gorgeous, as is the art production. Models are used instead of CGI in many of the shots involving vehicles and nearby structures. Computer graphics still tend to look odd (sorry Episode 1), so this is a welcome technique. Visually, the film definitely deserves to be seen in a theater, from film stock, with a tightly focused projector to let you see even the textures of the whites of their eyes.At the beginning, the dialog between husband and wife is a bit misplaced and the acting somewhat undeveloped. However, this is partially corrected further into the film. Most of Spielberg's script becomes masterful, and the dialog poetically delightful. The film's themes bring up some profound and important ethical dilemmas. Most of the plot development is excellent. However, there's an obviously forced and contrived "stacking of the deck" that occurs with Dr. Know that leads the AI David back to his creator. Also, the explanation for the limitations behind the final scenes with the mother falls far short of suspending disbelief. This isn't the worst of it, though. Right when you think the film is going to end with a supremely poignant half-gainer, the film oddly keeps going. Then, with a slightly contrived series of events (travel-by-school-of-fishes and a later falling of a Farris wheel) there is still yet another chance to end AI with supreme poignancy in front of the Blue Fairy, gazing eternally. But again, this is passed up. As far as I'm concerned, at this point the film has already been through 3 complete acts. Spielberg, however, heads off into an extraneous and unnecessary 4th act. While I appreciate the unflinching philosophical futurism this 4th act entails, it is out of place here. I can only surmise that this was a tentative idea of Kubrick's that Spielberg felt sentimentally obligated to include at the end. The directors of some art films tend to get preoccupied with the symbolic metaphors they weave throughout their scripts, and may lose touch with the ebb and flow of their film towards the climax. They sometimes carry one of these threads (in this case the Pinocchio theme) to an absolute conclusion, at the expense of the ending. Film endings are extremely difficult to execute sometimes, so maybe I'm being too hard on this film. In my opinion, though, AI falls slightly short of 4 Stars.
Rating: 
Summary: I really wanted to like this film!!
Review: I am sure for years to come people will look at this review and probably say I am crazy not to like this movie!!. It is Steven Spielberg!! (He did bring us Jaws, ET, Schindler's List, etc.) Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment did a wonderful job but the movie was not very good. The storyline was weak and filled with too many gadgets. Emphasis on technology replaced the storyline. It reminded me of "Bicentennial Man". We are paying money for terrible movies this summer. Which is the reason why I really wanted to like this movie! Wait for the film to come out on DVD or VHS. It will save you seven dollars and if you like it you can see it again and again and again. Once is fine with me!!! People will say it is #1 at the box office!! Those are numbers that do not accurately reflect the quality of the film.
Rating:
Summary: A.I. The child of 2 fathers
Review: Spielberg partially succeeds in making a Stanley Kubrick film. The first Act of the movie, like the innocent robo-boy, is the definite child of Spielberg and thus filled with hope and magic. The second Act, like the sleazy "Gigolo Joe", is very much the child of Kubrick and so, it is filled with cold, harsh reality and destruction. Unfortunately, the last act of the film is a concoction of the 2 styles and is never fully realized. Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law are superb as is the visual splendor. But, the storyline disperses by the finale. Not Spielbergs best effort but certainly his most thought provoking since Schindler's List. In fact, I forgot to eat my milk duds. This film is not for the children or cell-phone addicted.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-see for anyone
Review: This movie was terrific-the cinematography, the acting, the way the director/s imagined the future. Haley Joel Osmet did a great job of being robot child David, who just wants his "mommy" Monica to love him, and is sure that if he becomes real, she'll love him then. He'll probably be nominated for another Oscar. A favorite character of mine was Jude Law's Joe, a suave gigolo robot. He provided some relief from the sometimes harsh futureworld and desperate emotions and scenes. The reason why I gave this 4 stars is that it was a little on the nerve-wracking side (gah! i hate seeing NYC under water in movies!), also with the harsh treatment of "Mechas" (robots) by the "Orgas" (organic, humans). It just didn't get me to transcend to deeper thoughts. I mean, no doubt this isn't a thought-provoking movie-because it is. You'll be thinking about it for days afterward, and maybe want to see it again, like I did. But I guess the movie wasn't exactly clear enough on what it wanted to portray-like did it want to show that we should never build these "mechas", or SHOULD we build them, or whether humans will ever stop rejecting the unfamiliar, or whether people will ever open their minds? It was a little hazy. But I think everyone should definitely see it, so people will think, even a little bit, about Artificial Intelligence, and what the consequences are. (But I'm warning you now, if you don't like Stanley Kubrick movies, you probably won't like this one, even though it's Spielberg's too.) Open your mind and see A.I.
Rating: 
Summary: CLASSIC OF OUR TIME
Review: Unlike any other Steven Spielberg movie ever made, you are in for a shocking, mind-bending, often disturbing treatise on the nature of technology, and, perhaps more importantly, on humanity itself. Much like 2001, and A Clockwork Orange, this movie is touched everywhere by Stanley Kubrick's brilliant hands; it is profoundly engaging, and hits horrifyingly close to home. Set in a not-too-distant future, and without giving anything away, the movie begins as a couple decides to adopt the first robotic child programmed to love. As a synopsis for all that follows, this in itself poses more questions that either Spielberg or Kubrick are prepared to answer. The bottom line is this: the movie will infect your mind, and you will walk away from the theatre unable to shake the images, the emotional power, and the characters from your head. Do not expect another summer blockbuster -- this movie is devoid of pure sensationalism, though it does feature two outrageously effective performances in Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law, and some of the most imaginative, realistic special effects you've ever seen. Do not bring young children; even teens will be disturbed by the big questions this movie asks. Like Kubrick's best films, this movie is a transporting work of science fiction that nearly begs to be seen more than once. It is an entertainment, but one of the highest order: if you let yourself go there, you are transformed by the experience of seeing it, and some things may never look the same again.
Rating:
Summary: Not Speilbergs best...
Review: But it's still good! Don't get me wrong when i say that it isn't his best. This movie was great... well it was great the first 120 minutes. The next 24 minutes are just terrible. I think they should have ended the movie by David praying under the water. Next to Gilliam, Speilberg is one of the best directors out there.
Rating:
Summary: Disney Does it Better
Review: I went into the theater ecited and came out yawning. This is Pinocchio in the future and is too long and the ending is to sappy to make you care anymore.Yes, parts do chill you, and Law(the robot who helps him) is funny but that's it. Spielberg could have done much better.
Rating:
Summary: A.I. Haley Joel Osment... Amazing as usual
Review: A.I. is a brilliant, and powerful film. Started by the late Stanley Kubrick, this film has been worked on for 15 years, until being passed on to Steven Spielberg after Kubrick's death. This film is about a robotic child who is programmed to love, but the question is, will the humans be able to love a robot in return. David (Haley Joel Osment - a spectacular performance) is that child. He ends up living with Monica (Frances O'Connor) and Martin. Monica is the mother of Martin who is a real boy, but she quickly begins to love David even though she knows that Martin is becoming extremely jelous. David is sent away after almost harming Martin, only with a Teddy Bear named Teddy who can walk and talk. He soon begins a quest to find the Blue Fairy from the Pinnochio story with his new friend Gigolo Joe (Jude Law - very good permormance) because he figures that if he can be turned into a real boy, his mommy will love him again. Much more happens than I told you, but that is just the basic storyline. An amazing film to look at with all of the visual effects that include robots and futuristic cars and houses. Only such a movie could be made with outstanding creativity and powerful acting, given by Stanley, Steven, Haley Joel, and Jude. I highly reccomend this movie to anyone. *A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE*
Rating:
Summary: best
Review: This film is divided into three parts. the first act is all Spielberg. It sets up the story, includes some humor, and has classic Spielbergian lines (Spielberg wrote the screenplay). the second act begins with Osment's character being thrown in the woods. Many of the elements scream Kubrick. You see statues remniscent of a Clockwork Orange and the cowboy hat from Dr Strangelove. If Osment reflects Spielberg, than Jude Law's character reflects Kubrick. You see a lot of stuff from 2001 and Close Encounters. This second act is very dark. the third act will genuinely make you sad (only Spielberg can do that). there's a lot of Spielberg and a lot of Kubrick. Early cuts of this film were rated R. This is a disturbing film; probably Spielberg's most adult film since Schindler's List. You can bet this'll be nominated for picture, director, cinematography and maybe actor. Go see it (again).
Rating: 
Summary: Good idea, bad execution
Review: I realize this movie is going to get great reviews because it has Spielberg/Kubrick stamped all over it but after seeing it I can't imagine why. It's set in the future after mass flooding occurs when ice caps melt do to the greenhouse effect. (Score one for the environmental lobby.) As a result robots replace real people, dogs are replaced by animatronic teddy bears, and you have to have a license to get pregnant. We meet the Swinson's a couple that has a half dead son and David the robotic boy sent to fill the void. Through a course of really obvious events David is left to find his way to happiness with only his mechanical teddy bear to comfort him. The second part of the movie is too strange to comment on and seems only to exist so that you can see the hatred between real and robotic people. This is unnecessary because they bring it up all the time in the first portion. When David finally does return "home" to his designers the only real explanation for the second part of this movie is an elaborate research experiment. Apparently independent travel wasn't a program they installed. The ending is emotionally charged but a real cliché. The only real upside is that the acting is good and the robots are amazing. It does contain some interesting religious references I can't figure out like Jude Law's "I am" declaration as he's being hauled away by the police and an almost Mary-like fascination with a blue fairy. Leave the kids at home as I have no idea how this movie received a PG-13 rating. If you know of anyone that used to be scared of "Teddy Ruxbin" this movie isn't for him/her either.
|
